K. Bhagyaraj
K. Bhagyaraj in 2014
Born	(1953-01-07)7 January 1953 Vellankoil, Gobichettipalayam Taluk, Erode District, Madras State, India
Died	27 June 2026(2026-06-27) (aged 73) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupations	Film director Screenwriter Actor Composer Writer Film producer Politician
Years active	1977–2026
Spouses	Praveena Bhagyaraj ​ ​ (m. 1981; died 1983)​ Poornima Jayaram ​ (m. 1984)​
Children	2, including Shanthanu
Awards	Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer (1979) Filmfare Best Actor Award (1983) SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award (2014)

Krishnaswamy Bhagyaraj (7 January 1953 – 27 June 2026) was an Indian filmmaker, actor, musician and politician. He worked predominantly in Tamil cinema, while also directing and acting in films in other Indian languages. He wrote and directed more than 25 films and acted in over 75 films, and was regarded as one of the most influential writer-directors in Tamil cinema during the 1980s. He edited the Tamil weekly magazine Bhagya and authored several novels.

Bhagyaraj was born in Vellankoil, near Gobichettipalayam, in 1953. He began working in the Tamil film industry in the mid-1970s as an assistant director under G. Ramakrishnan and Bharathiraja. He began writing scripts and dialogues for films, while also appearing in smaller acting roles. Beginning in the early 1980s, Bhagyaraj started directing films and often appeared in the lead role in the films he directed. He also directed a few remakes of his films in Hindi. He emerged as one of the leading screenwriters and directors in Tamil cinema during the 1980s and early 1990s. In later years, he directed a few films, and also appeared as a supporting actor in several films.

Bhagyaraj founded MGR Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam in 1989. He joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam later, before joining the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in 2005. He was active in politics in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Bhagyaraj received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer for Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979), the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil for Mundhanai Mudichu (1983), and the SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.^[1]

Krishnaswamy Bhagyaraj was born on 7 January 1953 in Vellankoil near Gobichettipalayam in Coimbatore district (present-day Erode district). ^[2][3] and his forefathers migrated from Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu.^[4]

In 1981, Bhagyaraj married actress Praveena, who died due to jaundice in August 1983. On 7 February 1984, he married actress Poornima Jayaram, who was his co-star in Darling, Darling, Darling (1982).^[5] The couple had a daughter Saranya Bhagyaraj and a son Shanthnu Bhagyaraj, both of whom are actors.^[6][7]

Bhagyaraj died on 27 June 2026 due to cardiac arrest at the age of 73.^[8][9][10]

Beginning his career as an assistant to directors G. Ramakrishnan on the film Ezhai Panakkaran, which came to a halt after two days.^[11] Thereafter, he went on to work with Bharathiraja, Bhagyaraj became recognised for his scriptwriting talent.^[12] He first appeared as a junior artist playing small roles with in films such as 16 Vayathinile (1977) and later appeared similarly in Sigappu Rojakkal (1978). He was assistant director to Bharathiraja in two films – 16 Vayathinile and Kizhakke Pogum Rail. Among his early work was writing the script for Bharathiraja's films Kizhake Pogum Rail (1978) and Tik Tik Tik (1981), and writing dialogues for Sigappu Rojakkal. He made his directorial début with Suvarilladha Chiththirangal in 1979 and also his debut as the leading man in Puthiya Vaarpugal, directed by Bharathiraja. He received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer in Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979). He wrote dialogues and screenplays and acted in Kanni Paruvathile (1979).

He quickly established his own concern and started producing a string of distinctive films made mainly in Tamil. Bhagyaraj often cast himself in the lead roles of the films he scripted and directed, effectively carving out a niche for himself in the actor-auteur vein. His style of filmmaking is notable for its relatively elaborate, witty, and double-entendre-laced scripts and socially-themed framework. His on-screen personae are typically characterised by their ironic sense of humour and intelligent bravado.^[13]

He introduced actress Urvashi in the film Mundhanai Mudichu (1983) and Kalpana (sister of Urvashi) made her debut with the 1985 film Chinna Veedu, directed by Bhagyaraj, a commercially successful film. He received the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil in Mundhanai Mudichu.

