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Balanathan Benjamin Mahendran, commonly known as Balu Mahendra, cinematographer, director, screenwriter and film editor who worked in various Indian film industries, primarily in Tamil and Malayalam cinema. Born in Sri Lanka, Mahendran developed a passion for photography and literature at a young age, after witnessing the shoot of David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) during a school trip in Sri Lanka, he was drawn towards filmmaking. After graduation he joined as an Aerial photographer in the Sri Lankan Government. In 1966, he moved to India and gained admission to the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) to pursue a course in motion picture photography. Upon completion of his diploma, he entered Malayalam cinema as a cinematographer in the early 1970s.
Moondram Pirai is a 1982 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written, directed and filmed by Balu Mahendra. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Sridevi, while Y. G. Mahendran, Silk Smitha and Poornam Viswanathan played supporting roles. It revolves around a school teacher who rescues a woman with retrograde amnesia, from a brothel, and protects her in his house located in Ketti. The rest of the film shows how the woman recovers her memory with the teacher's help.
Suyamvaram is a 1999 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film starring an ensemble cast of actors in the Tamil film industry and shot by a large technical team from the industry. The film was planned by Giridharilal Nagpal who produced and wrote the film's story and brought together 14 major directors, 19 cinematographers and over 30 leading actors in the Tamil film industry.
Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam is a 2005 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by Balu Mahendra. The film featured Dhanush and Priyamani, while Karunas and Delhi Ganesh played supporting roles. The music for the film was scored by Ilaiyaraaja, while Sai Suresh produced the venture. The film is a remake of the director's own Malayalam film Yathra. The film was released on 2 November 2005, coinciding with Diwali, and received a below average response commercially.
The Filmfare Best Director Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Tamil (Kollywood) films. The awards were extended to "Best Director" in 1972.
Un Kannil Neer Vazhinthal... is a 1985 Indian Tamil-language action film written and directed by Balu Mahendra. It stars Rajinikanth and Madhavi, with Y. G. Mahendran in a prominent role. V. K. Ramasamy and Senthamarai play other pivotal roles. The film, released on 20 June 1985, was an average grosser at the box office and had a theatrical run of 75 days.
Mullum Malarum is a 1978 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by Mahendran. Produced by Venu Chettiar and V. Mohan, the film stars Rajinikanth, Sarath Babu, Jayalaxmi and Shoba. It marks Mahendran's directorial debut and is partly based on Uma Chandran's novel of the same name, which was serialised in the Tamil magazine Kalki in 1966. Mullum Malarum tells the story of Kali (Rajinikanth), a winch operator of a cable trolley who dotes on his sister Valli (Shoba) since they were orphaned, and clashes with his boss Kumaran.
Kokila is a 1977 Indian Kannada-language romance film directed, written and filmed by Balu Mahendra. The film stars Shoba playing the title character along with Kamal Haasan, Kokila Mohan and Roja Ramani in other prominent roles. The film marked the directorial debut of Balu Mahendra, who was a cinematographer working predominantly in South Indian films then. The film also marked the acting debut of actor Mohan.
Yathra is a 1985 Indian Malayalam-language romantic drama film written and directed by Balu Mahendra. The film stars Mammootty and Shobana, while Adoor Bhasi, Thilakan and Alummoodan play supporting roles. The film tells a fictional story but is built upon the human rights violations by the police and the prison authorities in India during the emergency of 1975–1977, when the fundamental rights of the citizens were suspended. It is an adaptation of the 1977 Japanese classic The Yellow Handkerchief.
Julie Ganapathi is a 2003 Indian Tamil-language psychological thriller film written, photographed, edited and directed by Balu Mahendra, starring Saritha, Jayaram and Ramya Krishnan. It is based on the 1987 Stephen King novel Misery. The film was released on 14 February 2003.
Marupadiyum (transl. Again) is a 1993 Indian Tamil-language drama film written, filmed and directed by Balu Mahendra. The film stars Revathi, Nizhalgal Ravi, Arvind and Rohini. A remake of the 1982 Hindi film Arth, it focuses on Thulasi, a wife caught up in marital discord, and her life henceforth.
Rettai Vaal Kuruvi is a 1987 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed, written and photographed by Balu Mahendra, starring Mohan, Radhika and Archana. It is based on the 1984 American film Micki & Maude. The film was released on 27 February 1987.
Veedu (transl. House) is a 1988 Indian Tamil-language film directed by Balu Mahendra. Starring Archana as the central character, it depicts the difficulties faced by a middle-class family in building a house. Apart from directing, Balu Mahendra wrote the script, photographed and did the editing as well. The film score by Ilaiyaraaja earned critical acclaim. At the 35th National Film Awards, the film received two awards including one for the Best Tamil Film. Archana won the National Film Award for Best Actress in 1987 for her role in this film. The film was also screened at the "Indian Panorama" of the International Film Festival of India in 1988.
Vanna Vanna Pookkal is a 1992 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film, directed by Balu Mahendra, starring Prashanth, Mounika and Vinodhini. The film, produced by Kalaipuli S. Thanu, was released on 15 January 1992, and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil at the 39th National Film Awards. The film completed a hundred-day run at the box-office.
Moodu Pani is a 1980 Indian Tamil-language psychological thriller film written, directed and filmed by Balu Mahendra. Starring his then wife Shoba and Pratap, with N. Viswanathan, Gandhimathi, Mohan and Bhanu Chander in supporting roles, it is based on two novels: Idhuvum Oru Viduthalai Thaan (1978) by Rajendra Kumar, and The Collector (1963) by John Fowles. The film follows Chandru (Pratap), who has a strong hatred towards prostitutes and would kill any such woman he encounters. He falls in love with Rekha (Shoba) and believes marrying her will end his psychological distress.
Neengal Kettavai is a 1984 Indian Tamil-language masala film written and directed by Balu Mahendra. It stars Thiagarajan, Bhanu Chander, Archana and Silk Smitha in major roles, while Jaishankar had an extended cameo as the antagonist. The film was released on 28 June 1984, and was commercially successful.
Anbu Thollai is an Indian Tamil action film written and directed by Hayath. The film, which starred Pandiarajan, Ravali and Chinni Jayanth in leading roles, released on 14 February 2003.
Iniya Uravu Poothathu is a 1987 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by C. V. Sridhar. The film stars Suresh and Nadhiya. It was released on 21 October 1987.
Vijaya Rekha, known by her stage name Mounika, is an Indian film and television actress who appeared in South Indian films and Tamil television serials. She was the third wife of director Balu Mahendra.
The soundtrack to the 1980 Tamil-language psychological thriller film Moodu Pani directed by Balu Mahendra, features four songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja, in his 100th film as a music director, and lyrics written by his brother Gangai Amaran and Viji Manuel. The film also marked Ilaiyaraaja's first collaboration with Mahendra who would later work in all of his films. The album was released under the label EMI Records.
References
- ↑ "Een Iniya Poonilave Movie Web Pics". TamilE Network. Archived from the original on 3 May 2001. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ "En iniya pon nilaave - film songs list - rakkamma.com". Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- ↑ Mannath, Malini. "Balu Mahendra by any name?". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 26 October 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ "என் இனிய பொன்நிலாவாக மாறிய பாலுமகேந்திராவின் அப்பா அம்மா விளையாட்டு". News18 (in Tamil). 6 October 2022. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ↑ "Cine News". Dinakaran . 7 May 2001. Archived from the original on 23 November 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2022.