Santhana Bharathi

{{short description|Indian film director and actor}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}

{{Use Indian English|date=June 2019}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Santhana Bharathi

| image = Santhana Bharathi at Sathuranga Vettai Audio Launch.jpg

| caption = Santhana Bharathi in 2014

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|Actor}}

| yearsactive = 1975–present

| children =

| father = M. R. Santhanam

| family = R. S. Shivaji (brother)

| credits = {{Ubl

| Mahanadhi

| Gunaa

}}

}}

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. He also directed Mahanadhi (1994), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize.

Personal life

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.{{Cite web |last=Rajendran |first=Gopinath |date=11 December 2019 |title=Sanjay Bharathi: I hope to do a film like Guna some day |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/dec/11/sanjay-bharathi-i-hope-to-do-a-film-like-guna-some-day-dhanusu-raasi-neyargalae-15999.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725094952/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/dec/11/sanjay-bharathi-i-hope-to-do-a-film-like-guna-some-day-dhanusu-raasi-neyargalae-15999.html |archive-date=25 July 2021 |access-date=17 October 2022 |website=Cinema Express}}{{Cite news |last=Raman |first=Mohan V. |author-link=Mohan Raman |date=14 November 2015 |title=A brief history of Nadigar Sangam |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/a-brief-history-of-nadigar-sangam/article7877460.ece |url-status=live |access-date=19 July 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160614142516/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/a-brief-history-of-nadigar-sangam/article7877460.ece |archive-date=14 June 2016}}

Career

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".{{Cite news |date=2006-09-09 |title=In the right direction |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/in-the-right-direction/article3199228.ece |url-status=live |access-date=3 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208052251/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/in-the-right-direction/article3199228.ece |archive-date=8 December 2021}}

Filmography

= As actor =

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of Santhana Bharathi film credits as actor

