It has been around a month since the passing of legendary filmmaker Bharathiraja. A month into an event that left a major void in Tamil cinema comes his birthday. While we do not need any specific reason to celebrate the iconic filmmaker other than the fact that he exists in the annals of Tamil cinema history, there is still an entire generation out there who is not familiar with his filmography. Here is a list of Bharathiraja films that you can watch on streaming platforms. Of course, the filmmaker is known for making other classics, such as Nizhalgal and Karuthamma, but here is a compilation to get you started on the Bharathiraja binge watch.
16 Vayathinile
A coming-of-age story, starring Sridevi, Kamal Haasan, and Rajinikanth, among others, 16 Vayathinile is widely regarded as one of the greatest Tamil films of all time. That is saying something, especially if you consider the fact that it is Bharathiraja's directorial debut. Set in a village, the film tells the story of a young girl named Mayil (Sridevi) and explores her relationships with her mother and a villager named Chappani (Kamal). A tragic event forces Mayil to act as a mother figure for Chappani, whom the whole village deems a 'dimwit'. Sridevi's transformation from a daughter to a mother-equivalent is one of the most remarkable aspects of the film. Kamal, too, delivers an unhinged performance, delivering raw emotions like only he can. Also watch out for Rajinikanth in a role where he embraces skulduggery and a sense of malice.
Streamer: Prime Video
Sigappu Rojakkal
Kamal Haasan would soon reunite with Bharathiraja for his second directorial venture and with Sridevi. He delivers an acting masterclass as a serial killer with a dark past. It is impressive how Bharathiraja's film does not justify the killer with an apologetic past. What makes this impressive is the film's release year: 1978. It is worth noting that we are in a day and age where films about serial killers tend to justify the deeds of their demented protagonists with backstories. Here is Bharathiraja proving that he was way ahead of his times. Another notable aspect of the film is the elements in it that foreshadow the sheer mayhem that is about to unfold onscreen.
Streamer: Prime Video
Muthal Mariyathai
Widely regarded as Bharathiraja's most popular film, Muthal Mariyathai follows a village chief (Sivaji Ganesan) who enters an extramarital relationship with a woman (Radha) when it becomes almost intolerable for him to be with his wife (Vadivukkarasi). Among the many striking aspects of Muthal Mariyathai is how the film explores the difference in the castes of its protagonists. He is a village chief, whereas she is a woman who hails from the oppressed caste. However, for the most part, she virtually treats him as her equal, calling him 'Nee'. However, at one crucial point, the boundaries between the two become too broad to bridge, making her use a more respectful 'Neenga' to address him.
It is also notable how Muthal Mariyathai never treats the angry old woman character as an evil antagonist. Vadivukkarasi is a pain in the butt for the male protagonist, but the film never really treats her as a characterless and evil person.
Further, the delicate portrayal of the relationship at the heart of the film is what drives the story. Bharathiraja often uses moving imagery to explore the relationship, such as a brilliant piece of juxtaposition where flower petals falls on her head soon after Vadivukkarasi's character hits her with a broom. The moment shows how much she loves the village head, providing a strong reason for her actions at the end of the film.
According to a legend, Bharathiraja even told Sivaji Ganesan not to 'act' like he usually does in other films in Muthal Mariyathai. The result is the sort of stuff that legends are made of.
Streamer: Prime Video
Vedham Pudhithu
If Muthal Mariyathai uses Sathyaraj in a cameo role, Vedham Pudhithu makes his character at the heart of the story. Similar to his other works, here, too, Bharathiraja explores socially relevant topics, such as its critique of the caste system. The story follows a rationalist village leader (Sathyara) who is against the caste system and whose son gets into a romantic relationship with an orthodox Brahmin priest's daughter (Amala). Their romantic relationship against the community's believes sparks strong opposition from them and exposes the dark elements of the system.
Vedham Pudhithu earned multiple accolades at the 35th National Film Awards, including Best Film on Other Social Issues and Best Actor in Tamil for Sathyaraj.
Streamer: YouTube
