# Santhana Bharathi

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.

## 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".

## Filmography
### As actor

List of Santhana Bharathi film credits as actor :
| Year | Title | Role |
| 1978 | Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu | |
| 1981 | Raja Paarvai | Man in lift (Cameo appearance) |
| 1981 | Amavasya Chandrudu (Telugu) | Man in lift (Cameo apparence) |
| 1988 | Ullathil Nalla Ullam | Father |
| 1988 | En Jeevan Paduthu | |
| 1989 | Karagattakaran | Chinnarasu |
| 1990 | Aarathi Edungadi | |
| 1990 | Ethir Kaatru | Minister Azhagesan |
| 1990 | Velai Kidaichuduchu | Speaker |
| 1991 | Onnum Theriyatha Papa | Jana |
| 1991 | Thambikku Oru Pattu | Ponnusaamy |
| 1991 | Michael Madana Kama Rajan | Michael's foster father |
| 1992 | Ele, My Friend (English) | Kallar Village Chief |
| 1994 | Nammavar | Sakthivel |
| 1994 | Magalir Mattum | Father of the groom |
| 1995 | Mr. Madras | Guest appearance |
| 1995 | Seethanam | |
| 1996 | Love Birds | |
| 1996 | Amman Kovil Vaasalile | Guest appearance |
| 1996 | Tamizh Selvan | |
| 1997 | Vivasaayi Magan | |
| 1998 | Velai | |
| 1998 | Veera Thalattu | |
| 1998 | Poonthottam | Suresh's father |
| 1998 | Guru Paarvai | Priya's father |
| 1999 | En Swasa Kaatre | |
| 1999 | Unnaruge Naan Irundhal | |
| 1999 | Aasaiyil Oru Kaditham | Chandini's father |
| 2000 | Mugavaree | RK Ram |
| 2000 | Budget Padmanabhan | |
| 2000 | Vaanavil | |
| 2000 | Penngal | |
| 2001 | Friends | Sethupathi |
| 2001 | Ullam Kollai Poguthae | Doctor |
| 2001 | Dosth | Judge |
| 2001 | Samudhiram | Lakshmi's father |
| 2001 | Kadal Pookkal | |
| 2002 | Alli Arjuna | House owner |
| 2002 | Panchatanthiram | Bharathi |
| 2002 | Pammal K. Sambandam | Sambandam's uncle |
| 2002 | King | Dr. Cheenu |
| 2002 | Villain | Father Karunakaran |
| 2003 | Anbe Sivam | Padayatchi's assistant |
| 2003 | Nala Damayanthi | Flight Passenger |
| 2003 | Winner | Neelaveni's uncle |
| 2004 | Vasool Raja MBBS | Gangadharan |
| 2005 | Aayudham | |
| 2005 | Sukran | Judge |
| 2005 | Mumbai Xpress | Chettiar |
| 2005 | Amudhey | Nancy's father |
| 2005 | Kaatrullavarai | Peethambharan |
| 2005 | White Rainbow (Hindi) | Priest |
| 2005 | Anbe Aaruyire | College Chairman |
| 2006 | Aathi | Pottabhi |
| 2006 | Jerry | Jerry's father |
| 2006 | Aran | Sandhya's father |
| 2006 | Paramasivan | Malar's father |
| 2006 | Varalaru | Gayathri's servant |
| 2006 | Kizhakku Kadalkarai Salai | Politician |
| 2007 | Nam Naadu | Political member |
| 2007 | Puli Varudhu | Shenbagam's father |
| 2007 | Marudhamalai | |
| 2008 | Thotta | |
| 2008 | Dasavathaaram | Ragavendra's brother-in-law |
| 2008 | Satyam | Minister Malarmannan |
| 2008 | Kuselan | Kuppusamy's assistant |
| 2009 | Padikkadavan | Ramalingam |
| 2009 | Rajadhi Raja | |
| 2009 | Ragavan | |
| 2009 | Maasilamani | Councillor |
| 2009 | Madurai Sambavam | Caroline's father |
| 2009 | Unnaipol Oruvan | Karamchand Lala |
| 2010 | Porkkalam | Sadha |
| 2010 | Kattradhu Kalavu | Vaikavardhan |
| 2010 | Ochayee | Aandi Thevar |
| 2010 | Virudhagiri | Police commissioner |
