K. Bhagyaraj

K Bhagyaraj
Bhagyaraj in April 2014
Born	Krishnasaamy Bhagyaraj 7 January 1953 Vellankoil, Erode, Madras State, India
Occupation	Actor director screenwriter producer music director
Years active	1977–present
Height	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)[1]
Spouse(s)	Praveena Bhagyaraj ​ ​ (m. 1981; died 1983)​ Poornima Jayaram ​ (m. 1984)​
Children	Saranya Bhagyaraj (b.1985) Shanthanu Bhagyaraj (b.1986)
Parent(s)	Krishnasaamy Amaravathiyammal

Krishnasaamy Bhagyaraj (born 7 January 1953) is an Indian director, actor, screenwriter, music director, producer and politician active mainly in Tamil films. He has also written and directed Telugu and Hindi films and TV serials. As an actor, he has worked in more than 75 films and has directed more than 25 films. He won a Filmfare Best Actor Award for Mundhanai Mudichu (1983). He received Lifetime achievement award in SIIMA (2014). He is the editor of weekly magazine Bhagya and has also written several novels.

Personal life

Bhagyaraj was born in Vellankoil near Gobichettipalayam in Erode district in Tamil Nadu. His parents were Krishnaswamy and Amaravathiamma. He married twice. His first marriage was with actress Praveena, in 1981. She died due to an aggravated case of jaundice in August 1983. His second marriage was with actress Poornima Jayaram, who was his co-star in Darling, Darling, Darling (1982),^[2] on 7 February 1984. The couple has a daughter Saranya Bhagyaraj and a son Shanthnu Bhagyaraj.

Since his childhood he had been huge fan of actors M. G. Ramachandran and Rajesh Khanna.

Film career

Early years (1977–79)

Beginning his career as an assistant to directors G. Ramakrishnan and Bharathiraja, Bhagyaraj became recognised for his scriptwriting talent.^[3] He first appeared as a junior artist playing small supporting roles with screen-space of not more than three minutes in films such as Pathinaru Vayathinile and later appeared similarly in Sigappu Rojakkal (1978). He was assistant director to Bharatiraja in two films – 16 Vayathnile and Kizhake Pogum Rail. Among his early work was writing the script for Bharathiraja's films Kizhake Pogum Rail (1978) and Tik Tik Tik (1981), and writing dialogues for Sigappu Rojakkal. He made his directorial début with Suvarillatha Chiththirangal in 1979 and also his début as the leading man in Puthiya Vaarpugal in 1979, directed by Bharatiraja. He received the Best Dialogues Award for Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979). Kanni Paruvathile, a film for which he wrote dialogues and screenplay and acted in a negative role, was a huge success. Though he had not achieved success as a director till 1979, he was motivated with success as the hero with Puthiya Vaarpugal, a negative role, and as a writer of story and dialogues for Kanni Paruvathile and decided to write, direct and act for Oru Kai Oosai, which, though not a huge success, gave him his first Best Actor Award.

Rise to stardom (1980–99)

Stardom at 80's

He quickly established his own concern by 1980 and started producing and directing a string of distinctive films made mainly in the Tamil language. His first commercially successful main lead hero film was Bhama Rukmini in 1980. This film was neither directed, produced nor written by him. His voice was dubbed by someone else in all the films he did till 1980, including Bhama Rukmini. Beginning with films such as Mouna Geetangal, he started to dub his own lines in his films. He often stars in lead roles of the films he scripts and directs, effectively carving out a niche for himself in the actor-auteur vein. His style of film-making is notable for its relatively elaborate, witty, and double entendre-laced script and socially themed framework. His on-screen personae are typically characterised by their ironic sense of humour and intelligent bravado.^[4] The success of Bhama Rukmini was followed by 12 films directed by him – starring him as the main lead, which were box office hits – Vidiyum Vari Kaathiru, Mouna Geethanagal, Indru Poyi Naalai Vaa, Antha Ezhu Natkal, Thooral Ninnu Pochhu, Poyi Satchi, Darling Darling Darling, Dhavani Kannavukal, Munthanai Mudichu, Chinna Veedu, Enga Chinna Rasa and Idhu Namma Aalu. From 1981 onwards, successful Tamil films written, directed by and starring him started being remade in Hindi, with the first being Mouna Geetangal, remade as Ek Hi Bhool and Anztha Ezhu Natkal remade as Woh Saat Din. In the period 1980–1990, he rarely acted in films not directed or written by him, with exceptions being Naan Sigappu Manithan, Anbulla Rajinikanth and En Rathathin Rathame. His next directorial venture Chithirame Chithirame was box office flop, and then he directed Mayadari Mogudu in Telugu, which was a success. He introduced actress Urvashi in the Tamil film Mundhanai Mudichu and actress Kalpana (sister of Urvashi) made her début with the 1985 film Chinna Veedu, directed by Bhagyraj, a commercially successful film. He received the Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor for his performance in Mundhanai Mudichu. He became nationally famous when he wrote the script for Mundhanai Mudichu remade in Hindi as Masterji with Rajesh Khanna in the lead role, which was huge success at the box office. He decided to direct the Hindi remake of Bharatiraja's 1984 directorial venture Oru Kaidhiyin Diary with Rajesh Khanna in the lead in 1985, but later Khanna due to his date issues had to opt out and Bhagyaraj cast Amitabh Bachchan in the Hindi remake Aakhree Raasta. Bhagayraj decided to remake the classic old Kannada film Mallammana Pavada, starring Rajkumar and B Saroja Devi into a new Tamil film Enga Chinna Rasa in 1987, which became a huge blockbuster. In 1989, K. Balaji produced a Tamil remake of Mr. India as En Rathathin Rathame and the film was successful. In 1989, he wrote the script for Idhu Namma Allu and decided to produce it, but chose not to direct it by himself, as he wanted to act-write-direct a film on a serious issue, which was Aararo Aaariraro. He received the Best Film Award for Idhu Namma Aalu in 1990, directed by Balakumar, whereas the other film Aararo Aaariraro also was both critically acclaimed and successful at box office. After the death of MGR in 1987, during a meeting with director C V Sridhar and producer Duraiswamay, an idea came across to Bhagyaraj to make use of the unfinished 1977 film Anna Nee En Deivam, starring MGR and Lata and make the film Avasara Police 100, starring himself as well in the lead. This 1990 film was widely promoted as a film with MGR and Bhagyaraj in lead roles and the film was a superhit.During 80's his market level was equal to Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.

