Heaping praise on veteran filmmaker K Bhagyaraj on his demise, director Mithran R Jawahar, in an exclusive conversation with CE, shared that he was one of the last original thinkers in Tamil film industry who didn't learn cinema through screenplay books or institutes but from experience. "There is a term used these days 'OG'. It aptly suits Bhagyaraj sir. Back in the days, you didn't have books on how to write a screenplay. Bhagyaraj sir is a great observer who absorbed all his experiences and delivered gems. None of his hits were just hits, they were all classics." Notably, Mithran directed Bhagyaraj in the 2010 Dhanush starrer Uthamaputhiran.
Calling himself a huge Bhagyaraj fan, Mithran said it was his mother who made him one. "In my childhood days in Tiruchy, my mother used to take me Bhagyaraj sir's films like Thooral Ninnu Pochu, Idhu Namma Aalu and Mundhanai Mudichu. She was a huge fan of Bhagyaraj sir. I am very thankful to her at this moment for being so. I am not exaggerating, his films gave me the first taste of cinema and storytelling. Bhagyaraj sir has inspired a generation of filmmakers like me."
A regular collaborator with Dhanush, Mithran revealed that they wanted to remake Thooral Ninnu Pochu. "Dhanush sir too is a very big fan of Bhagyaraj sir. We actually had once planned to remake Thooral Ninnu Pochu. Dhanush sir said that role would perfectly suit his stature. We were close to work on the remake, but there were other films of his which look like an iteration of that Thooral Ninnu Pochu role. It was Dhanush who suggested me to cast Bhagyaraj sir in Uthamaputhiran."
Describing it as a 'great fortune' to have said 'action and cut' to the legendary filmmaker, Mithran shared how sportive Bhagyaraj was in the sets of Uthamaputhiran. "In scenes featuring him, dialogues were already half the job done. As I would only explain the scene and his character's reaction, and he would come up with impactful lines. I would openly tell him that this is how I want the scene to be but I am not able to phrase it well, he will understand it and make a phenomenonal delivery." He also revealed that there wasn't even a semblance of ego in him given his unparalleled achievements. "Uthamaputhiran had a lot of actors. Bhagyaraj sir would simply surrender himself to the role and without any hesitation blend among all the actors and play his part without thinking how much importance is he getting. Also, he was very sportive when myself, Dhanush sir and Baba Baskar master insisted him to shake a leg in 'Idicha Pacharisi' song."
Mithran, a storyteller with family drama and humour as his forte, sincerely feels that current filmmakers need to actively try to emulate his works. "Mere admiration will not suffice. Indru Poi Naalai Vaa is still a reference point to comedy films made today. So instead of just respecting or celebrating him, filmmakers should actively emulate his works. Even an attempt at Bhagyaraj sir's sensibilities in filmmaking will result in greatness. It was an absolute honour and privilege working with him. I will miss him dearly. He will live on through his works."
