Jhonny at 06:46, 25 November 2025

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{{Short description|Indian film director}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}

{{Infobox person
| name = M. Bhaskar
| image = Bhaskar.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1935|4|3}}
| birth_place = [[Virudhunagar district|Pattamputhur]], [[Madras Presidency]], British India
| alma_mater = [[Presidency College, Chennai|Presidency College]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2013|7|12|1935|4|3}}
| death_place = [[Chennai]], Tamil Nadu, India
| occupation = Story writer, screenwriter, dialogue writer, director, producer
| organization = Oscar Movies
| yearsactive = 1978-2013
| spouse = Meena Rani
| children = 3
}}

'''M. Bhaskar''' (3 April 1935 – 12 July 2013) was an Indian filmmaker who worked mainly in the [[Tamil cinema|Tamil film industry]]. Bhaskar started his film career as an assistant to director [[C. V. Sridhar]]. After relieving from his mentor and guru [[C. V. Sridhar]], he was working under [[T. R. Sundaram|Sundaram]]'s [[Modern Theatres|Modern Theaters]], [[Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar|Chinnappa Thevar]] along with [[S. P. Muthuraman]], [[Panchu Arunachalam|Panju Arunachalam]], Thuyavan, Uthiripookkal Balakrishnan and others. He also worked as a second unit Director for [[20th Century Fox]], during their production in [[Goa]], India.

==Early life and career==
M. Bhaskar hailed from a village called Pattamputhur, Virudhunagar district. He started his career as an associate to [[C. V. Sridhar]] starting from movie [[Venniradai]] followed by list of notable films he worked [[Kodimalar]], [[Nenjirukkum Varai (1967 film)|Nenjirukkum Varai]], [[Ooty Varai Uravu]], [[Avalukendru Or Manam]], [[Sivantha Mann]], [[Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa]] also in Hindi films [[Pyar Kiye Jaa]], [[Gehri Chaal]], [[Nai Roshni (1967 film)|Nai Roshni]], [[Dharti (1970 film)|Dharti]]. He made his directorial debut with ''[[Bairavi]]''.<ref name="Bhaskar">{{Cite news |date=13 July 2013 |title=Veteran director M Bhaskar passes away |url=http://www.tamilstar.com/news-id-veteran-director-m-bhaskar-passes-away-director-m-bhaskar-passes-away-tamil-cinema-news-13-07-135221.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402102435/https://www.tamilstar.com/news-id-veteran-director-m-bhaskar-passes-away-director-m-bhaskar-passes-away-tamil-cinema-news-13-07-135221.htm |archive-date=2 April 2019 |work=Tamilstar |language=en |access-date=20 December 2014 }}</ref> The film gave major breakthrough in the career of [[Rajinikanth]] as a lead actor. Rajini gained the tag "Superstar" from this film.<ref name="Bairavi"/><ref name="indiatvnews.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood/rajinikanth-top-films-19150.html|title=40 years of Superstar Rajinikanth: Best movies|date=12 December 2014|publisher=[[India TV]]|access-date=17 May 2021|archive-date=17 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517153754/https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood/rajinikanth-top-films-19150.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bairavi is a [[1978 in film|1978]] [[Cinema of Tamil Nadu|Tamil feature film]] directed by M. Baskar and starring Rajinikanth. It was Rajinikanth's first movie as a solo hero in Tamil cinema.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/11/06/stories/2009110650301400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317115759/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/11/06/stories/2009110650301400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 March 2011 |title=Cinema Plus / TV Serials : Serials |date=6 November 2009 |work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=30 November 2011}}</ref> He was also given the "Superstar" title through this film.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/rajini/story/superstar-rajinikanths-biography-81789-2010-09-09 |title=Superstar Rajinikanth's biography : Rajini News – India Today |magazine=[[India Today]] |date=10 September 2010 |access-date=3 December 2011 |archive-date=12 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212225508/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/superstar-rajinikanths-biography/1/112118.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/sep/28/slide-show-1-quiz-think-you-know-rajnikanth.htm |title=Think you know Rajnikanth? Take this quiz! – Rediff.com Movies |work=Rediff.com |date=28 September 2010 |accessdate=30 November 2011 |archive-date=28 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128080120/http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/sep/28/slide-show-1-quiz-think-you-know-rajnikanth.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The film stars [[Sripriya]] as the female lead and [[Geetha (actress)|Geetha]] playing the title role as Rajini's sister. Geetha was introduced in this film. [[Srikanth (actor, born 1940)|Srikanth]] played the role of the main villain. [[Cinema of Kerala|Malayalam]] actor [[Sudheer (Malayalam actor)|Sudheer]] played Bairavi's step brother, while [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] and [[Suruli Rajan]] played other major roles.{{citation needed|date= December 2022}}

