Dadasaheb Phalke’ Award for Legendary Director Bharathirajaa – an Appeal from National Award Winning Producers, Filmmakers, Actors, Editors and Writers.

To,

Shri Prakash Javedekar,

Honorable Minister of Information & Broadcasting,

Government of India,

New Delhi.

Sub: ‘Dadasaheb Phalke’ Award for Legendary Director Bharathirajaa – an Appeal from National Award Winning Producers, Filmmakers, Actors, Editors and Writers

Dear Shri Javedekar ji,

We the following prestigious National Award winning Producers, Filmmakers, Actors, Editors and Writers wish to submit this appeal for your immediate consideration.

South India’s legendary Filmmaker, Producer, Padma Shri P. Bharathirajaa, who brought in a new wave to South Indian cinema and continuing to make films for over 43 years celebrates his birthday today. On this special day, we wish to list out his achievements first before making our appeal.

Director Bharathirajaa’s legendary contribution to Indian cinema:

• Directed 42 films in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu from 1977 to 2019, a most prolific contribution.

• His films addressed many social issues like unemployment, untouchability, caste war, female infanticide, women empowerment, social values and human relationship and created a cult following among South Indians.

• He directed legendary actors like Sivaji Ganesan, Rajesh Khanna, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Sridevi, Amol Palekar, Nana Patekar, Sunny Deol, Suhasini Maniratnam, Poonam Dhillan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Vijayashanti, Rathi Agnihotri, Revathy, Jayasudha and many others.

• Tamil cinema, which was shot hitherto in sets in Chennai, was taken to villages by him and a new revolution was created by his films by shooting in real locations.

• His entry and the new wave he created brought in large number of new talents to Indian cinema, including filmmakers like K. Bhagyaraj, Manivannan, Manobala and introduced the great lyricist ‘Kaviperarasu’ Vairamuthu and over 50 artistes and technicians in his illustrious career so far.

• He won Six Times National Award for his films from Government of India.

• He served as the Head of the Jury for National Awards for the year 2017.

• He won Six Times Tamil Nadu State Government award for his films.

• He won the prestigious Nandi award from AP State Govt. for his Telugu film.

• He was recognized with the coveted Padma Shri in 2004 from Government of India.

The above listing is just a few of the achievements of this legendary filmmaker, who continues to inspire new generation of filmmakers with his films and active support to the film industry as a whole.

On this special day of Shri Bharathirajaa’s 78th birthday, we from Indian film industry, recognized by Government of India for our works appeal to you to consider him for this year’s coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest award in cinema, which will be a fitting tribute to this living legend and a right recognition at the right time for his huge contribution to Indian Cinema with multiple achievements for over 43 years.

We look forward to your personal attention to this important appeal from all of us.

Thanking you in anticipation.

c.c.: Shri Amit Khare, IAS, Information & Broadcasting Secretary

PS: A signed appeal from the following national award winning talents shall reach you soon.

National Award Winning Directors, Actors, Editors and Lyricist:

Shri Kamal Haasan, Padma Bhushan, 4 Times National Award winning Actor, Producer and Director

Shri Vairamuthu, Padma Bhushan, 7 Times National Award winning Lyricist

Shri Dhanush, 3 Times National Award winning Actor, Producer and Director

Shri Sreekar Prasad, 8 times National Award winning Editor

Shri B. Lenin, 5 times National Award winning Director and Editor

Shri K.S. Sethumadhavan, 10 Times National award winning Director

Shri S. Priyadarshan, Padma Shri and National Award winning Director

Shri Santhanabharathi, National award winning Director

Shri Ahathian, National award winning Director

Shri Gnana Rajasekaran, 3 Times National award winning Director

Shri K. Hariharan, National award winning Director

Shri R. Parthiban, 2 Times National award winning Director

Shri Cheran, 4 Times National award winning Director

Shri Bala, 2 Times National award winning Director

Shri SP. Jhananathan, National award winning Director

Shri Vasanthabalan, National award winning Director

Shri Pandiraj, National award winning Director

Shri Vetrimaaran, 3 Times National award winning Director and Producer

Shri Seenu Ramasamy, National award winning Director

Shri Suseenthiran, National award winning Director

Shri A. Sarkunam, National award winning Director

Shri Balaji Sakthivel, National award winning Director

Shri Ram, National award winning Director

Shri P. Samuthirakani, National award winning Actor and Director

Shri G. Brahma, National award winning Director

Shri Chezhiyan, National award winning Director and Cinematographer

National Award winning Producers

Shri Kalaipuli S. Thanu, National Award winning Producer

Shri Sivasakthi Pandian, National Award winning Producer

Shri L. Suresh, National Award winning Producer

Shri M. Sasikumar, National Award winning Producer

Shri Subash Chandra Bose, National Award winning Producer

Shri S. Muruganandam, National Award winning Producer

Shri J. Satishkumar, Two times National Award winning Producer

Shri S.R. Prabhu, National Award winning Producer.

National Award winning Writer/Critic

Shri G. Dhananjayan, Two times National Award winner for Best Writing on Cinema and Film Critic.