Just heard the news that Tamil film director Bharathiraja passed away earlier today. He was 84. The prolific filmmaker directed Sridevi in three films; two iconic hits and one forgettable flop.
Sridevi was his muse and leading lady in;
1. 16 Vayathinile (1977)
His directorial debut, a landmark rural drama where Sridevi played Mayil alongside Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth.
2. Sigappu Rojakkal (1978)
A psychological thriller where Sridevi starred opposite Kamal Haasan. It was made into Red Rose with Rajesh Khanna and Poonam Dhiloon reprising the roles of Kamal and Sri.
3. Solva Sawan (1979)
Bharathiraja’s Hindi directorial debut (a remake of 16 Vayathinile), marking Sridevi’s first Bollywood entry. Unfortunately, the third remake flopped. Sridevi never worked with him thereafer.
In an interview with newspapers, soon after Sridevi, tragic, untimely death back in 2018, the director spoke to the papers.
Sridevi had transformed herself from a child artist into a heroine at the age of 13 in Tamil cinema and went on to dominate the country's film industry displaying her outstanding talent, expressed veteran filmmaker Bharathiraja, who gave Sridevi one of her earliest breakthrough roles in Tamil cinema with 16 ‘Vayathinile’. When Bharathiraja remade the national award winning movie in Hindi as ‘Solva Sawan’, it had marked Sridevi's entry into Bollywood.He said, "I can proudly say that I introduced Sridevi to the Hindi film world. When I initially told her about the remake, she was hesitant to act in the Hindi movie but I convinced her. Through her hard work, she rose to rule Bollywood too. She was an extraordinary talent. She had an inherent talent to grasp things fast. She did not study in any college or university but she can speak nine languages.”
He also said, "I had seen Kamal's movie and I know he will become a big actor. I saw Sridevi first time in the shooting of ‘16 Vayathinile’. I was wondering how a young actor like her will match the talents of Kamal. But she has matched him in every scene. I know she will go places.”
He further added, "Many male actors refuse to risky stunts scenes nowadays but she insisted doing it on her own. We had a double ready to go. She refused and did her own stunts in the movie. It shows her commitment.”
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