K. Balachander was a highly revered Indian film personality, whose directorial and production works are especially in the Tamil Cinema. He had his unique style of film-making, in which he diligently incorporated unconventional themes, contemporary subject matters, complicated interpersonal relationships and socially relevant themes. He has left his mark in the film industry with an illustrious range of films, not only restricted to Tamil cinema but also in Kannada, Telugu and Hindi cinemas. He is referred to as ‘Iyakunar Sigaram’, which means ‘the director who scaled the peak’ in Tamil. He had mentored some prominent figures of Indian cinema like; Kamal Hassan, Rajnikanth and Prakash Raj.

Early Life of K. Balachander
K. Balachander or Kailasam Balachander was born on July 9, 1930 into a Tamil household, in the Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. His earliest interest in cinema grew in his very childhood watching films of M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, the then Superstar in Tamil films. He was driven towards theatre and drama while growing up, and developed interest in acting, writing and directing amateur plays by engaging in the same. While pursuing his graduation from Annamalai University, he continued to revel in his passion of theatre. He later joined an amateur drama company after working in different jobs for some time and soon formed his own troupe. He wrote ‘Major Chandrakanth’, a play in English that he rewrote in Tamil, after which it became a sensation among people. He gained prominence as an amateur playwright with this play. He produced and directed several critically appreciated plays.

Film Career of K. Balachander
Starting out as an enthusiastic playwright and stage director, K. Balachander went on to write and direct almost 100 films, while also producing and acting in some. Two of his plays ‘Server Sundaram’ and ‘Major Chandrakanth’ were adapted into a Tamil and a Hindi film respectively, and both the films were recognised with accolades.

K. Balachander made his directorial debut in ‘Neerkumizhi’ in 1965, based on his own play of the same name, with actors from his own troupe. He made other plays of his own into Tamil films, one of which is ‘Major Chandrakanth’ had Jayalalitha, the actor-turned-politician playing the lead heroine. In 1967, he wrote and directed ‘Barna Vijayam’, a comedy family drama with an ensemble cast. It was very successful and he remade it in Telugu. The success of both the versions drove the Hindi remake of the same titled ‘Teen Bahuraniyan’. His another family drama was ‘Iru Kodugal’ in 1969, starring Gemini Ganesan.

In the 1970s, K. Balachander made several unconventional off-beat films with feminism and womanhood as the driven plot, portraying women as bold personalities and central characters. He re-entered Bollywood with ‘Ek Duuje Ke Liye’ adapting his successful Telugu original, in 1981. It earned critical acclaim and major success at box office, also winning Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay. His later years’ films included his 100th film project ‘Parthale Paravasam’ in 2001 and ‘Poi’ in 2006.

Television Career of K. Balachander
K. Balachander also ventured into television with serials like ‘Kadhal Pagadai’, ‘Premi’ and several others, most of which again focussed on women as his early films. He also returned to theatre after 40 years with a play ‘Pournami’.

Filmography of K. Balachander
The following are the filmography of K. Balachander:

