Balachandra Menon 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. 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.
Poochakkoru Mookkuthi is a 1984 Indian Malayalam-language screwball comedy film written and directed by Priyadarshan. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Mohanlal, Shankar, Menaka, M. G. Soman, Nedumudi Venu, C. I. Paul, Sukumari, Jagathy Sreekumar, Kuthiravattam Pappu, Sreenivasan and Baiju Santhosh.
Kilukkam (transl. Jingle) is a 1991 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film directed by Priyadarshan and written by Venu Nagavalli. The story set in Ooty revolves around tourist guide Joji (Mohanlal) and photographer Nishchal. They happen to meet a lavish tourist Nandini (Revathi), whom they bet their fortunes on. It also stars Thilakan, Innocent, K. B. Ganesh Kumar, Sukumari, and Sharat Saxena, with Murali and Jagadish making cameo appearances. The music was composed by S. P. Venkatesh. Kilukkam was released on 15 August 1991. The film was the highest-grossing Malayalam film at that time and ran for more than 365-days at the theaters. Kilukkam won five Kerala State Film Awards, including Best Actor for Mohanlal, Second Best Actor for Jagathy Sreekumar, Best Editor for N. Gopalakrishnan, and Best Cinematographer for S. Kumar. The film is regarded as one of the best comedy films of Malayalam cinema. It was remade in Telugu as Allari Pilla and in Hindi as Muskurahat by Priyadarshan himself. Later, the film had a sequel Kilukkam Kilukilukkam (2006). The movie was reported to have been inspired by the 1953 American movie Roman Holiday.
Kalippattam (transl. Toy) is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language film written and directed by Venu Nagavalli and starring Mohanlal, Urvashi, Thilakan, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Jagathy and Nedumudi Venu. Mohanlal also sang a song ("Vazhiyoram") with Chithra for the film. The story is about the love between a violinist played by Mohanlal and a terminally ill girl played by Urvashi. The music and background score were composed by Raveendran.
Hitler is a 1996 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film written and directed by Siddique, produced by Ousepachan Valakuzhy and Lal under the banner of Ousepachan Movie House. It stars Mammootty in the title role with Mukesh, Shobana, Sai Kumar, Jagadish, and Vani Viswanath in supporting roles. The story centres around the life of Madhavankutty, locally known as 'Hitler' due to his tough character, domineering personality and his uncontrolled rage at the youngsters of the area, for stalking his five young sisters. The film features original songs composed by S. P. Venkatesh. Hitler became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year 1996, and completed more than 300 days theatrical run. The film broke the collection record of Mammootty-starrer The King that was released the previous year.
Venu Nagavally was an Indian actor, screenwriter and director best known for his work in Malayalam film industry. He has directed 12 films. Son of writer, commentator, and broadcaster Nagavally R. S. Kurup, Venu has acted in about fifty films, directed films such as Sukhamo Devi (1986), Sarvakalashala (1987), Lal Salam (1990), and Aye Auto (1990), Aayirappara (1993) and scripted the commercially successful Kilukkam (1991). Venu Nagavally died at Thiruvananthapuram on 9 September 2010.
Shaalini Ente Koottukaari is a 1978 Indian Malayalam film, written by Padmarajan and directed by Mohan. The film is loosely based on a story of Padmarajan named "Parvathikutty". The film stars Venu Nagavally, Shobha, Jalaja and Sukumaran in the lead roles. The film has musical score by G. Devarajan. The movie is about the friendship between two young girls named Shalini and Ammu. Shobha's suicide was during when the movie was running successfully in the box office. The film was remade in Tamil as Sujatha (1980).
De Ingottu Nokkiye is a 2008 Indian Malayalam film by Balachandra Menon starring Jayasurya, Jagathy Sreekumar, Rathish Rajan and Sara. The film was released to negative reviews. The film was biggest flop of the 2008.
College Kumaran is a 2008 Malayalam film directed by Thulasidas, written by Suresh Poduval starring Mohanlal, Siddique, Balachandra Menon and Vimala Raman.
Ishtam is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy-drama film directed by Sibi Malayil and written by Kalavoor Ravikumar. It stars Dileep and Navya Nair, with Nedumudi Venu, Innocent, Sreenivasan, and Jayasudha appearing in supporting roles. The music was composed by Mohan Sitara. Ishtam was remade in Hindi as Mere Baap Pehle Aap by Priyadarshan.
Dubai is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language political action thriller film directed by Joshiy starring Mammootty, N. F. Varghese, Biju Menon and Nirmal Pandey. Anjala Zaveri, Vijayakumar, Cochin Haneefa, Janardhanan, Nedumudi Venu and Preetha Vijayakumar play supporting roles. The script for the film was written by Renji Panicker. It received negative reviews from the critics and was a failure at the box office.
Dasharatham is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written by A. K. Lohithadas and directed by Sibi Malayil. It stars Mohanlal, Rekha, Murali, Nedumudi Venu, Sukumaran, Karamana Janardanan Nair, Sukumari, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, and Jayabharathi. The music was composed by Johnson. The movie deals with the subject of traditional surrogacy
Dheem Tharikida Thom is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language comedy film directed by Priyadarshan. This film is about an innocent young man joining a ballet team just to express his love towards the main actress. Maniyan Pillai Raju and Lizy appears in the leading roles, supported by Mukesh, Nedumudi Venu, Sreenivasan, Jagathi Sreekumar and Shankar. The story is adapted from the British musical comedy film Happy Go Lovely.
Aagneyam is a 1993 Malayalam-language film directed by P. G. Viswambharan and written by John Zakaria and Kaloor Dennis, starring Jayaram, Nedumudi Venu, Sunitha, Gautami, Maathu, Sankaradi, Thilakan and Mala Aravindan in the lead roles.
T. P. Madhavan is an Indian actor who appeared in Malayalam films. He started acting at the age of 40 and so far has acted in more than 600 films. He came into the film industry playing villain roles; later he started doing comedy roles and then switched to character roles.
Thodupuzha Vasanthi was an Indian actress who acted mainly in Malayalam films. She appeared in over 450 movies and also in 16 tele-serials and 100 plays. She was a theater artist, before starting with small roles in movies. Her first full length role was in Kakka in 1982. Some of her most popular films include Yavanika (1982), Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984), Nirakkoottu (1985) and Godfather (1991). She was also a dance teacher at Varamani Natyalaya. She underwent treatment for throat cancer before her death on 28 November 2017 at the age of 65.
Vamsam is a 2013-2017 Indian Tamil-language family television series starring Ramya Krishnan in dual roles, Urvashi, Sandhya Jagarlamudi, Sakthi Saravanan, Sai Kiran and Bharath Kalyan. It replaced Rajakumari and it was broadcast on Sun TV on Monday through Saturday from 10 June 2013 to 18 November 2017 for 1338 episodes and was replaced by Azhagu serial. It was dubbed in Telugu as Kutumbam on Gemini TV.
Varthamanakaalam is a 1990 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by I. V. Sasi and produced by Liberty Basheer. The film stars Suresh Gopi, Jayaram, Balachandra Menon and Urvashi. The film has musical score by Johnson.
April 18 is a 1984 Malayalam-language film written and directed by Balachandra Menon, who also features in the lead role. It also stars Shobana, Adoor Bhasi and Bharat Gopy in other pivotal roles.It was the debut Malayalam movie of Shobana as Lead actress. The musical score was composed by A. T. Ummer.
Kazhakam is a 1996 Indian Malayalam film directed by M. P. Sukumaran Nair and starring Nedumudi Venu and Urvashi in the lead roles.
