K. Balachander
| Kailasam Balachander | |
|---|---|
Balachander in 2006
|
|
| Born |
Kailasam Balachander 9 July 1930 Thanjavur district, British India (now Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, India) |
| Died | 23 December 2014 (aged 84) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Occupation |
Director Film producer Screen writer Playwright |
| Years active | 1964–2014 |
| Spouse(s) | Rajam |
| Awards | |
Kailasam Balachander (9 July 1930 – 23 December 2014) was an Indian director, producer, writer, actor, playwright, stage conductor, and comedian who worked mainly in the Tamil film industry. He was well known for his distinct film-making style, and the Indian film industry knew him as a master of unconventional themes and hard-hitting contemporary subject matter. Balachander's films are well known for their portrayal of women as bold personalities and central characters. Popularly referred to as Iyakkunar Sigaram (Tamil: இயக்குனர் சிகரம் meaning "the director who scaled the peak"), his films are usually centred on unusual or complicated interpersonal relationships and social themes. Starting his cinematic career as a screenwriter, Balachander soon graduated as a director with Neerkumizhi in 1965. He was given a break into Tamil films by M. G. Ramachandran.
In a career that spread over 50 years, he had contributed to nearly 100 feature films either as a screenwriter or director, thus becoming one of the most prolific film-makers in the country. Known among his colleagues as a tough task master, he was credited with having nurtured numerous actors, notably Nagesh, Sujatha, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Jayaprada, Jayasudha, Saritha, Renuka, Nassar, Prakash Raj, Ramesh Aravind and Vivek.
As of 2013, Balachander had won nine National Film Awards and 13 Filmfare Awards. He was honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, in 1987, and is a recipient of the ANR National Award and Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award in cinema. K. Balachander is revered as one of the best directors India has ever produced.
...
Wikipedia