Veteran filmmaker K. Balachander passed away on December 23, 2014. Photo: Nagara Gopal
Director K. Balachander has donned many roles in the film industry. He was also a screenwriter, producer, actor and play-writer. Photo: K. Pichumani
Born in July 1930, KB as he is popularly known in the industry, has directed over 100 films in various languages in his 45-year career span. Photo: S. Siva Saravanan
Also known as Iyakunar Sigaram, he entered the film industry as a scriptwriter for the MGR starrer Dheiva Thaai. Photo: Special Arrangement
KB established himself as a director with Neer Kumizhi. The film won a National Award. Since then, his association with actor Nagesh went a long way. He directed many films with the late actor as lead in many films such as Major Chandrakant, Ethir Neechal, and Bama Vijayam. File Photo of Nagesh and K. Balachander at a felicitation ceremony. Photo: M. Karunakaran
The director has introduced over 100 actors to the industry, including Prakash Raj, Vivek, Sujatha, Sripriya and Saritha. Still shows Sujatha (left) and Sripriya in the film Aval Oru Thodarkathai. Photo: The Hindu Archives
Superstar Rajinikanth was introduced by the Iyakunar Sigaram in his film Apoorva Ragangal (in picture). The actor played a negative role in the film. Some of the other films of this duo are Moondru Mudichu, Thillu Mullu and Avargal. Photo: Special Arrangement
KB also gave a break to Kamal Haasan and starred him as supporting actor in Arangetram, Aval Oru Thodarkathai and Naan Avan Illai. Later the director gave him the lead role in Apoorva Ragangal. Image shows Kamal Haasan (left), K Balachander (centre) and Rajinikanth sharing a light moment. Photo: Special Arrangement
Balachander also gave Sridevi her first lead role in his film Moondru Mudichu (in picture). Photo: Special Arrangement
Most of his films were based on family and social issues like Varumayin Niram Sigapu (in picture), Thaneer Thaneer etc. Photo: Special Arrangement
Distinguishing trait of his films were the strong potrayal of woman characters. Films such as Aval Oru Thodarkathai, Arangetram (in picture), Avargal, Sindhu Bairavi and Manathil Uruthi Vendum were critically acclaimed for being way ahead of times. Photo: The Hindu Archives
In the initial days, his plays were made as movies directed and produced by him. Some of the notable ones are Server Sundaram (in picture), Neerkumizhi, Mezhuguvathi, Navagraham and Naanal. Photo: Special Arrangement
He also owned a production house, Kavithalaya Productions, that produced many of films and serials. Still from the film Netrikan, the first film produced by the production house. Photo: Special Arrangement
Apart from Tamil, KB has also directed in three other languages viz., Hindi, Telugu and Kannada. Still from the film Ek Duje ke Liye. Photo: Special Arrangement
The veteran director also enterted the the small screen with serials like Rail Sneham, Sahaana (in picture), Ramani vs Ramani, Jannal and Anni. Photo: Special Arrangement
KB has won many awards including National award, Dada Saheb Phalke Award (2010). Padma Shri (1987), Filmfares and Nandi awards among others. In this September 2011 photo, the then President Prathiba Patil presents the Dadasaheb Phalke award to K. Balachander. Photo: S. Subramanium
Some of his notable assistants who are now an established director are Samuthirakani, Vasanth, Saran and Selvaraghavan. Picture shows director Vasanth (left) having a word with K. Balachander. Photo: S. S. Kumar
He has also done cameo roles in films such as Kalki, Poi and Ninaithathu Yaaro. In Rettaisuzhi (picture), the Iyakunar Sigaram played the lead role alongside Jayachitra, Anjali and Bharathiraja. Photo: Special Arrangement
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