Wikipedia

Balachandra Menon

For the Indian politician, see P. Balachandra Menon.

Balachandra Menon (Malayalam: ബാലചന്ദ്ര മേനോൻ; born 11 January 1954) is an Indian actor, director and script writer. He made a number of films in the 1980s and 1990s. He has directed 40 films and has acted in over 100.[2] He won two National Film Awards including the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance as station master Ismail the 1998 film Samaantharangal, which was also directed by him. He has also worked as a distributor, editor, composer, singer and producer in the Malayalam film industry. He has found space in the Limca Book of Records for the maximum number of films directed, scripted and acted in.

Adv. Balachandra Menon
Balachandra Menon
Born (1954-01-11) 11 January 1954 (age 70)[1]
Kollam, Kerala, India
Occupations
  • Director
  • actor
  • screenwriter
  • author
  • journalist
  • lawyer
  • producer
  • distributor
  • editor
  • singer
  • composer
Years active1978 – present
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Spouse
Varada B. Menon
​
(m. 1982)​
Children2
  • Akhil Vinayak Menon (son)
  • Bhavana B Menon (daughter)
Parent(s)Sivasankara Pillai
Lalitha Devi
Websitebalachandramenon.com

Menon has introduced many actors into the Malayalam Cinema Industry. Actors who made their debut in his films include Shobana in April 18, Parvathy in Vivahithare Ithile, Maniyanpilla Raju in Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla, Karthika in Manicheppu Thurannappol, Annie in Ammayane Sathyam, and Nandini in April 19.[3]

Personal life edit

Balachandra Menon was born in Kollam[4] in 1954 to Shivashankara Pillai and Lalitha Devi. By virtue of his father being a railway station master, he served at Edava railway station and Menon had his formative years of childhood and adolescence life in this village. He studied at Edava Muslim High School, and has narrated nostalgically about his fond memories of his life in Edava in his autobiography Ammayaane Sathyam. He is an alumnus of University College Trivandrum, Fatima Mata National College, Kollam and Kerala Law Academy Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.[5] Sisters: Sushma and Prema. Wife: Varada B. Menon. Children: Akhil Vinayak Menon, Bhavana B. Menon.[6] Menon enrolled as a lawyer on 29 July 2012, 22 years after completing his degree.[7] In 1997, he won the Karshakashree Award for farming from the Government of Kerala.[8]

During his early days in Madras, he worked for the film weekly Nana as a correspondent. He has completed a diploma in journalism from Press Club, Trivandrum.

Literary works edit

  • Achuvettante Veedu
  • Mugam Abhimugam
  • Samaantharangal
  • 18 April 19 April
  • Ninnay Enthinu Kollaam ?
  • Kaanatha Sulthanu Snehapoorvam
  • Ammayanay Sathyam
  • Ariyathathu, Ariyendathu[9]
  • Balachandramenonte 12 cherukathakal[10]
  • His book Ithirineram Othirikaryam recently released by veteran actor Madhu by handing over a copy to lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi.[11][12]

Awards edit

Civilian Awards:

National Film Awards:

Kerala State Film Awards:

Filmfare Awards South:

Others:

  • 2018 - Limca Book of Records - Filmmaker who is credited as actor, director and writer in the most number of feature films[14]

