After the death of legendary director Bharathiraja, many fascinating stories from his career have resurfaced. One of his most memorable is the making and release of the classic film ‘Mudhal Mariyathai’ in 1985.Bharathiraja reportedly faced skepticism from distributors and people in the industry before releasing the film in theatres. Many were unsure of the film’s commercial success because it had an unconventional theme.At a time when confidence in the project was low, the director chose to rely on audience opinion rather than industry expectations.
Special offer for Female audiences
As reported by The Week, instead of seeking feedback from trade circles, Bharathiraja decided to listen directly to viewers.
Since women often occupy a central place in his stories, he thought their opinions would be especially valuable.According to accounts by writer R. Selvaraj, reported by The Hindu, Bharathiraja organized a special show exclusively for women. The special screening was attended by more than 40 women from different backgrounds.The screening was arranged in a simple way with one goal in mind: to get honest feedback on the film before its release.
The director reportedly wanted to understand whether the emotions and relationships portrayed in the story were relatable to the audience he believed would understand them best.
The feedback gave Bharathiraja confidence
After the performance ended, Bharathiraja personally distributed papers to all those present. They were asked to write their true opinions about the film, and the responses reportedly exceeded expectations. Most women praised the film.The feedback convinced him that the film had the ability to connect with audiences. This trust became an important factor in moving forward with the release.
‘Mudhal Mariyathai’ was a super hit
When ‘Mudhal Mariyathai’ finally hit theatres, it was a critical and commercial success. The film ran for more than 200 days and achieved its silver jubilee.Starring Sivaji Ganesan and Radha in the lead roles, the film explored a sensitive relationship between an older man and a younger woman.
Inspired by literature
‘Mudhal Mariyathai’ is also known for his literary inspiration. Reports say that the emotional conclusion of the story was drawn by Bharathiraja from the relationship between the famous Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky and his wife Anna Snitkina.