Bharathan

For the 2007 Malayalam science fiction thriller film, see Bharathan Effect.
Bharathan
Born (1947-11-14)14 November 1947
Enkakkad, Wadakanchery, Thrissur, India
Died 30 July 1998(1998-07-30) (aged 51)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation Film director,artist, lyricist, music director, sculptor, poster designer, editor and art director
Years active 19731998
Spouse(s) KPAC Lalitha
Children Sreekutti, Siddharth
Awards Kerala State Film Awards
1975- Best Art Director (Prayanam)
1979- Best Art Director(Various Films)
1980- Director of Second Best Film(Chamaram)
1980- Best Art Director(Chamaram)
1981- Best Art Director(Chatta)
1982- Director of Best Film(Marmaram)
1982- Director of Second Best Film(Ormakkayi)
1982- Best Director(Various Films)
1982- Best Art Director(Ormakkayi)
1984- Best Art Director(Ithirippoove Chuvanna Poove)
1987- Director Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value(Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam)
1992- Director Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value(Venkalam)

Bharathan (Malayalam: ഭരതന്‍, 14 November 1946 30 July 1998) was an Indian film director, artist, lyricist, music director, sculptor, poster designer, editor and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely received while also being critically acclaimed. A train of directors, and screen writers followed this school onto the 1990s including Sibi Malayil, Kamal, Lohithadas, Jayaraj, and Sathyan Anthikkad.

He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and prolific filmmakers of Malayalam cinema and directed more than 50 movies in multiple languages. He was born at Engakkadu near Wadakkancherry, in present-day Thrissur district of Kerala, India.

Early career

After completing his diploma from the College of Fine Arts, Thrissur City, Bharathan entered the world of Cinema as an art director for Vincent, an accomplished director of the time and the movie was Ghandarva Kshetram. He got the inspiration from his uncle, P. N. Menon — a veteran film director. After working as an art director and assistant director for a few movies, he made his directorial debut in 1974 with Prayanam, based on Padmarajan’s script. It also marked the rise of two early proponents of middle-stream Malayalam cinema.[1]

Style and themes

Bharathan's films were well known for their realistic portrayal of rural life in Kerala. Melodrama and escapism, often an integral part of mainstream cinema in India, were usually absent in his films. He also managed to steer clear of the "star-centric" culture, prevalent in Indian cinema, throughout his career. His later films did involve major movie stars but usually without compromising on plot or narrative. Bharathan, along with Padmarajan and K. G. George were largely responsible for introducing a counter culture of meaningful mainstream cinema which often tread the middle path between art-house and commercial cinema. This movement was often called the "middle of the road cinema". Bharathan's films were known for their visually appealing shot compositions. His background as a painter enabled him to create frames that were often credited for their visual beauty. Natural props and nature itself often became important characters in his films (like the railway track in Palangal, or the sea in Amaram). Bharathan is one of the few Indian directors known to use an elaborate story-board system for filming. He also often designed the posters for his films.

Several of his early films were known for their bold portrayal of sexual themes.His films often defied social conventions and norms about man-woman relationships. Rathinirvedam was the sexual-coming-of-age story of the relationship between a teenager and an older woman while Chaamaram dealt with the tumultuous affair between a student and his college lecturer. In Kattathe Kilikkoodu an elderly, married Professor falls for his student. Kaathodu Kaathoram was about the social ostracism of a woman who has an adulterous relationship.

The latter half of Bharathan's career saw a distinct change in film making style characterized by a wider canvas, more attention to detail with more distinct focus on narrative style (e.g., Vaishali, Amaram, Thaazhvaaram, and Thevar Magan). Some critics argue that this quest for technical excellence was at the expense of the quality of thematic content. Films like Vaishali and Amaram (where he collaborated with acclaimed cinematographer Madhu Ambat) set a new benchmark for cinematographic excellence in Malayalam and Indian Cinema. Thaazhvaaram was stylistically inspired by Classic Hollywood Westerns though the theme and backdrop were distinctly original.

His last few films (Manjeeradhwani, Devaraagam and Churam) were received moderately by critics.

Film career

The director showed a penchant for brilliantly portraying rustic life in rural Kerala.

Bharathan directed over 40 films in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu. Starting his career in 1975 with Prayanam, Bharathan rode to fame with his off-beat Thakara, a film about a dumb-witted central character who falls in love with the village beauty. Some of his other memorable films include Rathinirvedam, Chamaram, Paalangal, Amaram, and Vaishali.[2]

He displayed a rare talent in treating sex without falling into vulgarity which was to later became the trademark of the so-called "Bharathan touch." His association with Padmarajan was the beginning of a golden era in Malayalam cinema. A few more films came out from the duo's partnership before Padmarajan became an independent director himself. Rathi Nirvedam and Thakara were the most noted among them with latter being considered one of his best.