His successful Tamil films written by him continued to be in demand for Hindi remakes in the 1980s and 1990s and were huge hits in Hindi – with Andha 7 Naatkal remade as Woh Saat Din and Enga Chinna Rasa remade as Beta (1992), both of which were successful.^[14]

He rarely acted in films not directed or written by him, with exceptions being Anbulla Rajinikanth (1984) and Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985). He decided to direct the Hindi remake of Bharatiraja's 1984 directorial venture Oru Kaidhiyin Diary with Rajesh Khanna in the lead in 1985, but later Khanna due to his date issues had to opt out and Bhagyaraj cast Amitabh Bachchan in the Hindi remake Aakhree Raasta (1986).^[15] Bhagayraj decided to adapt a Kannada novel into a new film Enga Chinna Rasa in 1987, which became a blockbuster. In 1988, he wrote the script for Idhu Namma Aalu and decided to produce it, but chose not to direct it himself, as he wanted to act-write-direct a film on a serious issue, which was Aararo Aaariraro. He received the Best Film Award for Idhu Namma Aalu in 1990, directed by novel writer Balakumaaran, whereas the other film Aararo Aaariraro also was both critically acclaimed and successful at the box office.

From 1991, he gradually started accepting more acting offers as a lead hero, where director-producer-scriptwriter would be three different people, rather than he himself writing-directing-acting in his films. Rudhra, Amma Vanthachu, Gnanapazham and Suyamvaram were such successful films where he was involved only in the capacity of actor. He also started the weekly magazine "Bhagya" and he was the editor of that magazine. His successful directorial ventures written by him from 1991 on were Pavunnu Pavunuthan, Sundara Kandam, Raasukutti and Veetla Visheshanga. He cast his son Shanthanu Bhagyaraj as the child artist in Vaettiya Madichu Kattu in 1998 and the film dealt with the father-son relationship. This proved to be both a critical and financial disappointment capping an end to a string of continuous flops including Oru Oorla oru Rajakumari, Gnanapazham and Mr. Bechara (1996). He also wrote the script for the film Thaikulame Thaikulame (1995), starring Pandiarajan.

He took a break from acting as the lead hero in films after the release of the huge critical and commercial failure Vaettiya Madichu Kattu. Instead, he directed the TV shows Neenga Nenaicha Saadhikkalanga and Idhu Oru Kadhayin Kadhai (for DD Podhigai), and appeared in Apapadi Podu on Jaya TV in this period. His tele-serial Rules Rangachari was very famous on the DD channel and it comprised 390 episodes. He wrote and directed the 2003 film Chokka Thangam, starring Vijayakanth. He launched his daughter Saranya Bhagyaraj with Parijatham, which he wrote and directed in 2006. He returned to acting with Something Something... Unakkum Enakkum and Rendu in supporting roles. In 2010, he directed his adult son Shanthanu Bhagyaraj in the romantic film Siddhu +2.

At the end of the 2010s, he acted in supporting roles such Appavi (2011) and Vaagai Sooda Vaa (2011). He ventured into Malayalam film as supporting actor with Mr. Marumakan (2012).^[16]

He was the leading judge for the show Junior Super Star (2016) and Junior Super Stars (season 2) (2017).^[17][18]

He wrote books such as Vaanga Cinemavai Pattri Pesalam, Neenga Nenaicha Saadikkalaam and Ungal Bhagyaraj in Kelvi Bhadhil (Five Parts).^[19]

He appeared in action thriller films which went on to become commercial hits with Kanithan (2016) and Thupparivaalan (2017).^[20][21]

In 2020, he later acted in the legal drama film Ponmagal Vandhal.^[22] Bhagyaraj plays a grandfather with Shanthanu in the adult comedy film Murungakkai Chips.^[23] In 2022, he starred in Super Senior Heroes.^[24]

He also appeared in Telugu films like Mem Vayasuku Vacham (2012), Red Alert (2015), Sita (2019), 35 Chinna Katha Kaadu (2024) and Kuberaa (2025).^[25]

In 2026, K. Bhagyaraj celebrated 50 years of their career in the film industry at an event.^[26]

MGR Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (MGR Popular Progressive Federation) was a political party in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu launched by Bhagyaraj in February 1989. MGR MMK contested the 1991 Kerala assembly elections. It had one candidate, who got 87 votes. The MGR MMK party failed in its initial stages.^[27] Bhagyaraj later joined All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.^[28]

On 5 April 2006, Bhagyaraj joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the presence of the party president M. Karunanidhi, and criticized the AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa.^[29] Later, he left DMK and remained as a spectator in politics.^[30]

While speaking to the media at a press event for the film Karuthukalai Pathivu Sei in 2019, Bhagyaraj remarked that women invite men to sexually assault them and provide them the room to do so. He went on to ask, why men are usually blamed for crimes while women encourage them, apparently in relation to the Pollachi rape case. His misogynistic remarks drew widespread condemnation and opposition from the public, and several women's organisations demanded that he be prosecuted for them.^[31][32] The Tamil Nadu Commission for Women summoned him to appear before it.^[33]

• Note: All films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.

