Memories of Legendary Filmmaker K Balachander Through Photos

With the demise of iconic film-maker K Balachander , an era of film-making in South Indian cinema has ended. The director, who was an inspiration and guide to many budding artistes, was particularly known for mentoring legends like Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. His movies and style of film-making inspired many to enter movies.

K Balachander, who directed more than 100 movies in a career spanning four decades, was particularly known for bringing revolutionary changes in Tamil cinema. He began his career in as a scriptwriter for the 1965 MGR starrer "Dheiva Thaai". The prolific theatre writer then went on to become a highly popular director, scriptwriter and producer in Tamil cinema.

 Some of his notable films include "Apoorva Raagangal," "Moondru Muduchu," "Aval Oru Thodar Kathai," "Manmadha Leelai," "Avargal," "Ek Duje Ke Liye" and "Varumaiyin Niram Sigappu" among many others.

K Balachander's movies were noted for the way they were treated, both technically as well in narrative style. His movies were different from typical Tamil films that were filled with over dramatisation. Instead, his movies made waves of modernisation in the industry with more realistic concepts and characters.

He had also made sure that his movies were not sidelined as new wave cinema, which are different from mainstream films. Instead, they became part of popular cinema and trend setters.

Balachander's films saw the emergence of some of the biggest stars of Tamil films like Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth who later went on to become legends in their own right.

His last directorial was "Poi" in 2006 and his onscreen presence is in the Kamal Haasan starrer "Urthama Villain," which is yet to be released.