Bagyaraj

There was a time when people used to make fun of those who mentioned him as their favorite director for his kind of movies were more known for their adult content than anything else. More than Rajini or any one else who claims to be the hero who resembled the guy next door, it was Bagyaraj who could stake claim for that role and was well and truly justified for that moniker by the kind of roles he wrote and played. Often praised as the king of screenplay writing, what many miss out is the witty and intelligent brain behind such scripts and scenes. Considering his battalion of assistant directors who later went on to shine in their own way, how much of those were team effort and how much were his own is open for debate. But the fact that he was able to identify such content and justify them on screen, at least makes him worthy of all the praises he receives. This is one clever man who knows how to twist a scene or a story just enough to tie into a knot and untie the same using clever situations as well. His story sense had been so strong that not just in Kollywood, most of his stories were blockbuster hits in Bollywood as well. I love the way he narrates or speaks, which many a times happens to be one and the same. Very few people have that sense of holding other people attention with their way of speaking and despite not having a very strong voice he was a master story teller, verbally as well. The way he analyses scenes is not just limited to his movies and the interview where he explains how Mani Ratnam's Thalapathi climax scene could've been written different is a pinch of salt of an example for his brilliance. The way he explains Rajini's character and why the ending felt disjointed and how he would've framed the ending is a master class on character building and screenplay continuation for aspiring film makers and considering that Mani Ratnam was at his peak and every one till day goes ga-ga over his story telling makes it even more memorable and noteworthy about Bagyaraj. Like almost all his audience i always look out for the scene where his name comes in the title card, which at times happens almost near the interval portion or sometimes even in second half. That scene would for sure be the top scene in the whole movie. In Thavani Kanavugal movie, a personal favorite of mine, he would be seen negotiating with a plastic things seller on road for a job. Finally would agree on a Five rupee salary and would assist him in selling the things, carrying them on his head. He would be seen wearing tip top dress and while carrying the goods the other guy would ask him to shout about the things so that people will come and buy. On the opposite side of the road, a crowd of unemployed youth will be going in a rally, seeking jobs as per their education. Their rally cry and the way he responds to them by his own cry from opposite side of the road, stating that they should be open to do any job irrespective of the qualification is an amazing one and right on cue his name will appear on screen with credits for story, screenplay, direction. I wish, setting their egoes apart, many directors, utilized his skills for sharpening their stories and i am quite sure everyone would've benefited by his wisdom and intelligence. It's a pity he passed away with his best skills wasted. Kudos to the man who has given so many creations to remember him by.