Year	Title	Credited as			Notes
		Director	Writer	Producer
1978	Sigappu Rojakkal		Dialogues
1979	Niram Maratha Pookal		Story
	Puthiya Vaarpugal		Screenplay
	Kanni Paruvathile		Screenplay
	Suvarilladha Chiththirangal	Y	Y
1980	Bhama Rukmani		Y
	Oru Kai Oosai	Y	Y	Y
	Ilamai Kolam		Y
1981	Mouna Geethangal	Y	Y
	Indru Poi Naalai Vaa	Y	Y
	Vidiyum Varai Kaathiru	Y	Y
	Andha 7 Naatkal	Y	Y
1982	Thooral Ninnu Pochu	Y	Y
	Poi Satchi	Y	Y
	Darling, Darling, Darling	Y	Y
1983	Mundhanai Mudichu	Y	Y		Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil
	Saattai Illatha Pambaram		Y
1984	Dhavani Kanavugal	Y	Y	Y
1985	Oru Kaidhiyin Diary		Y
	Chinna Veedu	Y	Y
1986	Aakhree Raasta	Y	Y		Hindi film; Remake of Oru Kaidhiyin Diary
	Kanna Thorakkanum Saami		Y
1987	Enga Chinna Rasa	Y	Y
1988	Idhu Namma Aalu		Y
1989	Aararo Aaariraro	Y	Y	Y
	Ponnu Pakka Poren		Story
1990	Avasara Police 100	Y	Y
1991	Pavunnu Pavunuthan	Y	Y		Cinema Express Award for Best Story Writer
	Rudhra		Screenplay
1992	Sundara Kandam	Y	Y	Y	Cinema Express Award for Best Story Writer
	Rasukutty	Y	Y
1994	Veetla Visheshanga	Y	Y
1995	Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari	Y	Y
	Thaikulame Thaikulame		Y
1996	Mr. Bechara	Y	Y		Hindi film; Remake of Veetla Visheshanga
	Gnanapazham		Y
1998	Vaettiya Madichu Kattu	Y	Y	Y
2000	Papa The Great	Y	Y		Hindi film; Simultaneously shot with Vaettiya Madichu Kattu
	Kabadi Kabadi		Y
2003	Chokka Thangam	Y	Y		25th film as director
2006	Parijatham	Y	Y	Y
2007	Mudhal Mudhalai		Screenplay, dialogues
2010	Siddhu +2	Y	Y	Y
2011	Maaveeran		Dialogues		Tamil dubbed version of Telugu film Magadheera
2015	Thunai Mudhalvar		Y

