Santhana Bharathi

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Santhana Bharathi
Santhana Bharathi in 2014
Occupations
  • Film director
  • actor
Years active1975–present
Notable credits
Parent
  • M. R. Santhanam (father)
FamilyR. S. Shivaji (brother)

Santhana Bharathi is an Indian film director and actor who has primarily worked in Tamil cinema. He directed Gunaa (1991), which won third prize for the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film.[1] He also directed Mahanadhi (1994), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil[2] and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize.[3]

Personal life[edit]

Bharathi's father M. R. Santhanam was an actor and producer, one of the earliest members of the Nadigar Sangam. His brother R. S. Shivaji was also an actor. Bharathi's son Sanjay Bharathi is also a director.[4][5]

Career[edit]

Santhana Bharathi joined director C. V. Sridhar as an assistant. Bharathi started his career with P. Vasu as a co-director and made films such as Panneer Pushpangal (1981), Madhu Malar (1981), Mella Pesungal (1983), Sahasame Jeevitham (1984) and Needhiyin Nizhal (1985). According to Vasu, "We compromised on certain things as we had different approaches to the subject. That's the reason why some of our other movies failed to make a big impression in the box office, prompting us to take our own paths".[6]

Filmography[edit]

As actor[edit]

List of Santhana Bharathi film credits as actor
Year Title Role
1978 Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu
1981 Raja Paarvai Man in lift (Cameo appearance)
1988 Ullathil Nalla Ullam Father
En Jeevan Paduthu
1989 Karagattakaran Chinnarasu
1990 Aarathi Edungadi
Ethir Kaatru Minister Azhagesan
Velai Kidaichuduchu Speaker
1991 Onnum Theriyatha Papa Jana
Thambikku Oru Pattu Ponnusaamy
Michael Madana Kama Rajan Michael's foster father
1992 Ele, My Friend (English) Kallar Village Chief
1994 Nammavar Sakthivel
Magalir Mattum Father of the groom
1995 Mr. Madras Guest appearance
Seethanam
1996 Love Birds
Amman Kovil Vaasalile Guest appearance
Tamizh Selvan
1997 Vivasaayi Magan
1998 Velai
Veera Thalattu
Poonthottam Suresh's father
Guru Paarvai Priya's father
1999 En Swasa Kaatre
Unnaruge Naan Irundhal
Aasaiyil Oru Kaditham Chandini's father
2000 Mugavaree RK Ram
Budget Padmanabhan
Vaanavil
Penngal
2001 Friends Sethupathi
Ullam Kollai Poguthae Doctor
Dosth Judge
Samudhiram Lakshmi's father
Kadal Pookkal
2002 Alli Arjuna House owner
Panchatanthiram Bharathi
King Dr. Cheenu
Villain Father Karunakaran
2003 Anbe Sivam Padayatchi's assistant
Nala Damayanthi Flight Passenger
Winner Neelaveni's uncle
2004 Vasool Raja MBBS Gangadharan
2005 Aayudham
Sukran Judge
Mumbai Xpress Chettiar
Amudhey Nancy's father
Kaatrullavarai Peethambharan
White Rainbow (Hindi) Priest
Anbe Aaruyire College Chairman
2006 Aathi Pottabhi
Jerry Jerry's father
Aran Sandhya's father
Paramasivan Malar's father
Varalaru Gayathri's servant
Kizhakku Kadalkarai Salai Politician
2007 Nam Naadu Political member
Puli Varudhu Shenbagam's father
Marudhamalai
2008 Thotta
Dasavathaaram Ragavendra's brother-in-law
Satyam Minister Malarmannan
Kuselan Kuppusamy's assistant
2009 Padikkadavan Ramalingam
Rajadhi Raja
Ragavan
Maasilamani Councillor
Madurai Sambavam Caroline's father
Unnaipol Oruvan Karamchand Lala
2010 Porkkalam Sadha
Kattradhu Kalavu Vaikavardhan
Ochayee Aandi Thevar
Virudhagiri Police commissioner
2011 Siruthai Home Minister
Ponnar Shankar
Eththan Selvi's father
Marudhavelu Judge
2012 Maasi Maasilamani's Corrupt Senior Officer
Kadhal Pisase Businessman
2013 Alex Pandian Home Minister
Chennaiyil Oru Naal
Oruvar Meethu Iruvar Sainthu
All in All Azhagu Raja Khader Bhai
Jannal Oram Senior Bus Repair Mechanic
2014 Vallinam Puzhaldasan
Tenaliraman Ex Chettiar/Man
Aranmanai Chairman
Poojai Annathandavam's lawyer
Pagadai Pagadai
2015 Aambala Thalaivar
Sandamarutham Magistrate
Eli Jail Warden Ezhumalai
Kathirvel Kakka
Thoongaa Vanam Thandapani
2016 Thozha Police officer
Meen Kuzhambum Mann Paanaiyum Pavithra's grandfather
Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru Church Priest
Chennai 600028 II Chellaiya
2017 Shivalinga Abdullah
7 Naatkal Chief Minister
Yaanum Theeyavan Sethuramalingam
2018 Kalakalappu 2 Ganesh's foster father
Diya Chief Minister
Tamizh Padam 2 Nakul
2019 Goko Mako Yamagundan
LKG Politician
Ayogya Home Minister
Gorilla Ramaiya
Thavam
RK Nagar Chairman Sundaramoorthy
2020 Dagaalty Malli's father
Indha Nilai Maarum
2021 Operation JuJuPi Politician
Plan Panni Pannanum Karikalan
2022 Vikram Agent Uppiliappan
Rivet
Dha Dha
2023 Ghosty

