His Vaisali (1988) is widely regarded as a modern-day masterpiece in Malayalam cinema. Screenwriter Lohithadas, director Bharathan and cinematographer Ramachandra Babu at the location of Venkalam. The film was a departure from Bharathan's usual style and proved to be a major commercial hit while garnering critical acclaim, too. It deals with the isolation and loneliness that comes with old age. In Oru Minnaaminunginte Nurunguvettam (1987), he tells the poignant story of a childless couple in their post retirement life. Not all of Bharathan's films skirted with bold themes and controversy. It was the romantic era of Malayalam cinema. They did well in theaters and set the trend for meaningful mainstream cinema. In the early 1980s he made several notable movies like Chamaram, Marmaram, Paalangal, Ormakkayi, Kattathe Kilikkoodu, Kathodu Kathoram and many more. In Thakara, he deals with life and longings of an intellectually disabled youth and his association with the society. Rathi Nirvedam was a treatment of teenage sexual angst. His association with Padmarajan led to films including Rathi Nirvedam and Thakara. Some of his other memorable films include Rathinirvedam, Chamaram, Paalangal, Amaram, and Vaishali. 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. His last few films ( Manjeeradhwani, Devaraagam and Churam) were received moderately by critics.īharathan directed over 40 films in Malayalam and Tamil. Thaazhvaaram was stylistically inspired by classic Hollywood Westerns though the theme and backdrop were distinctly original. 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. Some critics argue that this quest for technical excellence was at the expense of the quality of thematic content. 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). Kaathodu Kaathoram was about the social ostracism of a woman who has an adulterous relationship. In Kattathe Kilikkoodu an elderly, married Professor falls for his student. Rathinirvedam was the sexual-coming-of-age story of the relationship between a teenager and an older woman while Chamaram dealt with the tumultuous affair between a student and his college lecturer. His films often defied social conventions and norms about man-woman relationships. Several of his early films were known for their bold portrayal of sexual themes. He also often designed the posters for his films. Bharathan is one of the few Indian directors known to use an elaborate story-board system for filming. Natural props and nature itself often became important characters in his films (like the railway track in Palangal, or the sea in Amaram). His background as a painter enabled him to create frames that were often credited for their visual beauty. Bharathan's films were known for their visually appealing shot compositions. This movement was often called the "middle of the road cinema". 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.
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His later films did involve major movie stars but usually without compromising on plot or narrative. He also managed to steer clear of the "star-centric" culture, prevalent in Indian cinema, throughout his career. Melodrama and escapism, often an integral part of mainstream cinema in India, were usually absent in his films. ( November 2021) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)īharathan's films were known for their realistic portrayal of rural life in Kerala. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. This section possibly contains original research.