M Baskar who was impressed with Rajini's dedication in ''[[Aarupushpangal]]'', went straight ahead casting Rajini in lead role for Bhairavi. M Baskar, having faith in Rajini to pull the crowds as hero. Initially, [[Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar]] agreed to give financial support for Bhairavi but when he heard Rajini is the hero, he withdrew the support and advised M Baskar to stop the movie or change the hero. He questioned M Baskar for choosing a villain in the lead role and hero as villain (Srikanth was acting as hero those days) and he assured to M Baskar that it will be a huge loss.<ref name="Bai">[http://senthilvayal.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/sivajirov-to-sivaji-in-tamil-about-actor-rajni-ganth.pdf Sivajirov to Sivaji in Tamil about Actor Rajni Ganth] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406073150/https://senthilvayal.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/sivajirov-to-sivaji-in-tamil-about-actor-rajni-ganth.pdf |date=6 April 2015 }}. December 2009. Senthil Vayal.</ref> M Baskar approached Muthuraman to play negative role but he refused to portray a negative character, Srikanth was finally selected for the role.<ref name="Bai"/><ref name="Rajini">{{Cite web|url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/06/11175429/kalaignanam-production-pairavi.html|title=கலைஞானம் தயாரித்த பைரவி: கதாநாயகனாக நடித்து சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் ஆனார் ரஜினி|date=18 June 2012|website=[[Maalaimalar]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618050945/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/06/11175429/kalaignanam-production-pairavi.html|archive-date=18 June 2012}}</ref> With all these burden, M Baskar decided to direct the film.<ref name="Bhaskar"/><ref name = "Bairavi">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cinemalead.com/visitor-column-id-the-journey-of-living-legend-rajinikanth-part-2-rajinikanth-20-08-133154.htm|title=The Journey of Living Legend Rajinikanth — Part-2|website=Cinemalead|access-date=20 December 2014|archive-date=20 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220180551/http://www.cinemalead.com/visitor-column-id-the-journey-of-living-legend-rajinikanth-part-2-rajinikanth-20-08-133154.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="indiatvnews.com"/><ref name="Bai"/>

The soundtrack and background score was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Bairavi was the third film for Ilaiyaraaja. All lyrics were penned by Kannadasan.<ref name="Bairavi"/>

Then he started his own production company "Oscar Movies" in 1980.Some of the Bhaskar's hit movies as a director and producer includes [[Theerpugal Thiruththapadalam]], [[Soolam]], ''[[Sattathin Thirappu Vizhaa]]'', [[Chakravarthy (1995 film)|Chakravarthy]].<ref name = "Hit">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cinemalead.com/news-id-director-who-changed-rajnis-fortune-dies-oscar-movies-13-07-132796.htm|title=Director Who Changed Rajnis Fortune Dies|website=Cinemalead|access-date=20 December 2014|archive-date=20 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220180213/http://www.cinemalead.com/news-id-director-who-changed-rajnis-fortune-dies-oscar-movies-13-07-132796.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> He then produced films ''[[Vishnu (1995 film)|Vishnu]]'', [[Kadhal Rojave]] and [[Thotta]]. ''Vishnu'' is the first movie that [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]] acted in others production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QpZKn92i_Q|title=Thalapathy Vijay Old interview|via=YouTube|access-date=26 July 2020|archive-date=4 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904213215/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QpZKn92i_Q|url-status=live}}</ref> Vijay earlier movies were produced by his father. Also Vijay honored his first producer Balaji prabhu during his [[Jilla]] movie audio launch in December 2013.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/7Um3MNemmO8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20131220121913/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Um3MNemmO8&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Um3MNemmO8| title = Actor Vijay's Jilla simple Audio Release Function Full — Red Pix 24x7 | via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

M Bhaskar was four times 'Secretary' of "Tamil Film Producers' Council" from (1987-2000), when his contemporary legends Kovai Chezhian, K Balachander, Bharathiraja and KRG were 'President'. He also served the 'South Indian Producers' Guild' as Secretary. He was also the Vice-president of South Indian Directors' Association. He served the 'South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce' for three decades. M Bhaskar along with Bharathiraja rose the Tamil Film Producers' Council's funds from a meager INR 26 to INR 2,00,000 during his tenure of service. M Bhaskar was considered to one of pillars of Tamil Film Producers' Council for reviving it from the financial crisis. He also served as Censor Board Member of Central Board of Film Certification, Government of India for many years. He was also an outside expert for sponsored Programme of Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai for a long period.{{citation needed|date= December 2022}}

