M. Bhaskar
Born(1935-04-03)3 April 1935
Pattamputhur, Madras Presidency, British India
Died12 July 2013(2013-07-12) (aged 78)[1]
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
EducationM.A English literature
Alma materPresidency College
Occupation(s)Story writer, screenwriter, dialogue writer, director, producer
Years active1978-2013
OrganizationOscar Movies
Known forFounder of Oscar Movies
Parent(s)V S Mariappa Thevar,Janaki Ammal

M. Bhaskar (3 April 1935 – 12 July 2013) was an Indian filmmaker who worked mainly in the Tamil film industry. Bhaskar started his film career as an assistant to director C. V. Sridhar. After relieving from his mentor and guru C. V. Sridhar, he was working under Sundaram's Modern Theaters, Chinnappa Thevar along with S. P. Muthuraman, Panju Arunachalam, Thuyavan, Uthiripookkal Balakrishnan and others. He also worked as a second unit Director for 20th Century Fox, during their production in Goa, India.

Early life and career

M. Bhaskar hailed from a village called Pattamputhur, Virudhunagar district. He started his career as an associate to C. V. Sridhar starting from movie Venniradai followed by list of notable films he worked Kodimalar, Nenjirukkum Varai, Ooty Varai Uravu, Avalukendru Or Manam, Sivantha Mann, Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa also in Hindi films Pyar Kiye Jaa, Gehri Chaal, Nai Roshni, Dharti. He made his directorial debut with Bairavi.[2] The film gave major breakthrough in the career of Rajinikanth as a lead actor. Rajini gained the tag "Superstar" from this film.[3][4]

Bairavi is a 1978 Tamil feature film directed by M. Baskar and starring Rajinikanth. It was Rajinikanth's first movie as a solo hero in Tamil cinema.[5] He was also given the "Superstar" title through this film.[6][7] The film stars Sripriya as the female lead and Geetha playing the title role as Rajini's sister. Geetha was introduced in this film. Srikanth played the role of the main villain. Malayalam actor Sudheer played Bairavi's step brother, while Manorama and Suruli Rajan played other major roles.

M Baskar who was impressed with Rajini's dedication in Aarupushpangal, went straight ahead casting Rajini in lead role for Bhairavi. M Baskar, having faith in Rajini to pull the crowds as hero. Initially, Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar agreed to give financial support for Bhairavi but when he heard Rajini is the hero, he withdrew the support and advised M Baskar to stop the movie or change the hero. He questioned M Baskar for choosing a villain in the lead role and hero as villain (Srikanth was acting as hero those days) and he assured to M Baskar that it will be a huge loss.[8] M Baskar approached Muthuraman to play negative role but he refused to portray a negative character, Srikanth was finally selected for the role.[8][9] With all these burden, M Baskar decided to direct the film.[2][3][4][8]

The soundtrack and background score was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Bairavi was the third film for Ilaiyaraaja. All lyrics were penned by Kannadasan.[3]

Then he started his own production company "Oscar Movies" in 1980.Some of the Bhaskar's hit movies as a director and producer includes Theerpugal Thiruththapadalam, Soolam, Sattathin Thirappu Vizhaa, Chakravarthy.[10] He then produced films Vishnu, Kadhal Rojave and Thotta. Vishnu is the first movie that Vijay acted in others production.[11] Vijay earlier movies were produced by his father.Also Vijay honored his first producer Balaji prabhu during his Jilla movie audio launch in december 2013.[12]

M Bhaskar was four times 'Secretary' of "Tamil Film Producers' Council" from (1987-2000), when his contemporary legends Kovai Chezhian, K Balachander, Bharathiraja and KRG were 'President'. He also served the 'South Indian Producers' Guild' as Secretary. He was also the Vice-president of South Indian Directors' Association. He served the 'South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce' for three decades. M Bhaskar along with Bharathiraja rose the Tamil Film Producers' Council's funds from a meager INR 26 to INR 2,00,000 during his tenure of service. M Bhaskar was considered to one of pillars of Tamil Film Producers' Council for reviving it from the financial crisis. He also served as Censor Board Member of Central Board of Film Certification, Government of India for many years. He was also an outside expert for sponsored Programme of Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai for a long period.

