Recently, director Ram spoke about Bharathiraja's influence on him. Speaking to Polimer News following the legendary filmmaker's passing, Ram said that the latter had taken him under his wing, treated him as his own assistant, despite his history of working under Balu Mahendra, and made him a dialogue writer for the first time on 2008's Bommalattam.
"He is the one who guided me from my debut to Peranbu (2018). Not just me, he has given an identity to many directors in Tamil cinema. His passing is a big loss for me personally and the industry in general," Ram said.
Bharathiraja is best known for his village-based films and is often credited as a pioneer when it comes to taking Tamil cinema out of the studio culture to the outdoor setting. His films such as 16 Vayathinile (1977), Sigappu Rojakkal (1978), Mudhal Mariyadhai (1985), and Karuththamma (1994), among others, are celebrated even today.
Ram also said that many filmmakers will emerge in Tamil cinema following in Bharathiraja's footsteps and will tell the kind of rural stories the latter is most recognised for. "Many vehicles will go in the path that he laid out first for all of us," Ram said metaphorically about Bharathiraja's legacy.
Ram also revealed that the late filmmaker once told him a story about the latter's lorry trip to Chennai from his native with the dream of becoming an assistant director in the film city. "He told me about his plan to direct a film based on his own story," Ram revealed. The Peranbu and Paranthu Po filmmaker also called Bharathiraja an entertaining narrator of stories. "I have heard many chapters of his life as stories. I consider it a big blessing," Ram added.
