K. Bhagyaraj
Bhagyaraj in 2014
Born	Krishnaswamy Bhagyaraj (1953-01-07)7 January 1953 (age 72) Vellankoil,Coimbatore,Madras State,India (present-dayErode District)
Occupations	Film director Screenwriter Actor Composer Film producer Politician
Years active	1977–present
Spouses	Praveena Bhagyaraj ​ ​ (m. 1981; died 1983)​ Poornima Jayaram ​ (m. 1984)​ [1][2]
Children	2, includingShanthanu

Krishnaswamy Bhagyaraj (born 7 January 1953) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, actor, composer, film producer and politician active mainly inTamil films. He has also written and directedHindi remakes of his Tamil films and TV serials. As an actor, he has worked in more than 75 films and has directed more than 25 films. He won aFilmfare Best Actor Award forMundhanai Mudichu (1983). He receivedLifetime Achievement Award inSIIMA (2014).^[3] He is the editor of weekly magazineBhagya and has also written several novels.

Bhagyaraj was born on 7 January 1953 inVellankoil nearGobichettipalayam inErode district in Tamil Nadu.^[4] He married twice. His first marriage was with actress Praveena, in 1981. She died due to an aggravated case of jaundice in August 1983. His second marriage was with actressPoornima Jayaram, who was his co-star inDarling, Darling, Darling (1982),^[5] on 7 February 1984. The couple has a daughter Saranya Bhagyaraj^[6] (who starred inParijatham (2006)^[7] andPhotographer (2006)^[8]) and a sonShanthnu Bhagyaraj.^[9]

Beginning his career as an assistant to directors G. Ramakrishnan andBharathiraja, Bhagyaraj became recognised for his scriptwriting talent.^[10] He first appeared as a junior artist playing small supporting roles with screen-space of not more than three minutes in films such as16 Vayathinile (1977) and later appeared similarly inSigappu Rojakkal (1978). He was assistant director to Bharathiraja in two films –16 Vayathinile andKizhakke Pogum Rail. Among his early work was writing the script for Bharathiraja's filmsKizhake Pogum Rail (1978) andTik Tik Tik (1981), and writing dialogues forSigappu Rojakkal. He made his directorial début withSuvarilladha Chiththirangal in 1979 and also his debut as the leading man inPuthiya Vaarpugal, directed by Bharathiraja. He received theTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer inPuthiya Vaarpugal (1979). He wrote dialogues and screenplay and acted inKanni Paruvathile (1979).

He quickly established his own concern and started producing a string of distinctive films made mainly in the Tamil language. Bhagyaraj often cast himself in the lead roles of the films he scripted and directed, effectively carving out a niche for himself in the actor-auteur vein. His style of filmmaking is notable for its relatively elaborate, witty, and double entendre-laced script and socially-themed framework. His on-screen personae are typically characterised by their ironic sense of humour and intelligent bravado.^[11]

He introduced actressUrvashi in the Tamil filmMundhanai Mudichu (1983) andKalpana (sister of Urvashi) made her debut with the 1985 filmChinna Veedu, directed by Bhagyaraj, a commercially successful film. He received theFilmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil inMundhanai Mudichu. He became nationally famous when he wrote the script forMundhanai Mudichu remade in Hindi asMasterji withRajesh Khanna in the lead role, which was huge success at the box office.

He rarely acted in films not directed or written by him, with exceptions beingAnbulla Rajinikanth (1984) andNaan Sigappu Manithan (1985). He decided to direct the Hindi remake of Bharatiraja's 1984 directorial ventureOru Kaidhiyin Diary with Rajesh Khanna in the lead in 1985, but later Khanna due to his date issues had to opt out and Bhagyaraj castAmitabh Bachchan in the Hindi remakeAakhree Raasta (1986). Bhagayraj decided to remake the classic old Kannada filmMallammana Pavada, starringRajkumar andB Saroja Devi into a new Tamil filmEnga Chinna Rasa in 1987, which became a huge blockbuster. In 1988, he wrote the script forIdhu Namma Aalu and decided to produce it, but chose not to direct it by himself, as he wanted to act-write-direct a film on a serious issue, which wasAararo Aaariraro. He received the Best Film Award forIdhu Namma Aalu in 1990, directed by Balakumar, whereas the other filmAararo Aaariraro also was both critically acclaimed and successful at box office.