Bhaskar initially signed Prashanth for Kadhal Rojavae, but he got offer from S. Shankar for movie Jeans. Considering his career Bhaskar agreed to release prashanth from Kadhal Rojavae. Then he decided to introduce son of former actress Sheela to debut in his production Kadhal Rojavae also introduced Pooja Kumar as a heroine in 1997.According to the deal signed, Vishnu was not supposed to act in any other film until Kadhal Rojavae had been completed and released. However, during production, Vishnu could not wait and starred in a Malayalam film, while Keyaar was still shooting causing a rift between the actor and producer Bhaskar during the making of the project.[13] Pooja Kumar, who was crowned Miss India USA in 1995, was selected to make her debut as heroine and during production she was signed and dropped from other Tamil films of the period including V. I. P and Chinna Raja. The actress notably returned more than a decade later starring in the lead role in Kamal Haasan's bilingual Vishwaroopam. Kadhal Rojavae released after a delay in production in 2000.

Death

Bhaskar died on 13 July 2013 at the age of 78 due to a heart attack.[2] Bhaskar is survived by his wife Meena Rani, sons Balaji Prabhu, Mariappa Babu, and a daughter Janakipriya.[10]

Filmography

YearFilmCredited asLanguageNotes
Director Writer Producer
1975Innum Oru MeeraGreen tickTamil
1978Bairavi[14][15]Green tickTamilRajinikanth's first film as a protagonist, debut of Geetha.
1980SoolamGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickTamilRajkumar Sethupathi introduced as a protagonist.
1982Pakkathu Veetu RojaGreen tickTamil
1982Theerpugal ThiruthapadalamGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickTamil
1983Dhandikappata NyayangalGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickTamil
1984Oru Sumangaliyude KathaGreen tickMalayalam
1985Pournami AlaigalGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickTamil
1986Panneer NadhigalGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickTamil
1986Sravana SandhyaGreen tickTelugu
1987MajaalGreen tickHindi
1989Sattathin Thirappu VizhaaGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickTamil
1991Ellam Ungal Nanmaike[16]Green tickGreen tickGreen tickTamil
1995ChakravarthyGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickTamil
1995VishnuGreen tickTamil
2000Kadhal RojavaeGreen tickTamilPooja Kumar introduced as a lead actress in this film.
2008ThottaGreen tickTamil
2011OothariGreen tickTamilUnreleased

References

  1. ↑ "- M Bhaskar No More". IndiaGlitz.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Veteran Director M Bhaskar Passes Away. Tamil Star.
  3. 1 2 3 "The Journey of Living Legend Rajinikanth - Part-2". Cinemalead.
  4. 1 2 "40 years of Superstar Rajinikanth: Best movies". India TV. 12 December 2014.
  5. ↑ "Cinema Plus / TV Serials : Serials". The Hindu. 6 November 2009. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  6. ↑ "Superstar Rajinikanth's biography : Rajini News – India Today". India Today. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  7. ↑ "Think you know Rajnikanth? Take this quiz! – Rediff.com Movies". Movies.rediff.com. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 Sivajirov to Sivaji in Tamil about Actor Rajni Ganth. December 2009. Senthil Vayal.
  9. ↑ "கலைஞானம் தயாரித்த பைரவி: கதாநாயகனாக நடித்து சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் ஆனார் ரஜினி". Maalaimalar. 18 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012.
  10. 1 2 "Director Who Changed Rajnis Fortune Dies". Cinemalead.
  11. ↑ "Thalapathy Vijay Old interview" – via YouTube.
  12. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Actor Vijay's Jilla simple Audio Release Function Full - Red Pix 24x7. YouTube.
  13. ↑ "1997-98 Kodambakkam babies Page". Indolink.com. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
  14. ↑ "Starry starry might". Telegraph India. 10 October 2010. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  15. ↑ Naman Ramachandran (2014). Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-8184757965.
  16. ↑ "Ellam Ungal Nanmaike - Celluloid". syzygy.in. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
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