Rathi Nirvedam was a sensitive treatment of teenage sexual angst. In Thakara, he deals with life and longings of a mentally retarded youth and his association with the society.

In the early 1980s he made several notable movies like Chaamaram, Marmaram, Paalangal, Ormakkayi, Kaatathe Killikoodu, and many more. They did well in theaters and set the trend for meaningful mainstream cinema. Other noted directors followed suit. It was the romantic era of Malayalam cinema.

Not all of Bharathan's films skirted with bold themes and controversy. In Oru Minnaaminunginte Nurunguvettam (1987), he tells the poignant story of a childless couple in their post retirement life. It deals with the isolation and loneliness that comes with old age. The film was a departure from Bharathan's usual style and proved to be a major commercial hit while garnering critical acclaim, too.

Screenwriter Lohithadas, director Bharathan and cinematographer Ramachandra Babu at the location of Venkalam.

His Vaisali (1988) is widely regarded as a modern day masterpiece in Malayalam cinema. Scripted by the iconic Malayalam novelist M. T. Vasudevan Nair, it was an adaptation of a sub-story told in the epic Mahabharatha. Another movie born from their association was Thazhvaram. The subject was revenge, a theme quite uncharacteristic of Bharathan movies. The style was inspired by classic Westerns with a brooding, reticent central character and expansive shots of barren landscape.

Even though he was not known to cater to the star-centric system, Bharathan was instrumental in bringing together the two screen icons of Tamil cinema Sivaji Ganesan and Kamal Hassan in the Tamil film Thevar Magan which won critical acclaim and box office success. Sivaji gave an uncharacteristically restrained yet brilliant performance. The movie won several national awards and was remade into many regional languages (most notably Virasat in Hindi).

His more experimental films include Aaravam, more an arthouse than commercial venture, and Nidra, about the plight of a woman who is in love with a mentally deranged man.

His creativity was not confined to film direction. He also wrote lyrics and tuned songs for his films. (e.g., Keli; “Thaaram Valkannadi Nokki…"; or title song for Kathodu Kathoram). He associated with writer P. R. Nathan in his Keli.

Later life

Bharatan died at a private hospital in Madras on 30 July 1998 at the age of 52 following prolonged illness. His dead body was taken to his native place Wadakkanchery and was cremated at the premises of his home with full state honours. His last film was 'Churam', released a year before his death.

Personal life

Bharathan was married to noted theatre and film actress K. P. A. C. Lalitha with whom he associated in a lot of films before and after marriage. It was on the sets of Rathinirvedam (1978) that he proposed to Lalitha and they got married soon after the shooting of this film.[3] Bharathan's son Siddharth Bharathan is a noted film actor, director and scenarist. Having made his debut as an actor in the 2002 film Nammal, Siddharth went on to act in a few more low-budget ventures before he made his debut as a director by remaking Bharathan's 1981 film Nidra into a film with the same title in 2012.

Filmography

No: Year Title Cast Script WriterMusic
11975PrayanamMohan Sharma, Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, Master Raghu, Lakshmi, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Nanditha BoseP. PadmarajanM. B. Sreenivasan
21977Guruvayur KesavanM.G. Soman, Adoor Bhasi, Sankaradi, Bahadoor, JayabharathiPuthur Unnikrishnan, N. Govindan KuttyG. Devarajan
3AniyaraM.G. Soman, Bahadoor, Sankaradi, Urmila, Kaviyoor PonnammaUroobG. Devarajan
41978RathinirvedamJayabharathi, Krishnachandran, M.G. SomanP. PadmarajanG. Devarajan
51979'ThakaraNedumudi Venu, Surekha, Prathap PothanP. PadmarajanM. G. Radhakrishnan
61980LorryAchankunju, Balan K. Nair, Nithya, Pratap PothanP. PadmarajanM. S. Viswanathan
7AaravamNedumudi Venu, Prathap Pothan, Bahadoor, KPAC Lalitha, PrameelaBharathanM. G. Radhakrishnan
8ChamaramPratap Pothan, Zarina WahabBalakrishnan Mangad, John PaulM. G. Radhakrishnan, Ravindran
91981ChattaNedumudi Venu, Achankunju, Balan K. Nair, Shubha, SandhyaP. R. Nathan, BharathanJohnson
10Parvathi Prem Nazeer, Rajkumar Sethupathi, Latha, KPAC Lalitha , PrameelaAdaptation of the novel Adiyaravu by KakkanadanJohnson
11NidraVijay Menon, Shanthikrishna, Abraham P. K., Lalu Alex, KPAC LalithaBharathanG. Devarajan
12ParankimalaNedumudi Venu, Benny, Achankunju, Rani Padmini, SooryaAdaptation of a novel by KaakkanaadanG. Devarajan
131982MarmaramNedumudi Venu, Jalaja, Bharath GopiVijayan Karott, John PaulM. S. Vishwanathan
14OrmakkayiMadhavi, Bharath Gopi, RohiniJohn Paul Johnson
15PalangalNedumudi Venu, Zarina Wahab, Bharath Gopi, KPAC Lalitha, Bahadoor, ShankarJohn Paul Johnson
161983Kattathe KilikkooduBharath Gopi, Mohanlal, Srividya, Revathi