During 90's

From 1991, he gradually started accepting more acting offers as a lead hero, where director-producer-scriptwriter would be three different people, rather than he himself writing-directing-acting in his films. Rudhra, Amma Vanthachu, Gnanapazham (1996) and Suyamvaram (1999) were such successful films where he was involved only in the capacity of actor. He also started the weekly magazine "Bhagya" and he is the editor of that magazine. His successful directorial ventures written by him from 1991 on were Pavunnu Pavunuthan, Sundara Kandam, Raasukutti, Veetla Visheshanga, Oru Oorla oru Rajakumari and Vaettiya Madichu Kattu. Failure of his Hindi directorial Mr. Bechara made Bhagyaraj decide that he should only write scripts for Hindi films and that he would not direct himself. He decided to remake Veetla Visheshanga as Mr Bechara in Hindi, but again his directorial venture in Hindi was not successful. He cast his son Shanthanu Bhagyaraj as the child artist in Vaettiya Madichu Kattu in 1998 and the film dealt with the father-son relationship. His successful Tamil films written by him continued to be in demand for Hindi remakes in the 1990s and were huge hits in Hindi – with Avasara Police 100 remade into Gopi Kishen, Sundara Kandam remade as Andaz (1994), Raasukutti remade as Raja Babu, which were successful. He also wrote the script for the Tamil film Thaikulame Thaikulame (1995), starring Pandiarajan, whose actor-director was not himself in Hindi, remade as Gharwali-Baharwali (1998).^[5]

His assistant directors for his directorial ventures Darling Darling Darling, Dhavani Kannavukal, Munthanai Mudichu and Mayadari Mogudu was Pandiarajan, whereas Parthiban was his assistant director for Dhavani Kannavukal; later both Pandirajan and Parthiban went on to become director and actors.

Later years (2000–present)

He took a break from acting as the lead hero in Tamil films after the release of Vaettiya Madichu Kattu (1998) and Suyamvaram (1999) as he was not happy with new scripts from other banners offered to him in 2000, and so from 2000 to 2006 he did not accept any films as the lead hero. Instead, he directed the TV shows Neenga Nenaicha Saadhikkalanga and Idhu Oru Kadhayin Kadhai (for DD Podhigai), and appeared in Apapadi Podu on Jaya TV in this period. His tele-serial Rules Rangachari was very famous on DD channel and it completed 390 episodes. He wrote and directed the average 2003 film Chokka Thangam, an action film starring Vijayakanth. He launched his daughter Saranya Bhagyaraj with Parijatham, which he wrote and directed in 2006 and was a huge flop.^[6] He returned to acting with Something Something... Unakkum Enakkum and Rendu in a supporting role and with Kasu Irukkanum as the lead hero in 2007. From 2007 to present he has been seen in more films as an actor in supporting roles. He directed his adult son Shanthanu Bhagyaraj in the romantic film Siddhu +2 in 2010. He ventured into Malayalam films as supporting actor with Mr Marumakan.

