Bharathiraja

Also known as: Iyakkunar Imayam

Film Director , Actor , Film Producer , Screenwriter

AgeAged 85 (at death)

Birth DateJuly 16, 1941

StatusMarried

Official:

Personal Information

Highest Degree

Doctor of Letters (honorary degree) from Sathyabama University

Father: Periya Mayadevar
Mother: Karuthamma
Spouse / Partner: Chandraleelavathi
Child: Manoj Bharathiraja (actor, married to actress Nandana, died in 2025) Janani Aishwarya (married to Rajkumar Thambiraja in Malaysia)
Sibling: 3

11. Bharathiraja completed his schooling in his hometown.
22. He loved reading literature as a student.
33. He used to write and direct stage plays during festivals.
44. Before entering films, he worked as a health inspector and earned Rs. 75 per month.
55. He worked at petrol bunks to survive before moving to Chennai to pursue a career in cinema.
66. He participated in many stage plays, radio events, and petrol bunk jobs while trying to enter cinema.
77. He started working as an assistant director to film director B. Pulliyavidam.
88. He learned cinema from noted Kannada director Puttana Kanakal.
99. In 1977, he directed his first film '16 Vayathinile,' which starred prominent actors.
1010. He became the first film director to use live locations instead of fake studio sets.
1111. He won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director for '16 Vayathinile.'
1212. He directed more than 40 films in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi.
1313. He was known for introducing many new faces to cinema.