Bharathiraja
Awards & Honours
17
Awards Won
5
Honours
2
Rankings
3
Covers
2
Records
Bharathiraja's six National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Tamil remain unmatched for any director in that language. He was the first filmmaker to win the award five times in a single decade. His Padma Shri in 2004 recognized his contribution to Indian cinema. The honorary doctorate from Sathyabama University and lifetime achievement awards from SIIMA and IFFI further underscore his enduring impact. His films continue to be studied for their realistic portrayal of rural life and social themes.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Padma Shri
Fourth-highest civilian honour for contribution to the film industry.
Doctor of Letters (honorary)
Honorary degree for his contributions to cinema.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognized for his lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.
Kalaimamani Award
State honour for excellence in the field of arts.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Honoured for his outstanding contribution to world cinema.
Rankings & Lists
100 Greatest Indian Directors of All Time
Greatest Tamil Directors
Magazine Covers
India Today
January 2004
Padma Shri Awardees 2004
Ananda Vikatan
July 2017
Bharathiraja: 40 Years of 16 Vayathinile
Filmfare South
December 2020
The Legend of Bharathiraja
Records & Feats
Most National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Tamil
Won six National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Tamil, the most by any director in that category.
First director to win National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil five times in a decade
Won the award in 1977, 1979, 1980, 1985, and 1986, a feat unmatched in Tamil cinema.