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S. Balachander

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In this Indian name, the name Sundaram is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Balachander.

S. Balachander
Balachander in 1948
Born
Sundaram Balachander

18 January 1927
Mylapore, Madras Presidency, British India
Died13 April 1990 (aged 63)
Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India
Occupation(s)Actor, playback singer
Years active1934 to 1990
AwardsPadma Bhushan

Sundaram Balachander (18 January 1927 – 13 April 1990) was an Indian veena player and filmmaker. He directed, produced, and also composed music for a few of his films. Balachander was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1982. He died of a heart attack at the age of 63, while on a music tour of India.[1]

Film career

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S Balachander was born to Sundaram Iyer and Parvathi alias Chellamma. Sunderam Iyer was a patron of Papanasam Sivan and many other musicians in Mylapore, Chennai.[2]

Balachander began as a child artist in the Tamil film Seetha Kalyanam in 1934, in which many members of his family acted. Balachander himself acted as a child musician in Ravana's court, and his father V. Sundaram Iyer acted as Janaka, elder brother S. Rajam as Rama and elder sister S. Jayalakshmi as Seeta.[3] This was followed by appearances in Rishyasringar (1941) and Araichimani (1942).[4][5]

In 1948 Balachander directed the film En Kanavar.[6] In 1954 he directed Andha Naal, a classic Tamil film noir thriller.[7][8]

Swati Tirunal Dispute

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S Balachander claimed that the composer Swati Tirunal was a figment of history's imagination, and he did not even exist. He accused Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer of passing off his own compositions as Swati Tirunal's. Balachander also disputed Balamurali Krishna's claims of having invented new ragas.[9]

S Balachander was actively involved in the Swati Tirunal dispute at the time of his death.[citation needed]

Awards

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Filmography

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Year Film Language Actor Director Music Director Singer Producer Note
1934 Seetha Kalyanam Tamil checkY Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN
1941 Rishyasringar Tamil checkY Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN
1941 Kamadhenu Tamil checkY Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Credited as Master Balachandar
1942 Aaraichimani Tamil checkY Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN
1947 Baktha Thulasidas Tamil Red XN checkY Red XN Red XN Music Composer along with Anil Biswas
1948 Idhu Nijama Tamil Red XN checkY checkY checkY Assistant Director
1948 En Kanavar Tamil checkY checkY checkY checkY Editor
1951 Kaithi Tamil checkY checkY checkY checkY
1951 Devaki Tamil checkY Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN
1951 Rajambal Tamil checkY checkY Music Composer along with M. S. Gnanamani
1952 Rani Tamil checkY Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN
1953 Inspector Tamil checkY Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN
1954 Andha Naal Tamil checkY
1954 Penn Tamil checkY
1954 Sangham Telugu checkY
1955 Koteeswaran Tamil checkY
1955 Doctor Savithri Tamil checkY
1956 Edi Nijam Telugu checkY
1956 Edhu Nijam Tamil checkY
1958 Bhoologa Rambai Tamil checkY Director along with D. Yoganand upon the demise of K. Ramnoth
1958 Bhooloka Rambha Telugu checkY Director along with D. Yoganand upon the demise of K. Ramnoth
1958 Avan Amaran Tamil checkY
1959 Maragadham Tamil checkY
1962 Avana Ivan Tamil checkY checkY checkY checkY
1964 Bommai Tamil checkY checkY checkY checkY
1970 Nadu Iravil Tamil checkY checkY checkY checkY

References

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  1. ^ "Sundaram Balachander: The veena musician and filmmaker who introduced Carnatic culture to the world | Music Tales".
  2. ^ "Kalyanamalai Magazine - Serial story, Thiraichuvai - Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema, 'Dhigil' Balachander".
  3. ^ "Face to Face: S. Balachander". The Illustrated Weekly of India. Vol. 88. Times of India Press. 1967. p. 43.
  4. ^ Sundaresan, P. N. (1990). Sruti, Issues 65-76. Sruti. p. 34.
  5. ^ "Balachander, the musician who was maverick movie genius - DTNext.in". Archived from the original on 25 October 2021.
  6. ^ Asian Film Directory and Who's who. 1952. p. 187.
  7. ^ "Andha Naal: Remembering veena S. Balachander". The Hindu. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Rajinikanth launches first look of Antha Naal". Times of India. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Decoding Balachander, the veena virtuoso from Mylapore - DTNext.in". Archived from the original on 25 October 2021.
  10. ^ "2nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  11. ^ "4th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  12. ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
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