K Bhagyaraj Birthday Special

K Bhagyaraj began his film career as a director’s assistant to G. Ramakrishnan and Bharathiraja. He made his first screen appearance in a small role as a doctor in Bharathiraja’s debut film, 16 Vayanthiniley. When he scripted the Kamalhaasan-Sri Devi starrer, Sigappu Rojakkal, he was given a bigger role. This led to his first lead role in Bharathiraja’s Puthiya Vaarpugal opposite Rati Agnihotri in her film debut. This film also won for him the Tamil Nadu State Award for Best Dialogue Writer.

Later that year, Bhagyaraj turned director in Suvariladha Ciththarangal where he also played the lead role. This began a series of film in which Bhagyaraj established himself as a lead actor quite different from other lead stars of his time, using his ordinary looks to his advantage and often using self-depracating humour – much to the delight of his audience.

His 1982 film, Darling Darling Darling was a box-office hit and saw him play the lead role opposite Poornima Jayaram (now his wife).

He won national fame through the success of his 1983 film, Mundhanai Mudichu, the film which introduced Urvasi to the screen and won for Bhgayraj the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. Like most of his films, this film was also remade into Hindi.

He later teamed up with Bharathiraja to write the Kamalhaasan-Revathy starrer, Oru Kaidhiyin Diary and also directed the Hindi version which initially had Rajesh Khanna in the lead, but he was subsequently replaced by Amitabh Bachchan.

In 1990 he used footage from MGRs unfinished film Annah yen deivam and weaved his own story around the footage, creating the film Avasara Police 100.

From 1991, he continued to direct film but began to accept more acting offers from other directors. Some of his notable directorials post 2000 include Vijayakanth’s Chokka Thangam, his daughter’s Paarijaadham and his son’s Siddhu plus 2.

K Bhagyaraj’s last screen appearance was in the 2024 film PT Sir.

K Bhagyaraj turns 72 today. Sigaram wishes him good health and better success in the years ahead.

Enjoy our specially selected songs to mark the occasion. If the video is not automatically accessible, click on the button that states “CLICK HERE” to access the playlist.