Legendary filmmaker Bharathirajaa passed away in Chennai at the age of 83 on Wednesday. He had been suffering from age-related health issues for a while.Over a career spanning nearly five decades, Bharathirajaa earned the title of Iyakkunar Imayam (Peak of Directors), having helmed classics such as 16 Vayathinile (1977), Kizhakke Pogum Rail (1978), Sigappu Rojakkal (1978), Alaigal Oivathillai (1981), Mann Vasanai (1983), Mudhal Mariyathai (1985), Vedham Pudhithu (1987), and Karuthamma (1994), among others.A recipient of the Padma Shri and six National Awards, Bharathirajaa is considered one of the most influential filmmakers in Tamil cinema. In his later years, the veteran continued to be a commanding force as an actor.Rajini & Kamal on their friend...He was my friend for five decades. Everyone is aware of his achievements and talent. He introduced several artistes to the industry and nurtured them. When anyone faced an issue in the cinema industry, he was always the first to lend his voice and fight for them. Bharathirajaa’s contributions to cinema will remain unforgettable and his name will remain forever in the hearts of the Tamil people. He was like a child. He openly expressed what he felt. He was great friends with MGR, Kalaignar and Sivaji. When I recently wanted to meet him, he told me to come when he got better. He has now passed away without me getting to meet him. But he will always live in my thoughts.-RajinikanthThe gentleman is gone. But his art will continue. Our friendship also continues. I’m not counting the losses; I’m counting the profits. He was there, and he made films with me. I am grateful -Kamal HaasanReal locations, rural life became his hallmarkBharathirajaa is widely credited with taking Tamil cinema out of studio sets and into the fields and villages of Tamil Nadu. Starting from his debut film 16 Vayathinile , he pioneered a new wave of films shot on location at a time when most films were being shot indoors. By filming in real locations and portraying rural life with authenticity, he ushered in a raw realism that resonated with the audience and inspired more filmmakers to follow suit. His commitment to realism also extended to the portrayal and styling of his leads, as his male and female protagonists were minimally styled and grounded characters.FROM HEALTH INSPECTOR TO TRENDSETTING FILMMAKERA native of Allinagaram in Theni district, Bharathirajaa had been harbouring cinema dreams ever since he watched the Hindi film Mother India . However, circumstances forced him to begin his career as a health inspector. But he continued working towards a career in films by staging dramas. It is through dramas that he connected with future collaborators Ilaiyaraaja and Gangai Amaren, who were then providing music for plays for the Communist party, and writer R Selvaraj. The quartet soon moved to Chennai in pursuit of a film career, with Bharathirajaa joining Kannada filmmaker Puttanna Kanagal as an assistant director.His first directorial venture, Sontha Veedu , which was to star Muthuraman and Jayalalithaa, was shelved before it could go on floors. But the setback did little to deter him. Soon after, he narrated the story of ‘Mayilu’ to producer SA Rajkannu. The project would eventually evolve into the landmark 16 Vayathinile , starring the then rising talents of Tamil cinema, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Sridevi. The rural film would go on to change the course of Tamil cinema and with his first five films turning out to be box office successes, there was no looking back for the maverick director.THE R SENTIMENT WITH HEROINESThe filmmaker also had a well-known fondness for the letter R. Several leading ladies he introduced, including Radikaa Sarathkumar, Rati Agnihotri, and Ranjitha, carried names beginning with the alphabet. In fact, the filmmaker even rechristened actresses to fit the pattern. So, Asha Kelunni became Revathi when she was launched by Bharathirajaa in Mann Vasanai , while Udaya became Radha and Sumathi became Rekha when they were introduced by him in Alaigal Oivathillai and Kadalora Kavithaigal , respectively. Vijayashanti, Sukanya, Vadivukkarasi and Priya Mani were also among the female talents he introduced. He also provided the first break for actors Pandiyan, Napoleon, Chandrashekar and Janagaraj.TAKING TAMIL FILMS TO HINDI AND TELUGUWhile he is best remembered for his contribution to Tamil cinema, his extensive body of work extended to Hindi and Telugu, with all of the films being remakes of his Tamil works. His Hindi debut, Solva Sawan (1979), was a remake of 16 Vayathinile , with Sridevi reprising her role from the original and Amol Palekar stepping into the role played by Kamal Haasan. He went on to direct Hindi films such as Red Rose , Lovers and Saveray Wali Gaadi , with Final Cut Of Director being his last Hindi outing. In Tollywood, he collaborated with some of the industry’s biggest stars, including Chiranjeevi in Aradhana and Krishna in Jamadagni . Seethakoka Chilaka , the Telugu remake of his Alaigal Oivathillai , won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu.The Bharathirajaa school of filmmakersMany of Bharathirajaa's assistants went on to become prominent filmmakers in their own right, with actor-director K Bhagyaraj emerging as the most successful among them. Directors such as Manivannan, Manobala, Chitra Lakshmanan, K Rangaraj and Manoj Kumar all began their careers under his guidance and have often credited Bharathirajaa with honing their craft and shaping their understanding of cinema.THE SCENE-STEALERRealising his acting dream in his 60s Though Bharathirajaa became one of Tamil cinema’s most celebrated directors, he came into the industry with the hopes of being an actor. While he played the lead role in Kallukkul Eeram (1980), his acting career never took off until 2004. He later recalled in an interview with us that heroes of that era were expected to have “doll-like” features and believed his “rugged” look stood in the way of his ambitions. But in his 60s, substantial acting roles came his way and he reintroduced himself to a new generation of audiences as an actor. Some of his notable acting outings as an actor include Aayitha Ezhuthu , Pandianadu , Kurangu Bommai, Namma Veetu Pillai , Rocky , Thiruchitrambalam , Maharaja , and the Malayalam film Thudarum . The Rajas of KollywoodWith Ilaiyaraaja, Bharathirajaa formed one of the most loved collaborations in Tamil cinema. The duo worked together on over 20 films delivering chartbuster albums that defined the rural soundscape of Tamil films. Read the latest Entertainment News and Celebrity updates. Download the TOI App.