| 2011 | Siruthai | Home Minister |
| 2011 | Ponnar Shankar | |
| 2011 | Eththan | Selvi's father |
| 2011 | Marudhavelu | Judge |
| 2012 | Maasi | Maasilamani's Corrupt Senior Officer |
| 2012 | Kadhal Pisase | Businessman |
| 2013 | Alex Pandian | Home Minister |
| 2013 | Chennaiyil Oru Naal | |
| 2013 | Oruvar Meethu Iruvar Sainthu | |
| 2013 | All in All Azhagu Raja | Khader Bhai |
| 2013 | Jannal Oram | Senior Bus Repair Mechanic |
| 2014 | Vallinam | Puzhaldasan |
| 2014 | Tenaliraman | Ex Chettiar/Man |
| 2014 | Aranmanai | Chairman |
| 2014 | Poojai | Annathandavam's lawyer |
| 2014 | Pagadai Pagadai | Priya's father |
| 2015 | Aambala | Thalaivar |
| 2015 | Sandamarutham | Magistrate |
| 2015 | Eli | Jail Warden Ezhumalai |
| 2015 | Kathirvel Kakka | |
| 2015 | Thoongaa Vanam | Thandapani |
| 2016 | Thozha | Police officer |
| 2016 | Oopiri (Telugu) | Police officer |
| 2016 | Meen Kuzhambum Mann Paanaiyum | Pavithra's grandfather |
| 2016 | Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru | Church Priest |
| 2016 | Chennai 600028 II | Chellaiya |
| 2017 | Shivalinga | Abdullah |
| 2017 | 7 Naatkal | Chief Minister |
| 2017 | Yaanum Theeyavan | Sethuramalingam |
| 2018 | Kalakalappu 2 | Ganesh's foster father |
| 2018 | Diya | Chief Minister |
| 2018 | Kanam (Telugu) | Chief Minister |
| 2018 | Tamizh Padam 2 | Nakul |
| 2019 | Goko Mako | Yamagundan |
| 2019 | LKG | Politician |
| 2019 | Ayogya | Home Minister |
| 2019 | Gorilla | Ramaiya |
| 2019 | Thavam | |
| 2019 | RK Nagar | Chairman Sundaramoorthy |
| 2020 | Dagaalty | Malli's father |
| 2020 | Indha Nilai Maarum | |
| 2021 | Operation JuJuPi | Politician |
| 2021 | Plan Panni Pannanum | Karikalan |
| 2022 | Vikram | Agent Uppiliappan |
| 2022 | Rivet | |
| 2022 | Dha Dha | |
| 2023 | Ghosty | |
| 2024 | Sooriyanum Sooriyagandhiyum | |
| 2024 | Nirangal Moondru | Minister Iyyappan |
| 2024 | Sorgavaasal | Minister |
| 2025 | Otha Votu Muthaiya | |

### Television

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 |
| 2022–2024 | Iniya | Tiruvasagam | Sun TV |
| 2024 | Thalaimai Seyalagam | Minister Selvapuviarasan | ZEE5 |
| 2024 | Veera | Special Appearance | Zee Tamil |

### As director

* All works in Tamil unless noted otherwise
List of Santhana Bharathi film credits as director :
| Year | Film | Notes |
| 1981 | Panneer Pushpangal | Co-directed with P. Vasu |
| 1981 | Madhu Malar | Co-directed with P. Vasu |
| 1983 | Mella Pesungal | Co-directed with P. Vasu |
| 1984 | Sahasame Jeevitham | Telugu film; Co-directed with P. Vasu |
| 1985 | Needhiyin Nizhal | Co-directed with P. Vasu |
| 1987 | Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu | remake of Aavanazhi |
| 1988 | En Thamizh En Makkal | |
| 1988 | Poovizhi Raja | |
| 1990 | Kavalukku Kettikaran | |
| 1991 | Guna | 3rd prize – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film |
| 1993 | Chinna Mapillai | |
| 1994 | Mahanadhi | Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil |
| 1994 | Vietnam Colony | remake of Malayalam film of same name |
| 1995 | Engirundho Vandhan | remake of Malayalam film Chithram |