Filmography edit

Year Film Credited as Role Notes
Actor Director Producer Screenplay Story Dialogue
2023 A Ranjith Cinema  Y [15]
Pulimada  Y Dr. Joshi Kuriyan
2021 One  Y Dr. Sreekar Varma
2018 Ennaalum Sarath..?  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Dr. Sam
2016 Oozham  Y Krishnamoorthy
2015 Njan Samvidhanam Cheyyum  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Krishna Das
2013 Kadal Kadannu oru Mathukkutty  Y Father Vattathara
2013 Kunjananthante Kada  Y Adv. Moidu
2013 Buddy  Y Shankaran Namboothiri/Shanku Bhai
2009 Nammal Thammil  Y Ramachandran Nair
2009 Utharaswayamvaram  Y Sreedhara 'Yamandan' Kurup
2008 College Kumaran  Y Narayanan
2008 De Ingottu Nokkiye  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Joji
2007 Pranayakalam  Y Balagopal
2006 Classmates  Y Prof. Iyer
2005 December  Y Dr Keshava Patteri
2005 Rappakal  Y Deva Narayanan
2003 Varum Varunnu Vannu  Y  Y  Y  Y Johny
2003 Saphalam  Y Barrister Nambiar
2002 Nammal  Y Sathyanadhan
2002 Album  Y Jeeva's father Tamil film
2002 Krishna Gopalakrishna  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Gopalakrishnan Editor, playback singer, composer
2001 Ishtam  Y Anjana's Father
2000 Sathyam Sivam Sundaram  Y K.S.K Nambiar
2000 Sathyameva Jayathe  Y Ahammed Basheer
1998 Samaantharangal  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Ismail Editor, composer
1998 The Truth  Y Chief Minister Madhavan
1997 Janathipathyam  Y Krishnamoorthy IPS
1997 Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu  Y Pavi
1996 April 19  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Jayapraksh
1996 Kanden Seethaiyai  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Unreleased film
1995 Avittam Thirunaal Aarogya Sriman  Y Prabhakaran
1994 Sukham Sukhakaram  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y
1993 Ammayane Sathyam  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y S. Narayanan
1991 Nayam Vyakthamakkunnu  Y  Y  Y  Y
1990 Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Vinayachandra Kurup Editor, composer
1990 Sasneham  Y Thomas Kurien
1990 Noottonnu Raavukal  Y Vishnu
1990 Varthamana Kalam  Y Jameskutty
1989 Najangalude Kochu Doctor  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y James Varghese Editor
1989 Kandathum Kettathum  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y P K Krishnankutty
1988 Oohakachavadam  Y Alex
1988 David David Mr. David  Y David
1988 Isabella  Y Unnikrishna Menon
1988 Janmandharam  Y Police Officer
1988 Kudumbapuranam  Y Krishnanunni
1987 Oru Maymasappularayil  Y
1987 Vilambaram  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y P. K. Nampoothiri
1987 Achuvettante Veedu  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Vipin Editor
1986 Rithubhedam  Y Rajan
1986 Vivahitare Itihile  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Appu
1986 Thaiku Oru Thalattu  Y  Y  Y  Y Tamil film
1985 Manicheppu Thurannappol  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y
1985 Daivatheyorthu  Y Aniyankuttan
1985 Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y S. Nandakumar Playback singer, soundtrack performer
1984 Oru Painkilikatha  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Kannan Playback singer
1984 Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Prabhakaran
1984 April 18  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Ravikumar
1984 Inakkilly  Y Johnay
1983 Sesham Kazhchayil  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y G K Raja
1983 Prashnam Gurutharam  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Balu
1983 Karyam Nissaram  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Shekhar
1982 Kilukilukkam  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Mahendran
1982 Kelkatha Shabdam  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Lambodharan Nair
1982 Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Geejo
1982 Chiriyo Chiri  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Unni
1981 Thenum Vayambum  Y Babu Mathew
1981 Tharattu  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Dileep
1981 Prema Geethangal  Y  Y  Y  Y Doctor
1981 Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y Gopinathan
1980 Vaiki Vanna Vasantham  Y  Y  Y  Y
1980 Kalika  Y  Y  Y
1980 Ishtamanu Pakshe  Y  Y  Y  Y
1980 Aniyatha Valakal  Y  Y  Y  Y
1979 Radha Enna Pennkutti  Y  Y  Y  Y
1978 Uthrada Rathri  Y  Y  Y  Y Dinesh

Television edit

  • Suryodayam (Doordarshan, Direction)
  • Vilakku vekkum neram (Doordarshan)
  • Megham (Asianet)
  • Malayogam (Asianet)
  • Nizhalukal (Asianet)
  • Shamanathalam

As a singer edit

  • Aanakoduthaalum ... Oru Painkilikkadha (1984)
  • Kochu Chakkarachi Pettu ... Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki (1985)
  • Kaattinum Thaalam ... Njangalude Kochu Doctor (1989)
  • Choodulla kaattil ... Krishnaa Gopaalakrishnaa (2002)

References edit

  1. ^ "Balachandra Menon – Who am I?". Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Balachandra Menon thrilled by Dubai audience". emirates247.com. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Home". Archived from the original on 30 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Balachandra Menon in Limca Book of Records". Balachandra Menon – Official Website. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Melodrama surrounds release of Balachandra Menon's book". Archived from the original on 18 December 2013.
  6. ^ "CiniDiary". CiniDiary. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Actor Balachandra Menon enrolled as lawyer". Chennai, India: www.thehindu.com. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  8. ^ "ഇത്തിരിനേരം ഒത്തിരികാര്യം - ബാലചന്ദ്രമേനോന്‍". 20 January 2016. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  9. ^ "CM Oommen Chandy releases Balachandra Menon's memoir". 3 September 2011. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  10. ^ "Ace director, master storyteller". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 7 July 2012.
  11. ^ "Balachandra Menon's New Book Released". Archived from the original on 18 December 2013.
  12. ^ "Ithri Neram Othiri Karyam". Manorama Online. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  14. ^ "Limca Book of Records recognizes Balachandra Menon". 14 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Asif Ali's next film- 'A Ranjith Cinema' to roll from December 6th". The Times of India. 3 December 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 December 2023.

External links edit

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