Bharathiraja, Pioneer of Tamil Rural Cinema, Dies at 84
By
Naman Ramachandran
Slow-proofed and worth the wait. Worth its weight in flour.
Summary
Bharathiraja (born Chinnasamy Periyamaya Theva), the pioneering Indian filmmaker who revolutionized Tamil cinema with his rural dramas, died at age 84 in Chennai from age-related illness. His 1977 debut "16 Vayathinile" broke from studio-bound conventions and launched a nearly five-decade career as a director, producer, screenwriter and actor that reshaped Tamil filmmaking.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledBharathiraja, the Indian filmmaker whose rural dramas reshaped Tamil cinema across nearly five decades, died on Wednesday in Chennai from age-related illness.
He made his feature debut in 1977 with '16 Vayathinile,' a rural romantic drama starring Kamal Haasan, Sridevi, and Rajinikanth.
The production broke with studio-bound convention – it was one of the first Tamil films to be shot extensively on location in rural settings.
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