K. Bhagyaraj and Karthik Kumar
| Photo Credit: G. Moorthy and evamkarthik/Instagram
When I worked with K. Bhagyaraj sir in Super Senior Heroes, I felt like I was tributing a hero from the time I was influenced by cinema. Today, the likes of RJ Balaji, Sivakarthikeyan and Santhanam, all the heroes who are doing comedy, have got it all from the genius mind of Bhagyaraj sir. I wanted to bring this man back to this era and let the youngsters know that this hero should be tributed and never forgotten. That’s the spirit with which I made Super Senior Heroes.I wasn’t able to make the film as iconic as I would have liked it to be due to my own limitations as a first time filmmaker. But I am so shaken right now that we have lost Bhagyaraj sir; however, we have not lost his genius.At various points of time, we should understand the value of that actor, director, screenwriter and auteur. There are actors who direct, there are directors who act, but this man is his own cinema DNA and we all can learn from that. I learnt so much while working with him on Super Senior Heroes.On the last day of shoot, he casually mentioned to the film’s cinematographer that Super Senior Heroes is an off-shoot from his own film, Vaettiya Madichu Kattu (1998). I didn’t even think of it. I realised I was unconsciously ripping his idea without knowing that this man has done everything. How can you not borrow from geniuses around you?I didn’t feel like I stole from him; it felt like I was honouring him. Super Senior Hereos, from his perspective, was a different version of his own film. I felt so honoured to be thought of as taking from his idea. That’s the genius of K. Bhagyaraj.Rest in peace sir.(Karthik Kumar as told to Srinivasa Ramanujam) Published - June 27, 2026 12:09 pm IST
