K. BALACHANDER

Writer, director and producer of more than 90 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi, K. Balachander is an artist with a message.

From being an amateur dramatist to the producer-director legend that he is today, K. Balachander has crossed several milestones. He got his break in films as a scriptwriter for Deivathai (1964). And he made his directorial debut in 1965 for the film Neerkumizhi, which was based on one of his plays.

A rare and successful exception, in providing thought provoking films in commercial mainstream cinema, K. Balachander is an inspiration to most upcoming filmmakers today.

He has the uncanny ability to spot talent and is credited with discovering and introducing Rajinikanth and Sujatha. His landmark films include Server Sundaram (1964), Naanal (1965), Edhirneechal (1968), Ethiroli (1970), Moonru Mudichu (1976), 47 Natkal (1981), Oru Veedu Iru Vaasal (1990), Vaaname Ellai (1992) and Kalki (1997).

Four of his other films Iru Kodigal, Apoorva Raagangal, Thanneer…Thanneer, and Achamillai…Achamillai won awards from the Government of India as best regional films.

He is the recipient of the Padmashri award in 1987. The later part of his career has been marked by a sustained focus of his creative energies on television serials. Rail Sneham (1990), his first tele-serial was an instant hit - the first of many to follow.

Before Bharathirajaa entered film world, village life on screen was a sanitised and unrealistic caricature. But in 1977, Bharathirajaa took the camera out of the studios and captured village life with a rare sensitivity and respect for its reality.

His first film Padhinaaru Vayadhinile broke convention to create a new genre of village cinema. Costumes were uncomfortably true-to-life, dialogue was as-is-spoken, village characters were tellingly genuine.

Born in 1941 in Alli Nagaram, a tiny village in Tamil Nadu, he displayed the story-teller's gift very early. His mother Karuththamma was to receive the National award from the President on his behalf for his film named after her.

Among his other landmark films are Mudhal Mariyaadhai (with Sivaji Ganesan in the lead), Alaigal Oyvadhillai, Mann Vaasanai, Vedham Pudhithu, Kizhakku Cheemaiyile and Anthimanthaarai.

This National award winner is also credited with having launched the careers, of the who's who, in Tamil cinema.

National award winning Director, Balu Mahendra's real name is Benjamin Mahendra. Born in 1946, he was the 1969 Gold medallist from the Film and Television Institute of India (Pune). Winning the Best Cinematographer award from the Government of India for his Malayalam film Nellu, he started his career as a cameraman.

He made his directorial debut with Kokila, a Kannada film that also bagged him the National award. Azhiyaatha Kolangal is his first Tamil film. American films like Micky and Maude have inspired him to bring out thought provoking films like Rettai Vaal Kuruvi (Tamil).

Balu Mahendra's strength as a cinematographer has helped him use visuals as an effective vehicle to carry forward the story. He has handled social issues like red tapism, corruption and old age in films like Sandhyaaraagam. The femala characters in his films come out strongly as in Veedu (Tamil). Music in his films speaks with as much eloquence as his characters.

Being the scriptwriter, cameraman and editor for his films, he retains control over all aspects of his film. His landmark films include Moondraam Pirai and Neengal Kettavai.

|