Manoj Bharathiraja
Updated: 12/10/2025, 5:13:39 PM Wikipedia source
Manoj Kumar Bharathiraja (11 September 1976 – 25 March 2025) was an Indian actor, film director, producer and playback singer who worked in Tamil cinema. He was the son of director Bharathiraja and made his acting debut with his father's Taj Mahal in 1999. Manoj's notable films included Samudhiram (2001), Kadal Pookkal (2001), Alli Arjuna (2002), Varushamellam Vasantham (2002), Eera Nilam (2003), Annakodi (2013), Baby (2015), Maanaadu (2021) and Viruman (2022). Before becoming an actor in the Tamil film industry, Manoj worked as an assistant director. He worked as an assistant to his father in films such Nadodi Thendral (1992) and Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993), to Mani Ratnam in Bombay (1995) and to S. Shankar for Enthiran (2010).
Infobox
Born
Manoj Kumar Bharathiraja(1976-09-11)11 September 1976Kambam, Theni district, Tamil Nadu, India
Died
25 March 2025(2025-03-25) (aged 48)Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupations
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Years active
1999–20052013–2024
Spouse
mw- Nandana Aswathi (m. 2006)
Children
2
Parent(s)
BharathirajaChandraleela
Tables
· Filmography › As actor
2010
Role(s)
Body double for Vaseegaran and Chitti
Notes
As assistant director;for Sana's birthday and car sequences
2016
Ennama Katha Vudranunga
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
Cameo appearance in the title song
Role(s)
Manibarathi
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985 | Mudhal Mariyathai | Himself | Uncredited appearance in the title credits |
| 1988 | Kodi Parakkuthu | ||
| 1992 | Nadodi Thendral | ||
| 1993 | Captain Magal | ||
| 1999 | Taj Mahal | Maayan | |
| 2001 | Samudhiram | Chinnarasu | |
| Kadal Pookkal | Peter | ||
| 2002 | Alli Arjuna | Arivazhagan (Arivu) | |
| Varushamellam Vasantham | Raja | ||
| 2003 | Pallavan | Pallavan | |
| Eera Nilam | Duraisamy | ||
| 2004 | Maha Nadigan | Muthu | |
| 2005 | Saadhuriyan | ||
| 2010 | Enthiran | Body double for Vaseegaran and Chitti | As assistant director;for Sana's birthday and car sequences |
| 2013 | Annakodi | Sadayan | Also producer |
| 2015 | Baby | Shiva | |
| Kathirvel Kaakha | Velraj | ||
| 2016 | Ennama Katha Vudranunga | Himself | Cameo appearance in the title song |
| Vaaimai | Manibarathi | ||
| 2019 | Valayal | ||
| Champion | Gold Star Gopi | ||
| 2021 | Eeswaran | Younger Periyasamy | |
| 2021 | Maanaadu | John Mathew | |
| 2022 | Viruman | Muthukutty | Final film role |
· Filmography › As actor › Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2024 | Snakes and Ladders | Mahalingam | Amazon Prime Video |
· Filmography › As film director
2020
Whistle
Role(s)
short film
Pavithra
Role(s)
short film; released on ShortFlix
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
| 2020 | Whistle | short film | |
| Pavithra | short film; released on ShortFlix | ||
| 2023 | Margazhi Thingal | Won—Edison Award for Feel Good Entertainer |
· Filmography › As playback singer
2001
"Pathinaaru Vayathanile"
Role(s)
Meena
"Madura Mailu Eiva"
"Oirele Kalanthu"
Role(s)
—
"Karisa Kaadutha Kadhal"
Role(s)
Meena
"Kadhal Vanthu"
Role(s)
—
| Year | Title | Song | Composer | Co-singers | Notes | Ref. |
| 1999 | Taj Mahal | "Eechi Elumichi" | A. R. Rahman | Arundhathi, Raqeeb Alam | ||
| 2001 | Pathinaru Vayathinile | "Vaikarai Velaile" | T. S. Muralidharan | — | Album | |
| "Pathinaaru Vayathanile" | Meena | |||||
| "Madura Mailu Eiva" | ||||||
| "Oirele Kalanthu" | — | |||||
| "Karisa Kaadutha Kadhal" | Meena | |||||
| "Kadhal Vanthu" | — |
References
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.com/tamil/articles/cvgdxyw1xl4o
- "A quick chat with Manoj"http://cinematoday2.itgo.com/A%20quick%20chat%20with%20Manoj.htm
- Vikatanhttps://cinema.vikatan.com/kollywood/121721-manoj-bharathiraja-in-appo-ippo-series-5
- Minthttps://www.livemint.com/entertainment/tamil-actor-director-passes-away-at-48-due-to-cardiac-arrest-11742919726061.html
- Vanakkam Tamizha with actor Manoj Bharathiraja - Full Show | 31st December 2019 | Sun TVhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYHlvzUynTY?si=EnMnNTw8YVWbUoLa
- "Profile of Manoj K Bharathi"https://web.archive.org/web/20090718032633/http://archives.chennaionline.com/chat/celebchat/08manojprofile.asp
- The Times of Indiahttps://web.archive.org/web/20080408084932/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/58C92B713509E5D165256940004C8A7C?OpenDocument
