MASTER LEAVES A VOID-BHARATHAN

Master
leaves a void
Malayalam film industry still misses the presence of celebrated director Bharathan eight years after his demise, writes KK Moidu
Had famed Malayalam film director Bharathan not died on July 29, 1998, he would have been in his 60s. The industry still remembers this renowned South Indian film-maker, who received the National Award for the best regional film that year for his directorial debut Prayanam.
Bharathan’s talents were not restricted to just film-making. He was also a painter, sculptor, music composer and songwriter. He proved his skills with music in Chilambu, also directed by him. He was born at Enkakkadu near Vadakkanchery, Thrissur district of Kerala in 1946. After completing a diploma course from the School of Drama he entered films as an art director in legendary director Vincent’s team. Bharathan’s work was inspired by his uncle and veteran director PN Menon, who made memorable movies like Olavum Theeravum, Kuttiyedathi, Odakkuzhal, Midukki Ponnamma and Padippura. When he entered the film industry he had to operate on a shoe-string budget. His film’s artistes used to stay in his house and his own village served as his location.
He played an important role in deviating from the then existent drama like style of Malayalam film-making and gave the craft a fillip. His first movie Prayanam was a trendsetter. Prayanam, starred the late Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, as an elderly Brahmin priest, married to a girl young enough to be his daughter. The film was based on late director Padmarajan’s script, In Prayanam he showed an exceptional talent for depicting intimate scenes without vulgarity, a trademark which came to be known as Bharathan touch. The movie became a hot topic of discussion because Bharathan had probed into the realities that existed within the Brahmin community of the day.
Bharathan along with contemporaries, Padmarajan, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and John changed the way Malayalam film-makers of the 70’s thought, through meaningful cinema.
Though Bharathan remade Prayanam as Savithri in Tamil, he could not repeat the success. Years later Aavaram Poo got him recognition in Tamil. His greatest achievement in Tamil was Thevarmakan, starring veterans Sivaji Ganesan and Kamal Hassan. Thevarmakan bagged several awards and was remade into other languages as well. Bharathan also tried his luck in Telugu by directing Devaragam and Manjeeradhwani, but failed.
The veteran film-maker shunned the gloss of commercial cinema and preferred to make films that looked natural and touched the life of real people. Some critics have accused Bharathan of according too much importance to sex and violence in his films but at the same time they agree that he was one director who made films on subjects, which others didn’t even consider. He had a special ability to select a subject, which existed only in people’s minds. Bharathan had directed over 50 films in Malayalam.
By directing art movies like Vaishali, Thazhvaram, Churam, Chaatah, Venkalam, Sandhya Mayangum Neram, Kattathe Kilikoodu and Keli he gave cinema a new dimension. He also directed romantic movies in the early 80’s. These included films like Chaamaram, Marmaram, Paalangal and Ente Upsaana, which was based on a novel of the same name by Mallika Younis. Though these films were not very good but they did well in theatres. Bharathan’s romantic movies too set off a new trend in Malayalam films. Other directors began emulating him thus marking the dawn of a new era of romantic films. Malayalees repeatedly viewed Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvattom because it triggered nostalgia. Everything about the movie, including its title and the characters played by Nedumudi Venu and Sharada of retired teachers, who are childless, made people sentimental. One day a girl comes into the couple’s lives and they experience the joy of parenthood as the girl showers on them a daughter’s love and care. The movie also had some memorable music.
Bharathan had a special talent to spot the latent abilities of his actors. He proved this with Mammooty in Amaram, Padheyam, Kathodu Kathoram, Ithiripoove Chuvannapoove. He also showed a different face of Mohanlal with Thazhvaram and Kattathe Kilikoodu.
Bharathan also introduced some new artistes in Malayalam cinema like Achan Kunju in Lorry, actresses Nithya and Surya in Parankimala, Shanti Krishna and Vijay Menon in Nidra, Prathap Pothan and KG Menon in Thakara by narrating the story of a mentally-challenged youth and his relationship with society. Krishna Chandran in Rathinirvedam telling a teenage boy’s love affair with a much older girl. Rathi was well-played by Jayabharathi. Revathi in Kaattathe Kilikoodu, Babu Anotny in Chilambu, Sanjay and Suparna in Vaishali, Ramu in Oomakkuyil, Salim in Thazhvaram, Tamil actress Latha in Parvathi, Girish Karnad in Neelakurunji Poothappol and Chippi in Padheyam. He also introduced Baby Shyamilee in Malootty and his daughter Sreekutty in Ozhivukalam.
His last movie was Churam, starring Manoj K. Jayan and Divya Unni but it was a flop at the box office.
Directors Jayaraj, Kamal, Perunthachan’s director and Thoppil Basi’s son, Ajayan, Adharam’s director, George Kithu, have all served as his assistants. Award-winning actress, KPAC Lalitha, is his wife. His son Sidharth debuted in a campus-based superhit movie, Nammal, directed by Kamal. Sidharth later acted in Kakkakarumban and Rasikan in Malayalam and some Tamil films.
A foundation has been established in Vadakkanchery in memory of this genius, with the objective of promoting good cinema. Bharathan Foundation is conducting film festivals, appreciation courses and screening quality cinema as a tribute to this accomplished director’s ingenuity.