From 1991, he gradually started accepting more acting offers as a lead hero, where director-producer-scriptwriter would be three different people, rather than he himself writing-directing-acting in his films.Rudhra,Amma Vanthachu,Gnanapazham andSuyamvaram were such successful films where he was involved only in the capacity of actor. He also started the weekly magazine "Bhagya" and he is the editor of that magazine. His successful directorial ventures written by him from 1991 on werePavunnu Pavunuthan,Sundara Kandam,Raasukutti andVeetla Visheshanga. He cast his sonShanthanu Bhagyaraj as the child artist inVaettiya Madichu Kattu in 1998 and the film dealt with the father-son relationship, this proved to be both a critical and financial disappointment capping an end to a string of continuous flops includingOru Oorla oru Rajakumari,Gnanapazham andMr. Bechara (1996).

His successful Tamil films written by him continued to be in demand for Hindi remakes in the 1990s and were huge hits in Hindi – withRaasukutti remade asRaja Babu,Sundara Kandam remade asAndaz (1994) andAvasara Police 100 remade intoGopi Kishan, which were successful. He also wrote the script for the Tamil filmThaikulame Thaikulame (1995), starringPandiarajan, whose actor-director was not himself in Hindi, remade asGharwali Baharwali.^[12]

He took a break from acting as the lead hero in Tamil films after the release of the massive critical and commercial failureVaettiya Madichu Kattu. Instead, he directed the TV showsNeenga Nenaicha Saadhikkalanga andIdhu Oru Kadhayin Kadhai (for DD Podhigai), and appeared inApapadi Podu on Jaya TV in this period. His tele-serialRules Rangachari was very famous on DD channel and it completed 390 episodes. He wrote and directed the 2003 filmChokka Thangam, starringVijayakanth. He launched his daughterSaranya Bhagyaraj withParijatham, which he wrote and directed in 2006. He returned to acting withSomething Something... Unakkum Enakkum andRendu in a supporting role and withKasu Irukkanum as the lead hero in 2007. In 2010, he directed his adult sonShanthanu Bhagyaraj in the romantic filmSiddhu +2.

At the end of the 2010s, he acted in supporting roles suchAppavi (2011) andVaagai Sooda Vaa (2011). He ventured into Malayalam film as supporting actor withMr. Marumakan (2012).

He was the leading judge for the showJunior Super Star (2016) andJunior Super Stars (season 2) (2017).^[13][14]

He wrote books such asVaanga Cinemavai Pattri Pesalam,Neenga Nenaicha Saadikkalaam andUngal Bhagyaraj inKelvi Bhadhil (Five Parts).^[15]

He appeared in action thriller films which went on to become commercial hits withKanithan (2016) andThupparivaalan (2017).^[16][17]

In 2020, he later acted in the legal drama filmPonmagal Vandhal.^[18] Bhagyaraj plays as grandfather withShanthanu in the adult comedy filmMurungakkai Chips.^[19] In 2022, he starred inSuper Senior Heroes.^[20]

MGR Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (MGR Popular Progressive Federation) was a political party in the Indian state ofTamil Nadu launched by Bhagyaraj in February 1989. MGR MMK contested the 1991Kerala assembly elections. It had one candidate, who got 87 votes. The MGR MMK party failed in its initial stages.^[21] Bhagyaraj later joinedAll India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.^[22]

On April 5, 2006, Bhagyaraj joined the DMK in the presence of party president M Karunanidhi, and he criticised AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa.^[23] Later, he left DMK and remained as a spectator in politics.^[24]

While speaking to the media at a press event for the filmKaruthukalai Pathivu Sei in 2019, Bhagyaraj remarked that women invite males to sexually assault them and provide them the room to do so. He went on to ask, why males are usually blamed for crimes while women encourage them, apparently in relation with the Pollachi rape case. His misogynistic remarks drew widespread condemnation and opposition from the public, and several women's organisations demanded that he be prosecuted for them.^[25][26] The Tamil Nadu Commission for Women has summoned him to appear before it.^[27]

• Note: All films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.