Television[edit]

List of Santhana Bharathi television credits
Year Title Role Platform
2006–2008 Lakshmi Sun TV
2013 Ponnunjal Sun TV
2019 Pondati Roadside Romeos
2021 Kuruthi Kalam Paneerselvam MX Player
2022 Suzhal: The Vortex Kodandaraman Amazon Prime Video
2022–present Iniya Tiruvasagam Sun TV

As director[edit]

  • All works in Tamil unless noted otherwise
List of Santhana Bharathi film credits as director
Year Film Cast Writer Notes
1981 Panneer Pushpangal Suresh, Shanthi Krishna K. Rajeswar Co-directed with P. Vasu
1981 Madhu Malar Pratap K. Pothen, Suhasini Co-directed with P. Vasu
1983 Mella Pesungal Vasanth, Bhanupriya M.S.Madhu Co-directed with P. Vasu
1984 Sahasame Jeevitham Nandamuri Balakrishna, Viji Telugu film; Co-directed with P. Vasu
1985 Needhiyin Nizhal Sivaji Ganesan, Prabhu V. C. Guhanathan Co-directed with P. Vasu
1987 Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu Sathyaraj, Geetha T. Damodaran remake of Aavanazhi
1988 En Thamizh En Makkal Sivaji Ganesan
Poovizhi Raja Prabhu, Shantipriya
1990 Kavalukku Kettikaran Prabhu, Nirosha Karunanidhi
1991 Guna Kamal Haasan, Roshini Sab John, Kamal Haasan 3rd prize – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film[1]
1993 Chinna Mapillai Prabhu, Sukanya, Sivaranjani P. Kalaimani
1994 Mahanadhi Kamal Haasan, Sukanya Kamal Haasan Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize[3]
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil[2]
Vietnam Colony Prabhu, Vineetha Siddique-Lal remake of Malayalam film of same name
1995 Engirundho Vandhan Sathyaraj, Roja Priyadarshan remake of Malayalam film Chithram

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "'Chinnathambi' bags six awards". The Indian Express. Madras. Express News Service. 30 October 1992. p. 3. Retrieved 9 March 2021. 'En Raasaavin Manasile' was declared the second best film for 1991. 'Guna' won the third prize and 'Cheran Pandiyan' the special prize.
  2. ^ a b S, Srivatsan (21 August 2019). "Madras through the eyes of filmmaker Santhana Bharathi". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022. Santhana Bharathi has won a National Award for directing Mahanadi (1994).
  3. ^ a b Dhananjayan, G. (2014). Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931–2013. Blue Ocean Publishers. OCLC 898765509.
  4. ^ Rajendran, Gopinath (11 December 2019). "Sanjay Bharathi: I hope to do a film like Guna some day". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  5. ^ Raman, Mohan V. (14 November 2015). "A brief history of Nadigar Sangam". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 June 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  6. ^ "In the right direction". The Hindu. 9 September 2006. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2023.

External links[edit]