भरतन (कलाकार)

Bharathan () (14 November 1947 – 29 July 1998) was a Malayalam film director, artist, sculptor, poster designer and art director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of Malayalam cinema, and also one of the most prolific. At the time of his passing, at the age of 51, he had directed more than 50 movies in several languages. He was born at Engakkadu near Wadakkancherry, in Thrissur district of Kerala, India.

Early career
After completing his diploma from the School of Fine Arts he entered the world of Cinema as an art director for Vincent, an accomplished director of the time and the movie was Ghandarva Kshetram. He got the inspiration from his uncle, P. N. Menon — a veteran film director. After working as an art director and assistant director for a few movies, he made his directorial debut in 1974 with Prayanam, based on Padmarajan’s script. The movie received the national award for the best regional film in that year. It also marked the rise of two early proponents of middle-stream Malayalam cinema.

Style and themes 
Bharathan's films were known for their realistic portrayal of rural life in Kerala. Melodrama and escapism, often an integral part of mainstream cinema in India, were usually absent in his films. He also managed to steer clear of the "star-centric" culture, prevalent in Indian cinema, throughout his career. His later films did involve major movie stars but usually without compromising on plot or narrative. Bharathan, along with Padmarajan and K. G. George were largely responsible for introducing a counter culture of meaningful mainstream cinema which often tread the middle path between art-house and commercial cinema. This movement was often called the "middle of the road cinema". Bharathan's films were known for their visually appealing shot compositions. His background as a painter enabled him to create frames that were often credited for their visual beauty. Natural props and nature itself often became important characters in his films (like the railway track in Paalangal, or the sea in Amaram). Bharathan is one of the few Indian directors known to use an elaborate story-board system for filming. He also often designed the posters for his films.

Several of his early films were known for their bold portrayal of sexual themes.His films often defied social conventions and norms about man-woman relationships. Rathinirvedam was the sexual-coming-of-age story of the relationship between a teenager and an older woman while Chaamaram dealt with the tumultuous affair between a student and his college lecturer. In Kaatathe Killikoodu an elderly, married Professor falls for his student. Kaathodu Kaathoram was about the social ostracism of a woman who has an adulterous relationship.

The latter half of Bharathan's career saw a distinct change in film making style characterized by a wider canvas,more attention to detail with more distinct focus on narrative style (e.g., Vaishali, Amaram, Thaazhvaaram, and Thevar Magan). Some critics argue that this quest for technical excellence was at the expense of the quality of thematic content. Films like Vaishali and Amaram (where he collaborated with acclaimed cinematographer Madhu Ambat) set a new benchmark for cinematographic excellence in Malayalam and Indian Cinema. Thaazhvaaram was stylistically inspired by Classic Hollywood Westerns though the theme and backdrop were distinctly original.

His last few films (Padheyam, Chamayam, Devaraagam) did not receive much critical acclaim or commercial success.

Film career 
The director showed a penchant for brilliantly portraying rustic life in rural Kerala. 
Bharathan has directed over 50 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Starting his career in 1975 with Prayanam, Bharathan rode to fame with his off-beat Thakara, a film about a dumb-witted central character who falls in love with the village beauty. Some of his other memorable films include Rathinirvedam, Chamaram, Paalangal, Amaram, Vaishali and Alolam.

He displayed a rare talent in treating sex without falling into vulgarity which was to later became the trademark of the so called Bharathan touch. His association with Padmarajan was the beginning of a golden era in malayalam cinema.  Few more films came out from the duos partnership before Padmarajan became an independent director himself. Rathi Nirvedam and Thakara were the most noted among them with latter being considered one of his best.

Rathi Nirvedam was a sensitive treatment of teenage sexual angst. In Thakara, he deals with life and longings of a mentally retarded youth and his association with the society.

In the early eighties he made several notable movies like Chaamaram, Marmaram, Paalangal, Oormakkai, Kaatathe Killikoodu, and many more. They did well in theaters and set the trend for meaningful mainstream cinema. Other noted directors also followed suit. It was the romantic era of Malayalam cinema.

Not all of Bharathan's films skirted with bold themes and controversy. In Oru Minnaaminunginte Nurunguvettam (1987), he tells the poignant story of a childless couple in their post retirement life. The film deals with the isolation and loneliness that comes with old age. The film was a departure from Bharathan's usual style and proved to be a major commercial hit while garnering critical acclaim too.

His Vaisali (1998) is widely regarded as a modern day masterpiece in Malayalam cinema. Scripted by the iconic Malayalam novelist M. T. Vasudevan Nair, it was an adaptation of a sub-story told in the epic Mahabharatha. Another movie born from their association was Thazhvaram. The subject was revenge, a theme quite uncharacteristic of Bharathan movies.The style of the film was inspired by Classic Westerns with a brooding, reticent central character and expansive shots of barren landscape.

Even though he was not known to cater to the star-centric system, Bharathan was instrumental in bringing together the two screen icons of Tamil cinema Sivaji Ganesan and Kamal Hassan in the Tamil film Thevar Magan which won both critical acclaim and box office success.Sivaji gave an uncharacteristically restrained yet brilliant performance in the film. The movie was remade into many regional languages (most notably Virasat in Hindi) and bagged several national awards.

His more experimental films include Aaravam, more an arthouse than  commercial venture, and Nidra, a film about the plight of a girl who is in love with a mentally deranged man.

His creativity was not confined to film direction. He also wrote lyrics and tuned songs for his films. (e.g., Keli''; “Thaaram Valkannadi Nokki…")

Later life 
Bharatan died at a private hospital in Madras on 29 July 1998 following prolonged illness. He was suffering from liver cirrhosis.

Trivia

1. The person who is sitting and painting in the song "Ente Swapnathin" which was picturised on KJ Yesudas in the film "Achani" was Bharathan.

2. The drawings in the cave supposedly drawn by Rishyasrungan in Vaishali was undoubtedly drawn by Bharathan.

चित्रपट कारकीर्द

Awards 
National Film Awards:
 1974 - National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam - Prayanam
 1992 - National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil - Thevar Magan (Tamil)

Kerala State Film Awards:
 1975 - Best Art Director - Prayanam
 1979 - Best Art Director - Thakara
 1980 - Best Art Director - Chamaram
 1980 - Second Best Film - Chamaram
 1981 - Best Art Director - Chatta
 1982 - Best Film - Marmaram 
 1982 - Second Best Film - Ormakkayi
 1982 - Best Director - Marmaram, Ormakkayi
 1982 - Best Art Director - Ormakkayi
 1984 - Best Art Director - Ithiripoove Chuvanthapoove
 1987 - Kerala State Film Award for Best film with popular appeal and aesthetic value - Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam  
 1992 - Kerala State Film Award for Best film with popular appeal and aesthetic value - Venkalam

References

बाह्य दुवे 
 
:ml:ഭരതന്‍ (ചലച്ചിത്ര സംവിധായകന്‍)
 cinemaofmalayalam.net: Profile 
 prd.kerala.gov.in: Malayalam Cinema Introduction