story Nedumudi Venu; script and dialogues T.Damodaran|

Johnson
17EenamBharath Gopi, Venu Nagavally, Unni Mary, SanthikrishnaP. PadmarajanBharathan
18Sandhya Mayangum NeramBharath Gopi, Jayabharathi, Unni Mary, SreenathBabu, John Paul, BharathanShyam
191984Ithiripoove Chuvannapoove Mammootty, Rahman, Suresh, Shobhana, Madhu, K. R. VijayaAdaptation of a drama by Thikkodiyan; screenplay: T.Damodaran and John Paul; dialogues: T. DamodaranRavindran
20Ente UpasanaMammootty, Suhasini, Cochin Haneefa, UnnimaryMallika Younis, Thoppil Bhasi Johnson
211985Kathodu KathoramMammootty, Saritha, Janardhanan, Nedumudi Venu, Innocent, LizyJohn Paul Bharathan, Ouseppachan
22OzhivukaalamPrem Nazir, Karamana Janardanan Nair, SrividyaP. PadmarajanJohnson
231986ChilambuRahman, Shobhana, Thilakan, Babu Antony, Innocent, Nedumudi VenuN.T Balachandran, Bharathan Ouseppachan
24PranamamMammooty, Ashokan, Suhasini, VineethDennis JosephOuseppachan
251987Oru Minnaminunginte NurunguvettamNedumudi Venu, Sharada, Parvathy, Devan, M. S. ThripunithuraJohn PaulJohnson
26Neela Kurinji PoothappolKarthika, Girish KarnadJohn PaulJerry Amaldev
271988VaishaliSuparna Anand, Sanjay Mitra, Babu Antony, Geetha, Parvathy, Nedumudi VenuM. T. Vasudevan NairBombay Ravi
281989Oru Sayahnathinte SwapnamMadhu, Mukesh, Suhasini, Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair, Jagathi SreekumarJohn PaulOuseppachan
291990ThazhvaramMohanlal, Sumalatha, Salim Ghouse, SankaradiM. T. Vasudevan Nair Bharathan
301991AmaramMammootty, Maathu, Ashokan, Murali, KPAC Lalitha, ChithraA. K. LohithadasRavindran
31KeliJayaram, Innocent, Nedumudi Venu, Murali, Charmila John Paul Bharathan
321992AavarampooVineeth, Goundamani, Vaidehi, NasserStory by P. PadmarajanIlayaraja
33Thevar Magan Sivaji Ganeshan, Kamal Haasan, Revathi, Gauthami, NasserKamal HaasanIlayaraja
34MaloottyBaby Shamili, Urvashi, Jayaram, Nedumudi VenuJohn PaulJohnson
351993VenkalamMurali, Manoj K. Jayan, Urvashi, KPAC Lalitha Mala AravindanA. K. LohithadasRavindran
36ChamayamMurali, Manoj K. Jayan, Saikumar, Sithara, RanjithaJohn PaulJohnson
37PadheyamMammootty, Revathi, Sasikala, Bharath Gopi, Nedumudi Venu, Chippy, Lalu Alex,Oduvil A. K. LohithadasBombay Ravi
381996DevaraagamAravind Swamy, Sridevi, Narendra Prasad, Nedumudi Venu, JanardhananMoney ShornurM. M. Keeravani
391997ManjeeradhwaniVineeth, Sakshi Sivanand, Kaviyoor PonnammaJohn PaulIlayaraja
401998ChuramManoj K. Jayan, Divya Unni, Nedumudi Venu, PhilominaShibu ChakravarthyJohnson

Awards

National Film Awards:

Kerala State Film Awards:

No Year Award Title
11975Best Art DirectorPrayanam
21979Best Art DirectorThakara
31980Best Art DirectorChamaram
41980Second Best FilmChamaram
51981Best Art DirectorChatta
61982Best FilmMarmaram
71982Second Best FilmOrmakkayi
81982Best DirectorMarmaram,Ormakkayi
91982Best Art DirectorOrmakkayi
101984Best Art DirectorIthiripoove Chuvanthapoove
111987Kerala State Film Award for Best film with popular appeal and aesthetic valueOru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam
121992Kerala State Film Award for Best film with popular appeal and aesthetic valueVenkalam

References

External links

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