Year	Title	Credited as				Notes
		Director	Producer	Writer	Music Director
1978	Sigappu Rojakkal			Y
1979	Niram Maratha Pookal			Y
	Puthiya Vaarpugal			Y
	Kanni Paruvathile			Y
	Suvarilladha Chiththirangal	Y		Y		Debut film as director
1980	Bhama Rukmani			Y
	Oru Kai Oosai	Y	Y	Y
	Ilamai Kolam			Y
1981	Mouna Geethangal	Y		Y
	Indru Poi Naalai Vaa	Y		Y
	Vidiyum Varai Kaathiru	Y		Y
	Andha 7 Naatkal	Y		Y
1982	Thooral Ninnu Pochu	Y		Y
	Poi Satchi	Y		Y
	Darling, Darling, Darling	Y		Y
1983	Mundhanai Mudichu	Y		Y		Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil
	Saattai Illatha Pambaram			Y
1984	Dhavani Kanavugal	Y	Y	Y
1985	Oru Kaidhiyin Diary			Y
	Chinna Veedu	Y		Y
1986	Aakhree Raasta	Y		Y		Hindi film; Remake ofOru Kaidhiyin Diary
	Kanna Thorakkanum Saami			Y
1987	Enga Chinna Rasa	Y		Y
1988	Idhu Namma Aalu			Y	Y	Also singer for song "Pachaimalai Saamy"
1989	Aararo Aaariraro	Y	Y	Y	Y
	Ponnu Pakka Poren			Y	Y
1990	Avasara Police 100	Y		Y
1991	Pavunnu Pavunuthan	Y		Y	Y	Cinema Express Award for Best Story Writer
	Rudhra			Y
1992	Sundara Kandam	Y	Y	Y		Cinema Express Award for Best Story Writer
	Rasukutty	Y		Y
1994	Veetla Visheshanga	Y		Y
1995	Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari	Y		Y
	Thaikulame Thaikulame			Y
1996	Mr. Bechara	Y		Y		Hindi film; Remake ofVeetla Visheshanga
	Gnanapazham			Y	Y
1998	Vaettiya Madichu Kattu	Y	Y	Y
2000	Papa the Great	Y		Y		Hindi film Remake ofVaettiya Madichu Kattu
	Kabadi Kabadi			Y
2003	Chokka Thangam	Y		Y		25th Film (Director)
2006	Parijatham	Y	Y	Y
2007	Mudhal Mudhalai			Screenplay and dialogues
2010	Siddhu +2	Y	Y	Y		Cameo appearance
2011	Maaveeran			Dialogues		Tamil dubbed version of Telugu filmMagadheera
2015	Thunai Mudhalvar			Y

Serials

Shows

• K. Bhagyaraj atIMDb
• India Today – K. Bhagyaraj; The reigning king in the world of Madras film Hollywood

• Tamil film directors
• Tamil screenwriters
• 20th-century Indian male actors
• 1953 births
• Living people
• Filmfare Awards South winners
• Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners
• 20th-century Indian screenwriters
• People from Gobichettipalayam
• 21st-century Indian male actors
• Tamil male actors
• Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu
• People from Erode district
• South Indian International Movie Awards winners
• Tamil television writers

• CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list
• CS1 Tamil-language sources (ta)
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use Indian English from August 2014
• All Wikipedia articles written in Indian English
• Use dmy dates from July 2021
• Articles with hCards