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Kailasam Balachander (Template:Lang-ta; Template:Lang-te) (born 9 July 1930) is an Indian film producer, director and screenwriter. He has directed films in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam. He is known for his distinct filmmaking style; the films he scripts and directs analyse unusual or complicated interpersonal relationships and social themes. In his career, he has contributed to the Tamil film industry in South India, and has introduced hundreds of actors, actresses into Tamil cinema including Kamal Hassan, Rajinikanth, Prakash Raj and Vivek.
Early life
K. Balachander was born on July 9, 1930 in a Tamil Brahmin family at Nannilam, Thanjavur District. His Parents are Saraswati and Dhandapani.
Career
Known amongst actors as a tough taskmaster, K. Balachander was able to extract from these actors some of their finest acting performances for his films. Prior to his involvement in Indian cinema, he worked as a school teacher in Muthupet, Tiruvarur District, and as a playwright. In a career spanning over 4 decades, he has directed 101 movies, the most by any director in Tamil.
Balachandar has always been ahead of his time, be it films or a TV serial. Initially into theatre, he presented plays like "Edhir Neechal", "Navagraham" etc. It was M. G. Ramachandran who had asked him to write dialogues for the film Deiva Thai.
His notable films were Tamil productions such as Apoorva Raagangal (1975), which deals with a father-son relationship and inter-generational romance that culminates in a complex dilemma; Avargal (1977), which follows the life of a divorcee as she traverses various relationships in reverse, i.e., from divorce, to marriage, to falling in love; Varumayin Niram Sigappu (1980), a drama that charts the travails and struggles of being unemployed in a large and harsh city; 47 Natkal (1981), which traces the adversities of a newly-wed Indian woman living with an abusive, expatriate husband in a Parisian suburb; and Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), about the intellectual collision and subsequent romance between an eminent Carnatic musician and his ardent female critic, Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981, Hindi), about cross-cultural romance in India, for which he received two Filmfare nominations - for direction and best story.
His telugu films Maro Charithra and Rudraveena are seen as one of the best movies ever made in Telugu film Industry. He directed the story about a woman breadwinner taking care of her family in several languages, the Tamil film Aval oru thodharkadai (1974), the Telugu film Anthuleni Katha (1976), and produced the Kannada film Benkiyalli Aralida Hoovu (1980). In a recent interview to Maa TV Channel, the doyen of Telugu film industry Dadasaheb Phalke winner Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR), when asked if there was any unfulfilled wish - has expressed his desire and interest to act in a film directed by Shri K.Balachander! That salutes Balachander to the hilt!
His more recent films include Parthale Paravasam (2001) and Poi (2006). To him goes the credit for discovering new talent in acting, direction, and other technical areas, many of whom have made a mark in their respective fields. Rajnikanth, a discovery of Balachandar and Kamal Hassan, whom he moulded into a great actor, prove this.
His serials, Kai Alavu Manasu, Rayil Sneham, Kadhal Pagadai, Premi, Jannal Anni and others have been successful. "This medium helps to reach out to the public. That's why I am into making serials," says Balachandar. He strongly feels that the three different medium of entertainment — theatre, cinema and television are bound to co-exist. One cannot destroy the other and at any given time the public will see what it wants.
After nearly 40 years, and as a homage to his dear friend Nagesh, KB recently returned (and was "Reborn" as he himself claims) to theatre through the play "Pournami". Starring Renuka and Poovilangu Mohan among others, the story is about a homemaker whose husband gets caught in Pakistan under the suspicion of being a terorist. The play, riddled with KB's signature humor, intelligent dialogues and political overtones, has been very well received and signals a clean return to the theatre for KB.
Personal life
Balachander is married to Rajam. The couple has 3 children, two sons(Kailasam, Prasanna) and one daughter Pushpa(known as Pushpa Kandaswamy, CEO, Kavithalaya Productions)
Awards
K. Balachander received the Padma Shri award in 1987 from the Indian Government in recognition to his contribution to the arts. His oeuvre consists of about a hundred feature films and some popular television serials. He has introduced almost all the major actors and actresses in Tamil (Rajnikanth, Kamal hassan and Sridevi (as adult actors)).
