Legendary filmmaker K. Balachander passes away
He died at the Kauvery Hospital in the evening. He was admitted there after he developed age-related ailments.
Balachander, who had mentored actors like Kamal Hasan and Rajnikanth, was also a screenwriter and producer who worked mainly in the Tamil film industry but also made some meaningful Hindi films besides several in other South Indian languages like Telugu and Kannada.
K. Balachander was popularly known in the Tamil film industry as ‘Iyakunar Sigaram' meaning Peak among Directors.
Among his famous movies are Aval Oru Thodarkathai, (Tamil) which was also made as Anthulaney Katha in Telugu, Maro Charitra (Telugu), Ek Dhuje Ke Liye (Hindi), Arangetram, and Thillu Mullu.
The filmmaker was known for choosing bold themes and portraying women as central characters.
He has written and directed nearly 80 films and has worked in more than 100 films either as director or writer in multiple languages – Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and Kannada.
His first film as director was Neerkumizhi in 1965. In a career that spread over 45 years, when he introduced and mentored top actors like Nagesh, Sujatha, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Saritha, Prakash Raj and Vivek.
Balachander had won nine National Film Awards and multiple Filmfare Awards. He was honoured 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.
He also made TV serials.
Reactions poured in with the news of his passing away.
"My mentor gone! My radical lion with a brave heart is gone! I lost my Dad again.My guru KB gone," tweeted actor Vivek.
Actress Khushbu tweeted: "U know few mean a lot to u but u realize how much only when they leave us..KB sir has left us completely heartbroken.."
Actor R Madhavan posted: "RIP K Balachander sir. You will be so missed. I can never forget you sparkling smile and warm hand shakes."
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma said, "Want to express my heartfelt grief for the passing away of K Balachander, the only true maverick and path breaking director of all time."
Musician A R Rahman tweeted: "Dear KB sir, your vision and creations have inspired 3 generations Really grateful for intro'ing me thru your co Kavithaalaya in Roja RIP!
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