1964	Dheiva Thaai	Tamil	1978	Nizhal Nijamagiradhu	Tamil
	Server Sundaram	Tamil		Maro Charithra	Telugu
1965	Oonche Log	Hindi		Thappu Thalangal	Tamil
	Poojaikku Vandha Malar	Tamil		Thappida Thala	Kannada
	Neerkumizhi	Tamil		Balapareekshanam	Malayalam
	Neela Vanam	Tamil	1979	Ninaithale Inikkum	Tamil
	Naanal	Tamil		Andamaina Anubhavam	Telugu
	Major Chandrakanth	Tamil		Nool Veli	Tamil
1966
	Urandhakallu Oesthu Naaru Jackraga	Tamil		Guppedu Manasu	Telugu
1967	Bama Vijayam	Tamil		Idi Katha Kaadu	Telugu
	Anubavi Raja Anubavi	Tamil		Kazhagan	Telugu
1968	Ethir Neechal	Tamil	1980	Varumayin Niram Sivappu	Tamil
	Thamarai Nenjam (film)	Tamil	1981	Aakali Rajyam	Telugu
	Bhale Kodalu	Telugu		Adavaalu Meeku Joharulu	Telugu
	Sukha Dukhaalu	Telugu		Enga Ooru Kannagi	Tamil
	Teen Bahuraniyan	Hindi		Tholikodi Koosindi	Telugu
1969	Poova Thalaiya	Tamil		Thillu Mullu	Tamil
	Sattekalapu Satteya	Telugu		Thaneer Thaneer	Tamil
	Iru Kodugal	Tamil		Ek Duuje Ke Liye	Hindi
	Chiranjeevi	Telugu		47 Natkal	Tamil
1970	Patham Pasali	Tamil		47 Rojulu	Telugu
	Ethiroli	Tamil	1982	Agni Sakshi	Tamil
	Navagraham	Tamil		Benkiyalli Aralida Hoovu	Kannada
	Kaviya Thalaivi	Tamil		Poikkal Kudhirai	Tamil
	Sambarala Rambabu	Telugu		Zara Si Zindagi	Hindi
	Bheekara Nimishangal	Malayalam	1983	Kokilamma	Telugu
1971	Naangu Suvargal	Tamil	1984	Ek Nai Paheli	Hindi
	Nootrukku Nooru	Tamil		Achamillai Achamillai	Tamil
	Bomma Borusa	Telugu		Eradu Rekhegalu	Kannada
	Moogabrama	Telugu		Kalyana Agathigal	Tamil
	Punnagai	Tamil		Sindhu Bhairavi	Tamil
	Lakhon Mein Ek	Hindi	1985	Mugila Mallige	Kannada
	Main Sunder Hoon	Hindi	1986	Sundara Swapnagalu	Kannada
1972	Kanna Nalama	Tamil		Punnagai Mannan	Tamil
	Velli Vizha	Tamil	1987	Manathil Uruthi Vendum	Tamil
	Haar Jeet	Hindi	1988	Rudraveena	Telugu
	Aaradimanninte Janmi	Malayalam		Unnal Mudiyum Thambi	Tamil
1973	Arangetram	Tamil	1989	Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal	Tamil
	Sollathaan Ninaikkiren	Tamil	1990	Oru Veedu Iru Vasal	Tamil
1974	Aval Oru Thodar Kathai	Tamil	1991	Azhagan	Tamil
	Naan Avanillai	Tamil	1992	Vaaname Ellai	Tamil
	Jeevitha Rangam	Telugu		Dilon Ka Rishta	Hindi
1975	Apoorva Raagangal	Tamil	1993	Jathi Malli	Tamil
1976	Manmadha Leelai	Tamil	1994	Duet	Tami Awards and Achievements of K. Balachander An innumerably awarded film personality, K. Balachander had won nine National Film Awards and 13 Filmfare Awards for his works. He was also conferred with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1987 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest award in cinema. K. Balachander had won multiple awards in different categories, for his works in screenplay as writer, for direction and for films he produced. The varied list incorporates: 9 National Film Awards including: •Best Tamil Film for ‘Iru Kodugal’ (1969), ‘Apoorva Raagangal’ (1975), ‘Thaneer Thaneer’ (1981) and ‘Achamillai Achamillai’ (1984). •Best Screenplay for ‘Thaneer Thaneer’ (1981) •Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award (2011) •Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration for ‘Rudraveena’ (1988) and ‘Roja’ (1992) •National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues for ‘Oru Veedu Iru Vaasal’ (1991) He won a total of 13 Filmfare Awards including: •Best Screenplay for ‘Ek Duuje Ke Liye’ (1981) •Best Tamil Director for ‘Aval Oru Thodar Kathai’ (1974), ‘Apoorva Raagangal’ (1975), ‘Varumayin Niram Sivappu’ (1980), ‘Thaneer Thaneer’ (1981), ‘Achamillai Achamillai’ (1984), ‘Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal’ (1989), ‘Vaaname Ellai’ (1992) and ‘Maro Charitra’ (1978). •Best Film (Tamil) for ‘Achamillai Achamillai’(1984), ‘Sindhu Bhairavi’ (1985) and ‘Roja’ (1992). •Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994 In addition to many other awards in writing and direction, K. Balachander was conferred with an honorary doctorate ‘Doctor of Letters’ by Sathyabama University, Alagappa University and University of Madras. Also, he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 39th International Film Festival of India in 2008. Personal Life of K. Balachander K. Balachander tied the knot with wife Rajam in 1956. Together they raised sons Kailasam and Prasanna and daughter Pushpa Kandaswamy. Death of K. Balachander K. Balachander was hospitalised in December, 2014, following a neurosurgery in the previous month. Reported to have been suffering from fever and urinary tract infection, he died on the 23rd of the month, owing to complications and age-related ailments. (Last Updated on : 02-12-2019)