He wrote books such as Vaanga Cinemavai Pattri Pesalam, Neenga Nenaicha Saadikkalaam, Ungal Bhagyaraj in Kelvi Bhadhil (Five Parts) and has written seven novels. And now he is the leading judge for the show junior super star 3.O in ZEE TAMIZH

Filmography

NO	Year	Title	Language	Credited as				Role	Notes
				Director	Producer	Writer	Actor
1	1977	16 Vayathinile	Tamil						Assistant director Cameo appearance
2	1978	Kizhake Pogum Rail	Tamil					Ponnandi	Assistant director Cameo appearance
3		Sigappu Rojakkal	Tamil					Waiter	Cameo appearance
4	1979	Puthiya Vaarpugal	Tamil					Shanmugakani	Debut film as hero
5		Kanni Paruvathile	Tamil
6		Suvarilladha Chiththirangal	Tamil						Debut film as director
7	1980	Bhama Rukmani	Tamil
8		Oru Kai Oosai	Tamil
10		Kumari Pennin Ullathile	Tamil
11	1981	Mouna Geethangal	Tamil					Kumar
12		Indru Poi Naalai Vaa	Tamil
13		Vidiyum Varai Kaathiru	Tamil
14		Antha Ezhu Naatkal	Tamil
15	1982	Thooral Ninnu Pochu	Tamil
16		Poi Satchi	Tamil
17		Darling, Darling, Darling	Tamil
18	1983	Mundhanai Mudichu	Tamil						Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil
19		Saattai Illatha Pambaram	Tamil
20	1984	Mayadari Mogudu	Telugu
21		Oomai Janangal	Tamil
22		Anbulla Rajinikanth	Tamil						Cameo
23		Dhavani Kanavugal	Tamil
24	1985	Oru Kaidhiyin Diary	Tamil
25		Naan Sigappu Manithan	Tamil
26		Chinna Veedu	Tamil
27	1986	Aakhree Raasta	Hindi						Remake of Tamil film Oru Kaidhiyin Diary
28		Kanna Thorakkanum Saami	Tamil
29	1987	Enga Chinna Rasa	Tamil
30		Chinna Kuyil Paaduthu	Tamil
31	1988	Idhu Namma Aalu	Tamil						Also composer
32	1989	En Rathathin Rathame	Tamil
33		Aararo Aaariraro	Tamil						Also composer
34		Ponnu Pakka Poren	Tamil						Also composer
35	1990	Avasara Police 100	Tamil
36	1991	Pavunnu Pavunuthan	Tamil						Also composer
37		Rudhra	Tamil
38	1992	Sundara Kandam	Tamil
39		Raasukutti	Tamil
40	1994	Veetla Visheshanga	Tamil
41	1995	Oru Oorla oru Rajakumari	Tamil
42		Thaikulame Thaikulame	Tamil
43	1996	Mr. Bechara	Hindi						Remake of Tamil film Veetla Visheshanga
44		Gnanapazham	Tamil						Also Music composer
45	1998	Vaettiya Madichu Kattu	Tamil
46	2000	Papa the Great	Hindi						Remake of Tamil film Vaettiya Madichu Kattu
47		Kabadi Kabadi	Tamil
48	2003	Chokka Thangam	Tamil						25th Film (Director)
49	2005	Radha Gopalam	Telugu					Lawyer	Cameo appearance
50	2006	Parijatham	Tamil
51		Something Something Unakkum Enakkum	Tamil
52		Rendu	Tamil
53	2007	Mudhal Mudhalai	Tamil
54		Kasu Irukkanum	Tamil					G. R.
55	2008	Maanavan Ninaithal	Tamil					Raj
56	2009	Ninaithale Inikkum	Tamil
57	2010	Uthamaputhiran	Tamil
58		Siddhu +2	Tamil
59	2011	Appavi	Tamil
60		Maaveeran	Tamil						Dialogue writer Tamil dubbed version of Telugu film Magadheera
61		Vaagai Sooda Vaa	Tamil
62	2012	Mr. Marumakan	Malayalam					Balasubrahmanyam
63	2013	Oruvar Meethu Iruvar Sainthu	Tamil
64	2014	Ninaithathu Yaaro	Tamil					Himself	Cameo appearance
65	2015	Thunai Mudhalvar	Tamil					Periyapaandi
66		Moone Moonu Varthai	Tamil					Himself
67	2016	Kanithan	Tamil
68		Vaaimai	Tamil						Cameo appearance
69	2017	Mupparimanam	Tamil					Himself	Cameo appearance
70		Ayyanar Veethi	Tamil					Subramania Sastry
71		Veruli	Tamil
72		Ivan Yarendru Therikiratha	Tamil					Love Guru
73		Thupparivaalan	Tamil					Muthu
74		Brahma.com	Tamil					Gurukkal
75	2018	Kilambitaangayaa Kilambitaangayaa	Tamil
76		Aaruthra	Tamil
77		Koothan	Tamil
78	2019	Sita	Telugu					Anand Mohan
79	2020	Ponmagal Vandhal	Tamil					'Petition' Pethuraj

Television

As judge

• Junior Super Star
• Junior Super Stars (season 2)
• Comedy stars season 2 (Malayalam Show)

As actor

Politics

MGR Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (MGR Popular Progressive Federation) was a political party in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu launched by Bhagyaraj in February 1989. MGR MMK contested the 1991 Kerala assembly elections. It had one candidate, who got 87 votes. The MGR MMK party failed in its initial stages.^[7] Bhagyaraj later joined All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

References

External links

• K. Bhagyaraj at IMDb
• India Today – K. Bhagyaraj; The reigning king in the world of Madras film Hollywood