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1977	16 Vayathinile	Villager	Also assistant director; uncredited appearance in the song "Manjakkulichi"
1978	Kizhake Pogum Rail	Ponnandi	Also assistant director; uncreditd appearance
	Sigappu Rojakkal	Waiter	Also assistant director
1979	Puthiya Vaarpugal	Shanmugamani	Debut film as hero
	Kanni Paruvathile	Cheenu
	Suvarilladha Chiththirangal	Alagappan
1980	Bhama Rukmani	Nandagopal
	Oru Kai Oosai	Chinna Pannai
	Kumari Pennin Ullathile
1981	Mouna Geethangal	Kumar
	Indru Poi Naalai Vaa	Pazhanisamy
	Vidiyum Varai Kaathiru	Raja
	Andha 7 Naatkal	Palakkad Madhavan
1982	Thooral Ninnu Pochu	Chellai Durai
	Poi Satchi	Vairavan
	Darling, Darling, Darling	Raju
1983	Mundhanai Mudichu	Vaathiyar	Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil
1984	Oomai Janangal
	Anbulla Rajinikanth	Himself	Cameo appearance
	Dhavani Kanavugal	Subramani
1985	Naan Sigappu Manithan	CID Chinna Salem Singaram
	Chinna Veedu	Madanagopal
1987	Enga Chinna Rasa	Chinnarasu
	Chinna Kuyil Paaduthu	Babu	Cameo appearance
1986	Kavadi Sindhu	Unknown	Shelved film
1988	Idhu Namma Aalu	Gopal
1989	En Rathathin Rathame	Natesan
	Aararo Aaariraro	Babu
1990	Pattanamthan Pogalamadi	Unknown	The song "Saamakozhi" picturised for shelved film Kavadi Sindhu was used in this film.[34]
	Avasara Police 100	Ramu, Veerasamy Naidu	Dual role
1991	Pavunnu Pavunuthan	Chinnu
	Rudhra	Madurai
1992	Sundara Kandam	Shanmugamani
	Amma Vandhachu	Nandakumar
	Rasukutty	Rasukutty
1994	Veetla Visheshanga	Gopal
1995	Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari	Venkatasubramaniam
1996	Gnanapazham	Gnanasuryan
1998	Vaettiya Madichu Kattu	Jaiprakash
2006	Parijatham	Sampooranam
	Something Something Unakkum Enakkum	Krishnan
	Rendu	CBI Officer
2007	Kasu Irukkanum	G. R.
2008	Maanavan Ninaithal	Raj
2009	Ninaithale Inikkum	Pazhaniyappan
2010	Uthamaputhiran	Raghuram (Washington Vetrivel)
	Siddhu +2	Himself	Cameo appearance
2011	Appavi	Ramasamy
	Vaagai Sooda Vaa	Annamalai
2013	Oruvar Meethu Iruvar Sainthu
2014	Ninaithathu Yaaro	Himself	Cameo appearance
	3 Geniuses	Professor Ramanujam	Malaysian film[35]
2015	Moone Moonu Varthai	Himself
2016	Kanithan	Gowtham's neighbor
	Vaaimai		Cameo appearances
2017	Mupparimanam	Himself
	Ayyanar Veethi	Subramania Sastry
	Veruli		Cameo appearance
	Ivan Yarendru Therikiratha	Love Guru
	Thupparivaalan	Muthu
	Brahma.com	Gurukkal
2018	Kilambitaangayaa Kilambitaangayaa	Cop
	Aaruthra	Avudaiappan
	Koothan	Actor
2020	Ponmagal Vandhal	'Petition' Pethuraj
2021	Murungakkai Chips	Arjun's grandfather
2022	Super Senior Heroes	Ganeshan	Direct television release in Sun TV
2023	Dada	Manikandan's father
	Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam	Kaluvan
	3.6.9	Father Benet Castro
	Moondram Manithan	Police investigator
	Sarakku	Lawyer Parasuraman	Cameo appearances
2024	PT Sir	Judge
2025	Enai Sudum Pani	Karunakaran
	Aandavan
	Kuberaa	Sadhu	Bilingual film; simultaneously shot in Telugu
	Antha 7 Naatkal
	BP 180	Lingam
2026	Dark Giant		[36]

Year	Title	Role	Language	Notes	Ref.
2003	Avuna		Telugu	Cameo appearance	[37]
2004	Mee Intikoste Em Istaaru Maa Intkoste Em Testaaru				[38]
2012	Mem Vayasuku Vacham	Subramanyam			[39]
	Mr. Marumakan	Balasubrahmanyam	Malayalam
2015	Red Alert	Doctor	Kannada		[40]
			Telugu		[41]
	High Alert		Malayalam		[42]
2019	Sita	Vasanthavada Anand Mohan	Telugu
2024	35	Principal Bucchi Reddy			[43]
2025	Kuberaa	Sadhu		Simultaneously shot in Tamil

Serials

Year	Title	Role	Channel	Language	Notes
2020	Chithi 2	Himself	Sun TV	Tamil	Cameo appearances
	Raja Rani		Star Vijay
	Senthoora Poove
2022	Vidhya No.1	Judge Subramani Vathiyar	Zee Tamil

Shows

Year	Title	Role	Channel	Language	Notes
2014	Ninaithale Inikkum	Guest	Vendhar TV	Tamil
2015	Koffee With DD		Vijay TV		Along with Poornima and Pandiarajan
2016	Junior Super Star	Judge	Zee Tamil
2017	Junior Super Star 2
2019	Comedy Stars Season 2	Guest	Asianet	Malayalam	Along with Poornima
2020	Kodeeswari	Contestant	Colors Tamil	Tamil
2022	Super Queen	Guest	Zee Tamil

• Note: All films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.

Year	Title	Notes
1985	Kavadi Sindhu	Shelved film[44]
1988	Idhu Namma Aalu
	Sahadevan Mahadevan	1 song
1989	Aararo Aaariraro
	Ponnu Pakka Poren
1990	Pattanamthan Pogalamadi	3 songs[44]
1991	Pavunnu Pavunuthan
1996	Gnanapazham

Year	Film	Song	Composer	Notes
1988	Idhu Namma Aalu	"Pachamala Saami"	himself
1989	Ponnu Paaka Poren	"Yerapooti"
	Aararo Aariraro	"Ellarumae Loosungathan"

• K. Bhagyaraj at IMDb
• India Today – K. Bhagyaraj; The reigning king in the world of Madras film Hollywood