Film artists associated with K. Balachander
K. Balachander has introduced the Super Stars of South India, Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan. Both consider him as their mentor. Telugu Megastar Chiranjeevi was spotted out by him and was offered in a role in Anthuleni Katha, but could not act since he was a student then at the Madras Film Institute. But however, he cast Chiranjeevi in Idi Katha Kaadu and in other movies. A number of popular film personnel in the South Indian film industry are associated with him. Some of them are:
- Rajnikanth (Introduced him in Apoorva Raagangal and acted in 10 of his movies)
- Kamal Hassan (Introduced him as an Adult actor, Lead actor and directed 36 of his movies, the most by any actor)
- Chiranjeevi (Directed him in one of his earliest movies, has worked in 5 films under KB)
- Gemini Ganesan (The only senior actor to work with KB in more no. of films)
- Nagesh
- Muthuraman
- Jaishankar
- Sarath Babu
- Sivakumar
- Sowcar Janaki
- Madhubala (Introduced in 'Azhagan')
- Madhavi (Introduced in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi making her as one of the leading heroines)
- Jayanthi
- Jayasudha (Introduced through 'Arangetram' and acted in many of his movies)
- Srividya
- Saritha (Introduced in 'Marocharitra' and worked in 22 films under KB)
- Vivek (Introduced in Manathil Uruthi Vendum)
- Prakash Raj (Introduced in [[Duet (film)| Duet)
- Y. G. Mahendran (Introduced in 'Navagraham')
- Nassar (Introduced in 'Kalyana Agathigal)
- Sridevi (Introduced as an adult actor in 'Moondru Mudichu')
- Sujatha (Introduced in Aval Oru Thodar Kathai)
- Ramesh Aravind (Introduced by KB in Kannada, Telugu also in tamil)
- Vimala Raman
- Jayaprada (Introduced in Tamil through 'Manmadhaleelai' and Telugu through 'Anthuleni Katha')
- Sripriya
- Yuvarani
- Geetha
- Charle
- Radha Ravi
Balachander also produced the 1992 Mani Ratnam-directed film Roja, which was the first film of A. R. Rahman. It could also be considered that K. Balachander introduced Rahman as well, although the media gives that credit to Mani Ratnam instead.
Filmography
(For complete list of films see Kailasam Balachander filmography or the navigation template at the bottom of this page)
The following films won the "Best Regional Film" title at the annual Indian National Film Awards:
- Iru Kodugal
- Apoorva Raagangal
- Thaneer Thaneer
- Achamillai Achamillai
- Ethir Neechal
- Sindhu Bhairavi
- Arangetram
TV serials
- Marmadesam (Sun TV)
- Kasalavu Nesam (Comedy) (Sun/Raj TV)
- Rayil Sneham (ghthtghtyhjtyjuDoordarshan)
- Premi (sun TV)
- Kaasu Alavu Nesam (sun TV)
- Kadhal Pagadai (sun TV)
- Kai Alavu Manasu (suntv/raj TV)
- Sahana (jaya TV)
- Anni (jaya TV)
- Engirrundho Vandhaal (jaya TV)
- Nilavai pidippom (raj TV)
- jannal-1 (raj TV)
- jannal-2 (raj TV) (Maravukavidhaikal)
- Kadhal ondru Vangivandhean (Sun TV)
- Comedy Colony (Comedy) (Jaya TV)
- Other women oriented serials (sun, raj, jaya and all tv channels).
- Mariganesh (Moon TV)
Some Assistant Directors who are moulded by him
References
- ^ Movie Personalities-www.chennaibest.com
- rediff.com, Movies: The Jayasudha interview
- Ramnarayan, G. 2004. Thank God!I gave up acting. The Hindu, Monday, Jul 05. Available from: http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/07/05/stories/2004070500200300.htm. Accessed 16 March 2007.
- 1st Filmfare Awards 1953
- http://www.desipundit.com/baradwajrangan/2006/09/10/interview-k-balachander/
- http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/cinebio/23-06-99/balacha2.htm