Bhaskar initially signed [[Prashanth]] for ''Kadhal Rojavae'', but he got offer from [[S. Shankar]] for movie [[Jeans (film)|Jeans]]. Considering his career Bhaskar agreed to release prashanth from ''Kadhal Rojavae''. Then he decided to introduce son of former actress [[Sheela]] to debut in his production ''Kadhal Rojavae'' also introduced [[Pooja Kumar]] as a heroine in 1997.According to the deal signed, Vishnu was not supposed to act in any other film until ''Kadhal Rojavae'' had been completed and released. However, during production, Vishnu could not wait and starred in a Malayalam film, while Keyaar was still shooting causing a rift between the actor and producer Bhaskar during the making of the project.<ref>"1997-98 Kodambakkam babies Page". Indolink.com. Retrieved 2012-08-25.</ref> Pooja Kumar, who was crowned Miss India USA in 1995, was selected to make her debut as heroine and during production she was signed and dropped from other Tamil films of the period including V. I. P and Chinna Raja. The actress notably returned more than a decade later starring in the lead role in Kamal Haasan's bilingual ''Vishwaroopam''. Kadhal Rojavae released after a delay in production in 2000.{{citation needed|date= December 2022}}

==Personal life and death==
Bhaskar was married to Meena Rani. They have two sons and a daughter.<ref name = "Hit"/> Bhaskar died on 13 July 2013 at the age of 78 due to a heart attack.<ref name = "Bhaskar"/>

==Filmography==
{{unreferenced section|date= December 2022}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan=2|Year !! rowspan=2|Film !! colspan=3|Credited as !! rowspan=2 class=unsortable|Language !! rowspan=2 class=unsortable|Notes
|-
! width=65 | Director
! width=65 | Writer
! width=65 | Producer
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Innum Oru Meera]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || || Tamil ||
|-
| 1978 || ''[[Bairavi]]''<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101010/jsp/7days/story_13040344.jsp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620004502/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101010/jsp/7days/story_13040344.jsp | url-status=dead | archive-date=20 June 2012 | title=Starry starry might | newspaper=[[The Telegraph (India)]] | date=10 October 2010 | accessdate=17 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3mzyPGSfwKMC&q=%22M.+Bhaskar%22+Bairavi&pg=PT345 | title=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography | publisher=Penguin UK | author=Naman Ramachandran | year=2014 | isbn=978-8184757965 | access-date=20 November 2020 | archive-date=2 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202042128/https://books.google.com/books?id=3mzyPGSfwKMC&q=%22M.+Bhaskar%22+Bairavi&pg=PT345#v=snippet&q=%22M.%20Bhaskar%22%20Bairavi&f=false | url-status=live }}</ref> || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || || Tamil || [[Rajinikanth]]'s first film as a protagonist, debut of [[Geetha (actress)|Geetha]].
|-
| 1980 || ''[[Soolam]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Tamil || [[Rajkumar Sethupathi]] introduced as a protagonist.
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Pakkathu Veetu Roja]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || || Tamil ||
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Theerpugal Thiruthapadalam]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Tamil ||
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Dhandikappata Nyayangal]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Tamil ||
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Oru Sumangaliyude Katha]]'' || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || Malayalam ||
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Pournami Alaigal]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Tamil ||
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Panneer Nadhigal]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Tamil ||
|-
| 1986 || ''Sravana Sandhya'' || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || Telugu ||
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Majaal]]'' || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || Hindi ||
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Sattathin Thirappu Vizhaa]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Tamil ||
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Ellam Ungal Nanmaike]]''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://movies.syzygy.in/censor/ellam-ungal-nanmaike-celluloid | title=Ellam Ungal Nanmaike — Celluloid | publisher=syzygy.in | date=10 October 2010 | accessdate=17 May 2014 | archive-date=19 April 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419100635/http://movies.syzygy.in/censor/ellam-ungal-nanmaike-celluloid | url-status=dead }}</ref> || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Tamil ||
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Chakravarthy (1995 film)|Chakravarthy]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Tamil ||
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Vishnu (1995 film)|Vishnu]]'' || || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Tamil ||
|-
| 2000 || ''[[Kadhal Rojavae]]'' || || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Tamil || [[Pooja Kumar]] introduced as a lead actress in this film.
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Thotta]]'' || || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Tamil ||
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Oothari]]'' || || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Tamil || Unreleased
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=nm1197951|name=M. Bhaskar}}

{{M. Bhaskar}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhaskar M}}
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Film directors from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Film producers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Hindi film producers]]
[[Category:Indian filmmakers]]
[[Category:People from Virudhunagar district]]
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Tamil film producers]]

M. Bhaskar - Revision history

Jhonny at 06:46, 25 November 2025