Venkatesh's Hits Sundarakanda, Abbaigaru Adapted From K Bhagyaraj Films
Despite his deep influence, Bhagyaraj frequently shared in interviews that one of his unfulfilled career dreams was to write and direct a full-length, direct Telugu feature film, which he never got to make.
Legendary Tamil filmmaker and actor K. Bhagyaraj (73), known for his subtle humour and witty dialogues that connected deeply with audiences, died on Saturday (June 27 ) following a cardiac arrest at a hospital in Chennai.
His roles, mostly drawn from the middle class, held a unique charm as his exquisite screenplays combined with his on-screen persona. In a career spanning over five decades, Bhagyaraj delivered numerous hits. Some of his celebrated directorial and acting works include Andha 7 Naatkal, Mundhanai Mudichu, Chinna Veedu, and Enga Chinna Rasa.
Widely known as the "Screenplay King" of Indian cinema, his films were primarily made in Tamil, and many of his iconic works were dubbed into Telugu or remade into Telugu hits.
Two of actor Venkatesh’s career-defining hits were directly adapted from Bhagyaraj. Sundarakanda (1992), a massive Telugu hit starring Venkatesh and Meena, was remade from Bhagyaraj's Tamil classic Sundara Kandam. Another film, Abbayigaru (1993), also starring Venkatesh and Meena, is the official remake of his emotional family drama Enga Chinna Rasa. The same story was made in Hindi as Beta, starring Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit, and went on to become a hit. Bhagyaraj was the lead actor and dialogue writer for the original Tamil film Puthiya Vaarpugal, which was remade in Telugu as Kotha Jeevithalu (1981) and directed by his mentor Bharathiraja.
Venkatesh expressed deep sorrow, stating that Bhagyaraj's work transcended languages and touched millions. He recalled his association with films like Sundarakanda and Abbaigaru, calling it a privilege to work with such a remarkable storyteller.
Another of his films, the romance-drama Andha Ezhu Naatkal, was remade in Telugu as Radha Kalyanam (1981) starring Chandra Mohan. He wrote the original story for Oru Kaidhiyin Diary, which became a massive hit in Telugu as Magadheerudu starring Chiranjeevi and was remade in Hindi as Amitabh Bachchan's Aakhree Raasta.
He also starred in direct Telugu films or dubbed versions of his blockbusters, such as Chilipi Pellam with Bhanupriya, Chinna Raja, and Darling Darling Darling. He expanded his acting footprint in Tollywood by playing supporting roles in contemporary films. He was first introduced in a role in Mem Vayasuku Vaccham by director Trinadha Rao Nakkina in 2012. In the 2024 drama 35 - Chinna Katha Kaadu, released as 35 - Chinna Vishayam Ille in Tamil, he played Principal Bucchi Reddy, a strict but well-meaning head of the school where the young protagonist studies. He also appeared in a brief cameo in Shekhar Kammula’s Kubera, playing a mentor/sadhu to the lead character Deva, portrayed by Dhanush. Kubera would technically be his last Telugu film as an actor.
K. Bhagyaraj's tryst with Tollywood was a highly influential, multi-layered relationship driven by his mastery of screenplays, widespread dubbed blockbusters, and prolific remake value, though he never directed a direct Telugu film due to his self-admitted language barrier.
Despite his deep influence, Bhagyaraj frequently shared in interviews that one of his unfulfilled career dreams was to write and direct a full-length, direct Telugu feature film, which he never got to make.