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

!Notes

!Ref

rowspan="2"| 1988En Uyir KannammaVelayudham

|

|

Ullathil Nalla UllamFather

|

|

1988En Jeevan Paduthu|

|

1989KaragattakaranChinnarasu

|

|

rowspan="3"| 1990Aarathi Edungadi|

|

Ethir KaatruMinister Azhagesan

|

|

Velai KidaichuduchuSpeaker

|

|

rowspan="3"| 1991Onnum Theriyatha Papa Jana

|

|

Thambikku Oru PattuPonnusaamy

|

|

Michael Madana Kama RajanMichael's foster father

|

|

1992Ele, My Friend (English)Kallar Village Chief

|

|

rowspan="2"| 1994NammavarSakthivel

|

|

Magalir MattumFather of the groom

|

|

rowspan="2"| 1995Mr. MadrasGuest appearance

|

|

Seethanam|

|

rowspan="3"| 1996Love Birds|

|

Amman Kovil VaasalileGuest appearance

|

|

Tamizh Selvan|

|

1997Vivasaayi Magan|

|

rowspan="4"| 1998Velai|

|

Veera Thalattu|

|

PoonthottamSuresh's father

|

|

Guru PaarvaiPriya's father

|

|

rowspan="3"| 1999En Swasa Kaatre|

|

Unnaruge Naan Irundhal|

|

Aasaiyil Oru KadithamChandini's father

|

|

rowspan="4"| 2000MugavareeRK Ram

|

|

Budget Padmanabhan|

|

Vaanavil|

|

Penngal|

|

rowspan="5"| 2001FriendsSethupathi

|

|

Ullam Kollai PoguthaeDoctor

|

|

DosthJudge

|

|

SamudhiramLakshmi's father

|

|

Kadal Pookkal|

|

rowspan="5"| 2002Alli ArjunaHouse owner

|

|

PanchatanthiramBharathi

|

|

Pammal K. SambandamSambandam's uncle

|

|

KingDr. Cheenu

|

|

VillainFather Karunakaran

|

|

rowspan="3"| 2003Anbe SivamPadayatchi's assistant

|

|

Nala DamayanthiFlight Passenger

|

|

WinnerNeelaveni's uncle

|

|

2004Vasool Raja MBBSGangadharan

|

|

rowspan="7"| 2005Aayudham|

|

SukranJudge

|

|

Mumbai XpressChettiar

|

|

AmudheyNancy's father

|

|

KaatrullavaraiPeethambharan

|

|

White Rainbow (Hindi)Priest

|

|

Anbe AaruyireCollege Chairman

|

|

rowspan="6"| 2006AathiPottabhi

|

|

JerryJerry's father

|

|

AranSandhya's father

|

|

ParamasivanMalar's father

|

|

VaralaruGayathri's servant

|

|

Kizhakku Kadalkarai SalaiPolitician

|

|

rowspan="3"| 2007Nam NaaduPolitical member

|

|

Puli VarudhuShenbagam's father

|

|

Marudhamalai|

|

rowspan="4"| 2008Thotta|

|

DasavathaaramRagavendra's brother-in-law

|

|

SatyamMinister Malarmannan

|

|

KuselanKuppusamy's assistant

|

|

rowspan="6"| 2009PadikkadavanRamalingam

|

|

Rajadhi Raja|

|

Ragavan|

|

MaasilamaniCouncillor

|

|

Madurai SambavamCaroline's father

|

|

Unnaipol OruvanKaramchand Lala

|

|

rowspan="4"| 2010PorkkalamSadha

|

|

Kattradhu KalavuVaikavardhan

|

|

OchayeeAandi Thevar

|

|

VirudhagiriPolice commissioner

|

|

rowspan="4"| 2011SiruthaiHome Minister

|

|

Ponnar Shankar|

|

EththanSelvi's father

|

|

MarudhaveluJudge

|

|

rowspan="2"|2012MaasiMaasilamani's Corrupt Senior Officer

|

|

Kadhal PisaseBusinessman

|

|

rowspan="5"| 2013Alex PandianHome Minister

|

|

Chennaiyil Oru Naal|

|

Oruvar Meethu Iruvar Sainthu|

|

All in All Azhagu RajaKhader Bhai

|

|

Jannal OramSenior Bus Repair Mechanic

|

|

rowspan="5"| 2014VallinamPuzhaldasan

|

|

TenaliramanEx Chettiar/Man

|

|

AranmanaiChairman

|

|

PoojaiAnnathandavam's lawyer

|

|

Pagadai PagadaiPriya's father

|

|

rowspan="5"| 2015AambalaThalaivar

|

|

SandamaruthamMagistrate

|

|

EliJail Warden Ezhumalai

|

|

Kathirvel Kakka|

|

Thoongaa VanamThandapani

|

|

rowspan="5" | 2016ThozhaPolice officer

|

|

Oopiri (Telugu)

|Police officer

|

|

Meen Kuzhambum Mann PaanaiyumPavithra's grandfather

|

|

Kadavul Irukaan KumaruChurch Priest

|

|

Chennai 600028 IIChellaiya

|

|

rowspan="3"| 2017ShivalingaAbdullah

|

|

7 NaatkalChief Minister

|

|

Yaanum TheeyavanSethuramalingam

|

|

rowspan="4" | 2018Kalakalappu 2Ganesh's foster father

|

|

DiyaChief Minister

|

|

Kanam (Telugu)

|Chief Minister

|

|

Tamizh Padam 2Nakul

|

|

rowspan="6"| 2019Goko MakoYamagundan

|

|

LKGPolitician

|

|

AyogyaHome Minister

|

|

GorillaRamaiya

|

|

Thavam|

|

RK NagarChairman Sundaramoorthy

|

|

rowspan="2"|2020DagaaltyMalli's father

|

|

Indha Nilai Maarum|

|

rowspan="2"|2021Operation JuJuPiPolitician

|

|

Plan Panni PannanumKarikalan

|

|

rowspan="3"|2022VikramAgent Uppiliappan

|

|

Rivet|

|

Dha Dha|

|

2023Ghosty|

|

rowspan="3"| 2024Sooriyanum Sooriyagandhiyum|

|

Nirangal MoondruMinister Iyyappan

|

|

SorgavaasalMinister

|

|

rowspan="1"| 2025Otha Votu MuthaiyaMinister

|

|

= Television =

class="wikitable"

|+ List of Santhana Bharathi television credits

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" | Platform

2006–2008LakshmiSun TV
2013PonnunjalSun TV
2019PondatiRoadside Romeos
2021Kuruthi KalamPaneerselvamMX Player
2022Suzhal: The VortexKodandaramanAmazon Prime Video
2022–2024IniyaTiruvasagamSun TV
2024Thalaimai SeyalagamMinister SelvapuviarasanZEE5
2024VeeraSpecial AppearanceZee Tamil

= As director =

  • All works in Tamil unless noted otherwise

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of Santhana Bharathi film credits as director

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Film

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

1981Panneer PushpangalCo-directed with P. Vasu
1981Madhu MalarCo-directed with P. Vasu
1983Mella PesungalCo-directed with P. Vasu
1984Sahasame JeevithamTelugu film; Co-directed with P. Vasu
1985Needhiyin NizhalCo-directed with P. Vasu
1987Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaaduremake of Aavanazhi
rowspan=2|1988En Thamizh En Makkal
Poovizhi Raja
1990Kavalukku Kettikaran
1991Guna3rd prize – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film{{Cite news |date=30 October 1992 |title='Chinnathambi' bags six awards |pages=3 |work=The Indian Express |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19921030&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |agency=Express News Service |location=Madras |access-date=9 March 2021 |quote='En Raasaavin Manasile' was declared the second best film for 1991. 'Guna' won the third prize and 'Cheran Pandiyan' the special prize.}}{{cbignore}}
1993Chinna Mapillai
rowspan=2|1994MahanadhiTamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize{{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |title=Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931–2013 |title-link=Pride of Tamil Cinema |publisher=Blue Ocean Publishers |year=2014 |oclc=898765509 |author-link=G. Dhananjayan}}
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil{{Cite news |last=S |first=Srivatsan |date=21 August 2019 |title=Madras through the eyes of filmmaker Santhana Bharathi |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/madras-through-the-eyes-of-a-filmmaker/article29210200.ece |url-status=live |access-date=7 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207204643/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/madras-through-the-eyes-of-a-filmmaker/article29210200.ece |archive-date=7 February 2022 |quote=Santhana Bharathi has won a National Award for directing Mahanadi (1994).}}
Vietnam Colonyremake of Malayalam film of same name
1995Engirundho Vandhanremake of Malayalam film Chithram

References

{{Reflist}}