The director's Director who pioneered realistic cinema in Tamil, and the maker of iconic films such as “Moondram Pirai” and “Veedu” is no more.

Actor Somayajulu in the 1979 blockbuster Telugu film "Shankarabharanam", directed by ace director K. Vishwanath. Balu Mahendra handled the film's Cinematography.
Photo: mail pic

Rajnikanth and Fatafat Jayalakshmi in "Mullum Malarum". In this J. Mahendran's directorial debut, cinematography was done by Balu Mahendra. Photo: The Hindu Photo Archives
Photo: Scanned by R.K. Sridharan

"'Moodu Pani', a psychological thriller directed by Balu Mahendra was relased in 1980. Prathap Pothen and Shobha (in picture) played the lead roles in the film with a mind-blowing music score by Ilaiyaraaja.
Photo: Scanned in Chennai V. Sukumar

The director was at his usual ease with young artists like Prashanth (in Vanna Vanna Pookkal) and Arvind Swamy (Marupadiyum). The still shows Dhanush and Priya Mani in "Athu Oru Kanaa Kaalam", released in 2005.

Veedu is a Tamil drama film written and directed by Balu Mahendra, starring Archana, which depicts the difficulties of a middle-class family in building a house. Mahendra, besides directing, worked as the script writer, cinematographer and editor as well. Photo: The Hindu Photo Archives
Photo: handout

After nearly four decades of experience behind the camera,director Balu Mahendra made his acting debut, and incidentally his last, through the film "Thalaimuraigal" in 2013. A still from the film.
Photo: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT






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Actor Somayajulu in the 1979 blockbuster Telugu film "Shankarabharanam", directed by ace director K. Vishwanath. Balu Mahendra handled the film's Cinematography.
Photo: mail pic

Rajnikanth and Fatafat Jayalakshmi in "Mullum Malarum". In this J. Mahendran's directorial debut, cinematography was done by Balu Mahendra. Photo: The Hindu Photo Archives
Photo: Scanned by R.K. Sridharan

"'Moodu Pani', a psychological thriller directed by Balu Mahendra was relased in 1980. Prathap Pothen and Shobha (in picture) played the lead roles in the film with a mind-blowing music score by Ilaiyaraaja.
Photo: Scanned in Chennai V. Sukumar

The director was at his usual ease with young artists like Prashanth (in Vanna Vanna Pookkal) and Arvind Swamy (Marupadiyum). The still shows Dhanush and Priya Mani in "Athu Oru Kanaa Kaalam", released in 2005.

Veedu is a Tamil drama film written and directed by Balu Mahendra, starring Archana, which depicts the difficulties of a middle-class family in building a house. Mahendra, besides directing, worked as the script writer, cinematographer and editor as well. Photo: The Hindu Photo Archives
Photo: handout

After nearly four decades of experience behind the camera,director Balu Mahendra made his acting debut, and incidentally his last, through the film "Thalaimuraigal" in 2013. A still from the film.
Photo: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The director's Director who pioneered realistic cinema in Tamil, and the maker of iconic films such as “Moondram Pirai” and “Veedu” is no more.
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