Balu Mahendra

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Balu Mahendra
பாலு மகேந்திர
Born Balanathan Mahendra
June 20, 1946 (1946-06-20) (age 65)
Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
Residence Chennai, India
Occupation Film director, producer, cinematographer
Years active 1976–present
Religion Hindu
Spouse Shoba (deceased)
Akila Balu Mahendra
Website
www.balumahendra.com

Balanathan "Balu" Mahendran (Tamil: பாலநாதன் மகேந்திரா) (born 20 May 1946 in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka) is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, and cinematographer widely regarded as part of the first in a wave of directors and screenwriters from the Chennai film industry who revitalised Tamil cinema. He initially developed an early interest in photography.

A cinematography graduate and a gold medalist from the FTII in Pune. He started his film career as a cameraman for the Malayalam film Nellu in 1974, which earned him the best cinematographer award from the Government of Kerala. He has been chosen as the best cinematographer for as many as ten films. He pioneered innovative camera style for colour in South India.[1] He has won five National Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards South for Best Director.

Contents

[edit] Film career

Balu's first film as a director was Kokila, a Kannada film, which earned him a National Film Award. Azhiyadha Kolangal (1979) was his first directorial venture in Tamil. He is considered as one of the few film makers in Tamil who can tell a story visually. He writes the script for his films, handles the camera and edits the film himself, thus retaining a firm control over his creative output. He mentioned in an interview to Anu Hassan on Koffee with Anu that he was inspired to become a director at a very young age when he saw David Lean directing the movie The Bridge on the River Kwai during a school field trip in Sri Lanka.

He worked mainly in Malayalam for directors like K. S. Sethumadhavan and P. N. Menon, before making his first film in Kannada, and then moving on to direct films in Tamil and Malayalam languages. He also worked as cinemotographer for the indian master piece Shankarabharanam, a Telugu fim made by Kalatapaswi K. Viswanath.

He made his first Hindi Film Sadma,which is a remake of his own Tamil film Moondram Pirai with Kamal Hasan and Sridevi. This film is supposed to be one of the finest films made by him. The film superbly captures the emotions involved in the relationship between the two main characters. He made another Hindi film, Aur Ek Prem Kahani (remake of Kokila kannada film)which was about the love affair between a young man and his maid told in a realistic and simple manner.

The film director Mani Ratnam approached Mahendra to work on the cinematography of his first Kannada film, Pallavi Anu Pallavi. It has been reported that he almost refused to work with Ratnam whom he perceived as a novice at that time. He has since been quoted as admiring Ratnam for his "infectious enthusiasm". He never hesitated to work with Ratnam when Ratnam approached him. Instead he agreed to do the film enthusiastically when Ratnam met him and narrated the story to him.

Mahendra's strength as a cinematographer has helped him use visuals as an effective vehicle to carry the story forward. He has revolutionized cinematography in Tamil cinema, He has handled social issues like red tapism, corruption and old age in films like Sandhya Raagam. The women in his films come out strongly as can be seen in Veedu.

Of late, his films have not clicked at the box office and his financial status too wasn't going great, which he had mentioned in an interview.[2]

[edit] Personal life

Balu was married to the popular actress Shoba, who committed suicide, aged 17, after shooting for the movie Pasi. In an interview to Anu Haasan in Koffee with Anu, he said that the tragedy of how Shobha was suddenly snatched away from his life by destiny, as quickly as she came, formed the plot for his next movie Moondram Pirai.

[edit] Awards and honors

[edit] National Film Awards

[edit] Filmfare Awards

[edit] Filmfare Awards South

[edit] Filmography

[edit] As director

[edit] Balumahendra's Assistants

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/24/stories/2007022416720200.htm
  2. ^ http://www.bharatwaves.com/news/Balu-Mahendra-Cinema-Pattarai-4995.html

[edit] External links

Balu Mahendra filmography
1970's
1980's
1990's
2000's
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