Well-known veteran filmmaker K. Bhagyaraj breathed his last today (27th June) in Madras. The 73-year-old writer-director, actor and composer was brought unconscious to Apollo Hospital where doctors declared him dead. He is survived by his wife, actor-son Shanthanu Bhagyaraj and daughter Saranya.
Quite coincidentally, his mentor, K. Bharathiraja, had passed away just two weeks back.
Krishnaswamy Bhagyaraj started out in the industry as an extra in Bharathiraja’s Tamil film, 16 Vayathinile. Two years after that, he became a film director. For five decades, he made many Tamil and some Hindi films. He also wrote many of them himself, composed music for them and also played the lead roles in a number of them. Among his well-known films as director are Oru Kai Osai (1980), Mundhanai Mudichu (1983), Chinna Veedu (1985), Enga Chinna Rasa (1987), Sundara Kandam (1992), Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari (1995), etc. He also acted in many films. After a hiatus, he returned to acting in strong supporting roles. He was recently seen in Dhanush’s Kuberaa (2025). K. Bhagyaraj had directed Amitabh Bachchan in Hindi film Aakhree Raastaa (1986). He had also directed Hindi film Mr. Bechara (1996).
K. Bhagyaraj used to edit weekly Tamil magazine Bhagya. He had also written several novels.