# A. Bhimsingh

A. Bhimsingh or Bhim Singh (15 October 1924–16 January 1978) was an Indian filmmaker who worked predominantly in Tamil cinema. Apart from Tamil, he made films in other languages that include 18 films in Hindi, 8 films in Telugu, 5 films in Malayalam and 2 films in Kannada. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, he started his film career as an assistant editor with the film-making duo Krishnan–Panju in the late 1940s. Later, he became an assistant director before evolving as an independent director. His films mainly dealt with family and relationships. He made a series of films all of which started with the Tamil syllable pa, mainly with Sivaji Ganesan.

## Personal life

Bhimsingh married Sona, the sister of Krishnan, in 1949. He had eight children with her; one of his eight children, B. Lenin is a film editor, and another son of his, B. Kannan, is a cinematographer, who is known for his frequent collaborations with many of Bharathiraja. Later, Bhimsingh's eldest son Naren married Panju's daughter. Bhimsingh was also married to actress Sukumari in 1959 and has a son Suresh Bhimsingh.

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Banner | Language | Screenwriter | Notes |
| 1954 | Ammaiyappan | National Productions | Tamil | M. Karunanidhi | Directorial debut |
| 1956 | Raja Rani | National Productions | Tamil | M. Karunanidhi | |
| 1958 | Pathi Bakthi | Budda Pictures | Tamil | Valampuri Somanathan | screenplay, dialogues and editor credits |
| 1958 | Thirumanam | Valampuri Pictures | Tamil | M. S. Solamalai | |
| 1959 | Ponnu Vilaiyum Bhoomi | Oriental Pictures | Tamil | |
| 1959 | President Panchatcharam | Savitri Pictures | Tamil | B. S. Ramaiah | |
| 1959 | Bhaaga Pirivinai | Saravana Films | Tamil | M. S. Solamalai | |
| 1959 | Sahodhari | Carnatic Films | Tamil | Murasoli Maran | |
| 1960 | Aai Phirse Bahar | | Hindi | M. Karunanidhi | |
| 1960 | Padikkadha Medhai | Bala Movies | Tamil | Asha Poorna Devi | |
| 1960 | Kalathur Kannamma | AVM Productions | Tamil | Javar Seetharaman | Dubbed in Telugu as Mavoori Ammayi |
| 1960 | Petra Manam | National Pictures | Tamil | Mu. Varadarajan | |
| 1961 | Pava Mannippu | Budhdha Pictures | Tamil | M. S. Solamalai | National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film Dubbed in Telugu as Papa Pariharam |
| 1961 | Pasamalar | Rajamani Pictures | Tamil | K. P. Kottarakkara | |
| 1961 | Paalum Pazhamum | Saravana Films | Tamil | G. Balasubramaniam, Pasumani | Remade as Saathi |
| 1962 | Paarthaal Pasi Theerum | AVM Productions | Tamil | A. C. Tirulokchandar | |
| 1962 | Padithaal Mattum Podhuma | Ranganathan Pictures | Tamil | Tharashankar Bandopadhyay | |
| 1962 | Rakhi | | Hindi | | Remake of Pasamalar |
| 1962 | Senthamarai | Madras Pictures | Tamil | Rama Arangannal | |
| 1962 | Bandha Pasam | Santhi Films | Tamil | Valampuri Somanathan | |
| 1962 | Main Chup Rahungi | AVM Productions | Hindi | | Remake of Kalathur Kannamma |
| 1963 | Paar Magaley Paar | Kasturi Films | Tamil | Pattu | Based on stage play Petralthan Pillaiya |
| 1964 | Pachchai Vilakku | Vel Pictures | Tamil | G. K. Suriyam | |
