It is only through Bharathiraja’s films that we can see what the villages of Tamil Nadu were once like: Actor Sivakumar
There may have been controversies surrounding him. At times, he may have spoken impulsively and emotionally. He may have carried the bitter experiences of youth
There may have been controversies surrounding him. At times, he may have spoken impulsively and emotionally. He may have carried the bitter experiences of youth and possessed the convictions often found in village folk. Yet, no one can deny that Bharathiraja was one of Tamil cinema’s greatest filmmakers. No one can claim the distinction of authentically portraying Tamil Nadu’s villages on the screen. He started off as a man from a village and carved a unique place for himself by portraying village life. A look at the history of Tamil cinema makes this clear. In its early years, cinema adapted Puranas. Later, it focused largely on the lives of the upper classes. Even Parasakthi, despite its social message, did not truly depict the lives of ordinary rural people. It largely reflected a certain urban milieu. There are films about kings, the wealthy, and devotional subjects. Even director Bhimsingh, who gave family relationships a central place in his films, largely portrayed urban middle- and upper-class life. K. Balachander’s films reflected the Brahmin and upper-class worlds he knew. You cannot blame him. He grew up in that milieu. But it was Bharathiraja who, for the first time, brought the villages of southern Tamil Nadu—especially those around Madurai—alive before our eyes. It was a revolution. A monumental revolution. He shattered the notion that authentic village life could not be portrayed on screen. He showed the dusty, drought-stricken landscapes, the quiet beauty of rural existence, and the simple yet profound lives of ordinary people. He captured their affection, innocence, anger, stubbornness, tenderness, and contradictions. He gave voice and form to people who had never truly been seen in Tamil cinema. What he began was an era. It was because of him that rural gems such as Ilaiyaraaja and Vairamuthu found opportunities to reach the pinnacle of their careers. His success, the success of kindling the rural sensibility that made people enjoy it, opened doors in Tamil cinema.
He broke open doors that had remained shut. How can Bharathiraja ever be forgotten? In a world where those who leave their native soil for job opportunities in cities forget their soil and do not respect its people, Bharathiraja remained different. He deeply loved his soil and its people, as they and their lives had left a deep impact on him. Even after becoming a city dweller, the mind of a villager never changed. He portrayed the stories he loved through the characters of the people he knew. What he cherished, Tamil Nadu cherished as well. It celebrated him by elevating him to great heights. From 16 Vayathinile to Kadal Pookkal, how many masterpieces did he create? Kadalora Kavithaigal, Alaigal Oivathillai, Vedham Pudhithu, Kizhakku Cheemayile, Karuthamma, and so many others have become milestones in Tamil cinema. Above all stands Mudhal Mariyadhai, one of the greatest classics ever made. Watch his films closely. They did not just promote him; they nurtured generations of artists. Directors, actors, actresses, technicians—countless careers blossomed because of him. An accomplished filmmaker must take a story that has moved him, transform it into cinema, hold audiences spellbound for 2.30 hours, and leave them emotionally transformed and attached to the film. Bharathiraja mastered that art. Consider 16 Vayathinile and K. Balachander’s Nizhal Nijamagiradhu. At their core, they share similar themes. Yet 16 Vayathinile remains etched in popular memory in a way that the latter does not. It is because Balachander’s film belonged to an urban world, while Bharathiraja wove the story against the backdrop of a rural landscape. Deep within, many of us are villagers; the DNA of the village runs through our blood. That emotional connection made the film resonate profoundly. Unknowingly, Bharathiraja accomplished something extraordinary. That achievement will secure him an immortal place for all time. Today, villages have shrunk. Some have become ghost villages. Others have become extensions of cities. In just 30 years, many of the markers of rural life that existed for centuries have been wiped out.
The BriefWire