| Balachander - the maverick and the master |
 If Sivaji is the role model and inspiration for actors, Balachander is the archetype for many aspiring Directors. K. Balachander, born in Nannilam (Thanjavur) graduated in Science from Chidambaram Annamalai University and started his career in the AG's Office. Unlike many others who were working with him, he had one trouble. The creative Balachander in him kept on nagging him and he had to go on leave frequently to stage his plays. He was given the opportunity to pen the dialogues for the MGR movie 'Deivath Thaai'. Balachander resigned his AG's Office job. He wrote dialogues for movies; he directed movies and he produced movies. He is presently making his hundredth movie,
Appu.
Balachander, of late, has been rolling out his very popular TV serials. Temporarily he is pulling the screen down on them and is directing Appu - for another film company. Alai Payudhe Madhavan is the hero, with Simran as the heroine. Kasthuri, Dhamu and others are also in the cast.
Balachander is known as a maverick in the treatment of his screenplays. His movie Arangetram revolved round a Brahmin girl who accepted prostitution to fulfil the dreams of her brothers and sisters. Apoorva Ragangal had a rather unusual theme. A father proposes to marry a girl whose mother is a young widow - with whom his son was in love! Moondru Mudichchu portrayed a girl who lost her lover due to the lascivious villain and in the end gets married to the father of the villain. Aval Oru Thodarkahai was a different kathai. An irresponsible and inebriate brother, his wife and children a father who could not face life and runs away from the family, a sister who is widowed immediately after her marriage, a handicapped brother, a mother who did not have the strength to bear any of these - an army of problems to fight with and tackle for a young woman indeed. The complications of his themes and the way he treats them and gives a solution are something unique for a Balachander movie. Even the titles he chose would show his flair for expressiveness. Thapputh Thalangal, Iru Kodugal, Punnagai, Naan Avanillai, Neerk Kumizi, Naanal, Nool Veli, Nizal Nijamagiradhu, Sollaththan Ninaikkiren…
 Neerk Kumizi was the first movie directed by Balachander. The title would amply show that anti-sentiment is really his sentiment. Iru Kodugal, Apoorva Ragangal, Thanneer Thanneer, Achchamillai Achchamillai, won National Awards (Silver Lotus) for best regional film. Oru Veedu Iru Vaasal dealt with a social theme and received a National Award. Baamaa Vijayam, Thaamarai Nenjam, Edhir Neechchal, Agni Saatchi, Varumayin Niram Sivappu, Pudhup Pudhu Arthangal, Vaanamae Ellai, Jaathi Malli were movies which received awards from the Government of Tamil Nadu. The movie Roja, produced by him was adjudged as the best movie by the Government of Tamil
Nadu.
He was the recipient of Padma Shree award of the Government of India in the year 1987. Government of Tamil Nadu added further feathers to his cap with the titles of Kalai Mamani and Kalai
Mamaedhai.
He has been the President of Fefsi and was vociferous in his demand for changing its name as Tamil Padaippaaligal - Thozilaalargal Koottamaippu. But ever since he was elected the President, the proposal to change the name remains somewhere in the lumber room - a point about which other Directors are sore. Perhaps as is his sentiment in titling his movies, Balachander is relying on anti-sentiment as his sentiment!
By Tamil Magan
Translated by Hari Krishnan
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