- www.pvv.ntnu.nohttps://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~kailasan/old_news.htm
- Onmanoramahttps://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2020/08/15/dress-circle-ar-rahman-best-songs.html
- The Times of Indiahttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/20-years-of-samuthiram-four-interesting-facts-about-the-film/photostory/85687105.cms?picid=85687251
- The Hinduhttps://web.archive.org/web/20121105083125/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/03/03/stories/2006030302490700.htm
- Cinesouthhttps://web.archive.org/web/20050308041309/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/18102004-1.shtml
- Idlebrain.comhttps://www.idlebrain.com/news/functions/muhurat-lemon.html
- Hindustan Timeshttps://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/suriya-holds-bharathirajas-hands-to-console-him-over-son-manoj-bharathirajas-death-watch-101742968118669.html
- https://www.pressreader.com/india/dt-next/20200413/282076278993514https://www.pressreader.com/india/dt-next/20200413/282076278993514
- Asianet News Tamilhttps://tamil.asianetnews.com/gallery/cinema/manoj-bharathiraja-act-as-body-double-for-rajinikanth-in-enthiran-movie-gan-stpjw1#image1
- The Times of Indiahttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kamals-sigappu-rojakkal-to-be-remade/articleshow/40923882.cms
- The Times of Indiahttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/movie-details/news-interviews/kadhal-theevu-the-cast-factor/articleshow/12079883.cms
- Desimartinihttps://archive.today/20250218170653/https://www.desimartini.com/news/telugu/ameer-sultan-replaced-in-annakodiyum-kodiveeranum-with-son-article290.htm
- The Times of Indiahttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/yuvan-shankar-raja-will-score-music-for-manoj-k-bharathis-directorial-debut/articleshow/50562200.cms
- www.dtnext.inhttps://www.dtnext.in/news/cinema/mani-ratnam-unveils-bharathirajas-margazhi-thingal-teaser-734630
- "Manoj-Nandana get married in Kerala"https://web.archive.org/web/20091109031603/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/20112006-1.shtml
- IndiaGlitz.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20070120182729/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/26663.html
- ww12.kollywoodtoday.nethttp://ww12.kollywoodtoday.net/news/happy-news-for-manoj-nandana/?usid=20&utid=15431866304
- Times Nowhttps://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/tamil/actor-director-manoj-bharathiraja-dies-due-to-cardiac-arrest-at-48-article-119486476
- India Todayhttps://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/manoj-bharathiraja-dies-at-48-chennai-2698999-2025-03-25
- News18https://www.news18.com/movies/tamil-actor-manoj-bharathiraja-passes-away-at-48-due-to-heart-attack-9274831.html
- The Indian Expresshttps://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/bharathirajas-son-and-actor-manoj-bharathiraja-passes-away-at-48-9905800/
- Times Nowhttps://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/tamil/manoj-bharathiraja-dies-at-48-who-was-legendary-director-bharathiraja-son-article-119488028
- Cinema Expresshttps://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Oct/07/karthik-subbarajs-snakes-and-ladders-gets-premiere-date
- "Whistle Tamil Film"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24AEC8hLuhw
- "PAVITHRA | PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER |DIRECTED BY MANOJ.K.BHARATHI | PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER | DIRECTED BY MANOJ.K.BHARATHI| |EXECUTIVE PRODUCER -ANITA| |SHORT FILM| #THRILLER #PAVITHRA #SHORTFILM DO SHARE & COMMENTS | By Manoj Bharathiraja | Facebook"https://www.facebook.com/ManojBharathirajaofficial/videos/pavithra-psychological-thriller-directed-by-manojkbharathi/377222053506990/
- "முரளிதரன் = Muralitharan / தபுன் = Tabun - 16 வயதினிலே... / ஓ நண்பனே"https://www.discogs.com/release/10485696-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%A9-Muralitharan-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%A9-Tabun-16-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%B2-%E0%AE%93-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%A3%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%A9?srsltid=AfmBOoqpc2j2bLOqXd-MoZBMwR9K8BLTvPbYl6xtPAkVITP_3ewCQSzu
- "#padhinaruvayadhiniley My first music album which got released in 2001...down memory lane..❤❤❤❤❤"https://x.com/manojkumarb_76/status/1341299871207182337