Bharathiraja, the filmmaker who took Tamil cinema out of its studios and into the dusty fields, village lanes and emotional landscapes of rural South India, died on Wednesday in Chennai after
prolonged ill health. He was 84. His death came less than two years after the loss of his son, actor Manoj Bharathiraja, a tragedy from which friends and family said he never fully recovered. In recent months, the director had battled recurring health problems, including respiratory ailments. His passing prompted an outpouring of grief across Tamil Nadu, where generations of viewers knew him simply as “Iyakkunar Imayam” – the ‘Peak Among Directors’.
Few filmmakers reshaped an industry as decisively as Bharathiraja did. When his debut film, 16 Vayathinile, arrived in 1977, Tamil cinema was still largely confined to studio floors and theatrical conventions. Bharathiraja pointed the camera elsewhere. He took audiences into villages, paddy fields and dry riverbeds, populating the screen with ordinary people, flawed desires and the rhythms of rural life. The result altered the visual language of Tamil cinema.
The film introduced a generation to unforgettable characters while bringing together young stars, including Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Sridevi. It also announced a director with a rare instinct for discovering talent.
Over the next four decades, Bharathiraja directed nearly 40 films, among them ‘Kizhakke Pogum Rail’, ‘Sigappu Rojakkal’, ‘Alaigal Oivathillai’, ‘Mudhal Mariyadhai’, ‘Vedam Puthithu’, ‘Kadalora Kavithaigal’ and ‘Karuthamma’. His films moved effortlessly between romance, psychological thrillers, social dramas and political commentary, often confronting caste, gender inequality and social exclusion without sacrificing emotional depth.
He introduced or nurtured the careers of numerous actors, writers, lyricists and filmmakers. His collaborations with composer Ilaiyaraaja produced some of Tamil cinema’s most enduring songs, while his films helped launch performers, including Radikaa, Radha, Revathi, Karthik and Pandian.
Born Chinnasamy in what is now Theni district, Bharathiraja arrived in Chennai with little more than ambition.
Before cinema, he worked odd jobs, briefly joined the Army and staged amateur dramas with friends, among them the future composer Ilaiyaraaja.
In later years he became a respected character actor, appearing in films such as ‘Aayutha Ezhuthu’, ‘Thiruchitrambalam’ and ‘Maharaja’.
For millions, however, he remained the voice that opened his films with a familiar greeting: “En Iniya Tamil Makkale” – “My Dear Tamil People.” Tamil cinema has lost one of its defining storytellers, and his villages, the people who inhabited them, will endure.
Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority. Expertise Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews. Key Coverage Areas: State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor. Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties. Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu. Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail. His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism. Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More