For speakers felicitating Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner, director K. Balachander, here on Thursday, it was time to recall their favourite scenes, characters, plays and films he worked on. Organised by Brahma Gana Sabha, the event had personalities from different fields participating.
Playwright Crazy Mohan said no attempt at comedy could ever match ‘Bama Vijayam' made by Mr. Balachander.
“The spontaneity in that humour is unbelievable. No one can ever equal his ability to pen sharp dialogue,” he said.
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“When writer Jayakanthan won the Gnanpith award, it was an honour for the award. Similarly, KB sir as a recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke award brings great recognition to the award itself,” he added.
Actor Ilavarasu said an aspiring director who watches Mr. Balachander's films need not train under any director as assistant. “All that he needs to know could be learnt watching his films.”
Referring to powerful shots filmed by the director by the sea in films such as ‘Sindhubhairavi', he said: “He would make those rocks and waves characters in the films.”
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President of the Trisakthi Group Sundararaman said the director could strike a golden balance between reality and fantasy.
Brahma Gana Sabha president Nalli Kuppusamy Chetty, former director of Doordarshan A.Natarajan and M. Murali of Sri Krishna Sweets spoke of the director's contributions to Tamil cinema.
Speakers highlighted the director's ability to portray the salaried, middle class and its dilemmas in a very convincing way that made the audience instantly relate to the characters.
In his response, Mr. Balachander said he was overwhelmed by the warmth and affection of the speakers. He said it was his good fortune to have worked with great artists and technicians.