Actor-director K Bhagyaraj, a legend unparalleled in his vision and screenwriting, has bid adieu. The news has come as a shock to the Tamil film industry, which is still grappling with the passing of Bhagyaraj’s guru and legendary director Bharathiraja. Bhagyaraj, known for helming more than 25 films, was a gifted writer, one who could seamlessly blend humour, emotions, and sharp social takes.

As a tribute to a legend who has inspired countless writer-directors, here are five of the most essential films he has helmed:

Andha 7 Naatkal

It isn’t a cakewalk to select five films in Bhagyaraj’s filmography, but we know where to begin — how could we forget Palakkad Madhavan and his Malayalam-accented Tamil? This film signalled to the world of cinema that Bhagyaraj was a generational talent in screenwriting and acting. Andha 7 Naatkal, starring the director himself alongside Rajesh and Ambika, was a unique blend of comedy and emotions. The film told the story of a woman (Ambika) whose family disapproves of her relationship with a man (Madhavan) and forcibly marries her off to another (Rajesh). When her husband learns of the same, he promises to reunite her with her lover, but on one condition — that she should pretend to be his wife for seven days (as the title suggests), since it is his dying mother’s wish to get her son settled in life. The film’s remarkable screenplay makes it one of the finest relationship dramas in Tamil cinema.

Mundhanai Mudichu

Easily the most popular title directed by Bhagyaraj, Mundhanai Mudichu was inspired by a real-life incident the filmmaker witnessed firsthand — the social desecration of a relationship between a woman and a widower. The film features acclaimed star Urvashi (in her debut) as a young woman who falls in love with her widowed teacher and lies about their relationship to get hitched. A crowd-pleaser celebrated for its comedy, the screenplay of Mundhanai Mudichu is nothing short of brilliant — it thrives on misunderstandings that constantly test the equation between its protagonists. How can we forget the famous Murunkka comedy and Urvashi’s scene-stealing expressions?

Indru Poi Naalai Vaa

Pardon me, but the first thing that I instantly recollect about this film is the now-iconic dialogue: “Ek gaon mein ek kissaan raghu thatha.” Jokes apart, imagine a film built on just this one-liner: three friends repeatedly scheme to impress a beautiful neighbour. Sounds weird? Well, this product of its time is easily one of the funniest films of that decade, and it once again proved why Bhagyaraj was called the ‘king of screenwriting.’ Starring the writer-director himself alongside Radikaa, the film’s many comic set-pieces and effortless performances are fondly remembered by Tamil cinema fans. Notably, in an interview with The Hindu published on 26th December, 2010, Bhagyaraj stated that he wrote the screenplay of Indru Poi Naalai Vaa ‘overnight’ — talk about talent!

Thooral Ninnu Pochu

I wanted to choose between Darling, Darling, Darling and Thooral Ninnu Pochu, and the latter takes its place in our list for three reasons: a) how understated it is in his filmography, b) for how maturely the writer-director wrote drama and characters, and c) for Ilaiyaraaja’s stellar album. The most tender entrant to this list, Thooral Ninnu Pochu, told the story of a man’s rollercoaster of an equation with his prospective bride. What captured the audience upon its release was the warmth imbued in the screenplay and realistic character writing. From ‘Bhoopalam Isaikkum’ and ‘Thanga Sangili’ to ‘Yen Soga Kadhaiya Kelu,’ the film’s album is packed with hits, but nothing comes close to the timelessness and beauty of KJ Yesudas’ ‘Yerikkarai Poongaatre.’

Mouna Geethangal

You might be perplexed to see this and not a Chinna Veedu or an Enga Chinna Rasa, but Mouna Geethangal (Bhagyaraj’s third directorial) was a film that told the world that Bhagyaraj could write serious dramas with a strong emotional core. The film, fondly remembered for Saritha’s performance, told the story of how infidelity wedges a gap between a married couple. Of course, you may not agree with how the film ends, but Bhagyaraj charms you with a screenplay that allows its characters to grapple with their reality in a deeply human way — the film may not have aged well, but that doesn’t diminish its potency one bit. It’s now time to revisit the iconic ‘Mookuthi Poo Mele’ song from the film.