| 1964 | Pooja Ke Phool | AVM Productions | Hindi | K. S. Gopalakrishnan | Remake of Kumudham, directed by Adurthi Subba Rao |
| 1965 | Pazhani | Bharatha Matha Pictures | Tamil | G. V. Iyer | |
| 1965 | Santhi | ALS Productions | Tamil | M. S. Solaimalai | |
| 1965 | Khandan | Vasu Films | Hindi | M. S. Solaimalai | Remake of Bhaaga Pirivinai |
| 1966 | Sadhu Mirandal | Sunbeam Productions | Tamil | Writer and producer |
| 1967 | Pattathu Rani | Sunbeam Productions | Tamil | Producer |
| 1967 | Mehrban | AVM Productions | Hindi | | Remake of Padikkadha Medhai Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Director |
| 1967 | Paaladai | Kamala Pictures | Tamil | Bilahari (T. Raman) | |
| 1967 | Aalayam | Sunbeam Productions | Tamil | | Writer and producer |
| 1968 | Gauri | Sivaji Films | Hindi | | Remake of Santhi |
| 1968 | Aadmi | PSV Pictures | Hindi | Akhtar ul Iman Kaushal Bharati Ramarao Shamanna | Remake of K. Shankar's Aalayamani |
| 1968 | Sadhu Aur Shaitaan | | Hindi | Usilai Somanathan | Remake of Sadhu Mirandal |
| 1969 | Manishichina Maguva | | Telugu | | |
| 1969 | Bhai Bahen | | Hindi | | |
| 1970 | Paadhukaappu | Sunbeam Productions | Tamil | Paasumani | |
| 1970 | Gopi | | Hindi | | Remake of B. R. Panthulu's Chinnada Gombe |
| 1970 | Oke Kutumbham | | Telugu | | |
| 1972 | Sub Ka Saathi | | Hindi | | |
| 1972 | Maalik | | Hindi | | |
| 1972 | Maa Inti Jyothi | | Telugu | | |
| 1972 | Joroo Ka Ghulam | | Hindi | | |
| 1973 | Loafer | Century Films | Hindi | Jagdish Kanwal | |
| 1974 | Paadha Poojai | Kasiram Pictures | Tamil | | |
| 1974 | Naya Din Nai Raat | | Hindi | A. P. Nagarajan | Remake of A. P. Nagarajan's Navarathiri |
| 1975 | Raagam | Jammu Films | Malayalam | S. L. Puram Sadanandan | |
| 1975 | Bhagyashalulu | | Telugu | | |
| 1976 | Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal | ABS Productions | Tamil | Jayakanthan | |
| 1976 | Kanavan Manaivi | Sri Umachitra Combines | Tamil | Kalaignanam | Remade as Haisiyat |
| 1976 | Chiranjeevi | | Kannada | | |
| 1976 | Bangaru Manishi | | Kannada | | |
| 1977 | Yaaron Ka Yaar | | Hindi | | |
| 1977 | Nirakudum | Swapna Films | Malayalam | Surasu | Remake of Bhaaga Pirivinai |
| 1977 | Sneham | JS Films | Malayalam | Sreekumaran Thampi | |
| 1977 | Nee Vazha Vendum | Fathima Amuda Combines | Tamil | | |
| 1977 | Amaanat | | Hindi | | |
| 1977 | Evaru Devudu | | Telugu | | |
| 1978 | Vamsha Jyothi | Sri Rama Enterprises | Kannada | | |
| 1978 | Oru Nadigai Natakam Parkiral | Girnar Films | Tamil | Jayakanthan | |
| 1978 | Mishiha Charitram | | Malayalam | | Dubbed into Tamil and Telugu |
| 1978 | Kai Pidithaaval | Ganeshanjali Productions | Tamil | | |
| 1978 | Maattoly | Swapna Films | Malayalam | R. Balakrishnan | |
| 1978 | Iraivan Kodutha Varam | Raja Cine Arts | Tamil | R. Balakrishnan | |
| 1978 | Karunamayudu | Vijayachander Rev. Louis F. Knoll STBC | Telugu | Fr. Christopher Coelho, O.F.M. | Bhimsingh also acted as Judas Iscariot. Dubbed in Hindi as Daya Sagar, Tamil as Karunamoorthy and English as Ocean of Mercy. |
| 1978 | Karunai Ullam | MSV Movies | Tamil | | |

