Santhana Bharathi


Santhana Bharathi is an Indian film director and actor who has primarily worked in Tamil cinema. He directed Gunaa, which won third prize for the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film. He also directed Mahanadhi, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize.

Personal life

Bharathi's father M. R. Santhanam was an actor and producer, one of the earliest members of the Nadigar Sangam. His brother R. S. Shivaji was also an actor. Bharathi's son Sanjay Bharathi is also a director.

Career

Santhana Bharathi joined director C. V. Sridhar as an assistant. Bharathi started his career with P. Vasu as a co-director and made films such as Panneer Pushpangal, Madhu Malar, Mella Pesungal, Sahasame Jeevitham and Needhiyin Nizhal. According to Vasu, "We compromised on certain things as we had different approaches to the subject. That's the reason why some of our other movies failed to make a big impression in the box office, prompting us to take our own paths".

Filmography

As actor

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988En Uyir Kannamma Velayudham
1988Ullathil Nalla UllamFather
1988En Jeevan Paduthu
1989KaragattakaranChinnarasu
1990Aarathi Edungadi
1990Ethir KaatruMinister Azhagesan
1990Velai KidaichuduchuSpeaker
1991Onnum Theriyatha Papa Jana
1991Thambikku Oru PattuPonnusaamy
1991Michael Madana Kama RajanMichael's foster father
1992Ele, My FriendKallar Village ChiefEnglish film
1994NammavarSakthivel
1994Magalir MattumFather of the groom
1995Mr. MadrasGuest appearance
1995Seethanam
1996Love Birds
1996Amman Kovil VaasalileGuest appearance
1996Tamizh Selvan
1997Vivasaayi Magan
1998Velai
1998Veera Thalattu
1998PoonthottamSuresh's father
1998Guru PaarvaiPriya's father
1999En Swasa Kaatre
1999Unnaruge Naan Irundhal
1999Aasaiyil Oru KadithamChandini's father
2000MugavareeRK Ram
2000Budget Padmanabhan
2000Vaanavil
2000Penngal
2001FriendsSethupathi
2001Ullam Kollai PoguthaeDoctor
2001DosthJudge
2001SamudhiramLakshmi's father
2001Kadal Pookkal
2002Alli ArjunaHouse owner
2002PanchatanthiramBharathi
2002Pammal K. SambandamSambandam's uncle
2002KingDr. Cheenu
2002VillainFather Karunakaran
2003Anbe SivamPadayatchi's assistant
2003Nala DamayanthiFlight Passenger
2003WinnerNeelaveni's uncle
2004Vasool Raja MBBSGangadharan
2005Aayudham
2005SukranJudge
2005Mumbai XpressChettiar
2005AmudheyNancy's father
2005KaatrullavaraiPeethambharanHindi film
2005White RainbowPriest
2005Anbe AaruyireCollege Chairman
2006AathiPottabhi
2006JerryJerry's father
2006AranSandhya's father
2006ParamasivanMalar's father
2006VaralaruGayathri's servant
2006Kizhakku Kadarkarai SalaiPolitician
2007Nam NaaduPolitical member
2007Puli VarudhuShenbagam's father
2007Marudhamalai
2008Thotta
2008DasavathaaramRagavendra's brother-in-law
2008SatyamMinister Malarmannan
2008KuselanKuppusamy's assistant
2009PadikkadavanRamalingam
2009Rajadhi Raja
2009Ragavan
2009MaasilamaniCouncillor
2009Madurai SambavamCaroline's father
2009Unnaipol OruvanKaramchand Lala
2010PorkkalamSadha
2010Kattradhu KalavuVaikavardhan
2010OchayeeAandi Thevar
2010VirudhagiriPolice commissioner
2011SiruthaiHome Minister
2011Ponnar Shankar
2011EththanSelvi's father
2011MarudhaveluJudge
2012MaasiMaasilamani's Corrupt Senior Officer
2012Kadhal PisaseBusinessman
2013Alex PandianHome Minister
2013Chennaiyil Oru Naal
2013Oruvar Meethu Iruvar Sainthu
2013All in All Azhagu RajaKhader Bhai
2013Jannal OramSenior Bus Repair Mechanic
2014VallinamPuzhaldasan
2014TenaliramanEx Chettiar/Man
2014AranmanaiChairman
2014PoojaiAnnathandavam's lawyer
2014Pagadai PagadaiPriya's father
2015AambalaThalaivar
2015SandamaruthamMagistrate
2015EliJail Warden Ezhumalai
2015Kathirvel Kakka
2015Thoongaa VanamThandapani
2016ThozhaPolice officer
2016Oopiri Police officer
2016Meen Kuzhambum Mann PaanaiyumPavithra's grandfather
2016Kadavul Irukaan KumaruChurch Priest
2016Chennai 600028 IIChellaiya
2017ShivalingaAbdullah
20177 NaatkalChief Minister
2017Yaanum TheeyavanSethuramalingam
2018Kalakalappu 2Ganesh's foster father
2018DiyaChief Minister
2018Kanam Chief Minister
2018Tamizh Padam 2Nakul
2019Goko MakoYamagundan
2019LKGPolitician
2019AyogyaHome Minister
2019GorillaRamaiya
2019Thavam
2019RK NagarChairman Sundaramoorthy
2020DagaaltyMalli's father
2020Indha Nilai Maarum
2021Operation JuJuPiPolitician
2021Plan Panni PannanumKarikalan
2022VikramAgent Uppiliappan
2022Rivet
2022Dha Dha
2023Ghosty
2024Sooriyanum Sooriyagandhiyum
2024Nirangal MoondruMinister Iyyappan
2024SorgavaasalMinister
2025Otha Votu MuthaiyaMinister
2025Jenma NatchathiramFilm producer
2025GangersAgasalingam
2025MadharaasiRaghu's grandfather
2025AaromaleyXavier

Television

YearTitleRolePlatform
1998SakthiSun TV
2006–2008LakshmiSun TV
2013PonnunjalSun TV
2019PondatiRoadside Romeos
2021Kuruthi KalamPaneerselvamMX Player
2022Suzhal: The VortexKodandaramanAmazon Prime Video
2022–2024IniyaTiruvasagamSun TV
2024Thalaimai SeyalagamMinister SelvapuviarasanZEE5
2024VeeraSpecial AppearanceZee Tamil

As director

All works in Tamil unless noted otherwise
YearFilmNotes
1981Panneer PushpangalCo-directed with P. Vasu
1981Madhu MalarCo-directed with P. Vasu
1983Mella PesungalCo-directed with P. Vasu
1984Sahasame JeevithamTelugu film; Co-directed with P. Vasu
1985Needhiyin NizhalCo-directed with P. Vasu
1987Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaaduremake of Aavanazhi
1988En Thamizh En Makkal
1988Poovizhi Raja
1990Kavalukku Kettikaran
1991Guna3rd prize – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film
1993Chinna Mapillai
1994MahanadhiTamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
1994Vietnam Colonyremake of Malayalam film of same name
1995Engirundho Vandhanremake of Malayalam film Chithram