## Pa series

Many of Bhimsingh's films began with the syllable Pa, starred Sivaji Ganesan, had music by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, and lyrics by Kannadasan. According to Ganesan, Bhimsingh hardly imagined that he would make a series of films that began with the letter Pa, implying that he "might have thought about it at first because his name starts with the same letter in Tamil. Later he might have decided to stay on with this letter for sentimental reasons."
| Year | Film | Banner | Music | Actors |
| 1958 | Pathi Bakthi | Buddha Pictures | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savithri, M. N. Rajam, T. S. Balaiah, J. P. Chandrababu, V. Nagayya, C. R. Vijayakumari |
| 1959 | Bhaaga Pirivinai | Saravana Films | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | Sivaji Ganesan, B. Saroja Devi, M. R. Radha, T. S. Balaiah, S. V. Subbaiah, M. N. Nambiar, M. V. Rajamma |
| 1960 | Padikkadha Medhai | Bala Movies | K. V. Mahadevan | Sivaji Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, S. V. Ranga Rao, P. Kannamba, T. R. Ramachandran, R. Muthuraman, E. V. Saroja, V. Gopalakrishnan |
| 1961 | Pasamalar | Rajamani Pictures | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savithri, M. N. Rajam, M. N. Nambiar, K. A. Thangavelu |
| 1961 | Palum Pazhamum | Saravana Films | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | Sivaji Ganesan, B. Saroja Devi, Sowcar Janaki, Prem Nazir, T. S. Balaiah, S. V. Subbaiah, V. Nagayya, Sriram, Manorama |
| 1961 | Paava Mannippu | Budhdha Pictures | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savithri, Devika, V. Nagayya, M. R. Radha, T. S. Balaiah, S. V. Subbaiah, M. V. Rajamma |
| 1962 | Bandha Pasam | Santhi Films | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savithri, Devika, S. V. Ranga Rao, M. V. Rajamma, J. P. Chandrababu |
| 1962 | Parthal Pasi Theerum | AVM | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savithri, Sowcar Janaki, B. Saroja Devi, Kamal Haasan |
| 1962 | Padithal Mattum Podhuma | Ranganathan Pictures | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | Sivaji Ganesan, K. Balaji, Savithri, Rajasulochana, M. R. Radha, S. V. Ranga Rao, S. V. Sahasranamam, P. Kannamba, M. V. Rajamma, R. Muthuraman |
| 1963 | Paar Magaley Paar | Kasturi Films | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | Sivaji Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, R. Muthuraman, A. V. M. Rajan, C. R. Vijayakumari, Pushpalatha, M. R. Radha, V. K. Ramasamy |
| 1964 | Pachhai Vilakku | Vel Pictures | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | Sivaji Ganesan, S. S. Rajendran, A. V. M. Rajan, Sowcar Janaki, C. R. Vijayakumari, Pushpalatha, V. Nagayya, Nagesh, S. V. Ranga Rao, Sriram |
| 1965 | Pazhani | Bharatha Matha Pictures | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | Sivaji Ganesan, Sriram, S. S. Rajendran, R. Muthuraman, Devika, Pushpalatha, T. S. Balaiah, M. R. Radha |
| 1967 | Paaladai | Kamala Pictures | K. V. Mahadevan | Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini. K. R. Vijaya, V. K. Ramasamy, Nagesh, V. Gopalakrishnan, Manorama |
| 1970 | Paadhukaappu | Sunbeam Productions | M. S. Viswanathan | Sivaji Ganesan, Jayalalithaa, T. S. Balaiah, Major Sundararajan, M. N. Nambiar, Nagesh, J. P. Chandrababu, Sowcar Janaki |

## As an actor

* 1975: Cinema Paithyam

## Recurring collaborators

Bhimsingh frequently associated with the same crew members. These included the assistant director duo Thirumalai–Mahalingam (who later became proper directors on films produced and written by Bhimsingh), cinematographer G. Vittal Rao and editor A. Paul Duraisingam. Ganesan appeared in 18 films directed by Bhimsingh, starting with Raja Rani (1956).

## Accolades

National Film Awards
* 1959: President's silver medal for Best Feature Film in Tamil – Bhaaga Pirivinai
* 1960: Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Tamil – Kalathur Kannamma
* 1961: All India Certificate of Merit for the Second Best Feature Film – Paava Mannippu
* 1961: Certificate of Merit for Second Best Feature Film in Tamil – Pasamalar
* 1964: Certificate of Merit for Second Best Feature Film in Tamil – Pazhani