Thirunelveli Subramaniyan Balaiah (21 August 1912 – 22 July 1972) was an Indian actor. He is best known for playing supporting roles in Tamil films. Born in Sundankottai, near Sathankulam in Thoothukudi, Balaiah was introduced to the cine field by director Ellis R. Dungan in Sathi Leelavathi (1936), along with M. G. Ramachandran, N. S. Krishnan and M. K. Radha. He was one of the very few actors who excelled as a villain, as well as in character roles and comic roles.
Early life Balaiah was born on 21 August 1912 in Sundankottai, a village near Sathankulam in present-day Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu
Career Being part of various drama troupes, Balaiah's career in films started with the 'Madurai Original Boys' drama company which had several talented youngsters who created history in Tamil cinema, including M. K. Radha, M. G. Ramachandran, and N. S. Krishnan. Balaiah began his film career through the Tamil film Sathi Leelavathi in 1936. Balaiah played first lead role in Mohini paired opposite Madhuri Devi, where he played an elder brother to V. N. Janaki and supporting role by M.G.R . He gained a lot of weight at the age of 40 in 1954, hence started getting more character roles. Among his villain roles, Ambikapathy 1937, Andhaman Kaithi, Madurai Veeran, Thaikkupin Tharam, Hello Mister Zamindar and Thiruvilaiyadal were critically acclaimed. Balaiah also excelled in comedy roles in movies such as Kavalai Illaadha Manithan, Kadhalikka Neramillai, Bama Vijayam and Thillana Mohanambal. Actor Sivaji Ganesan had once mentioned that Balaiah along with M. R. Radha was his most admired actor.
Personal life Balaiah had two wives (Padmavati, Leelavati) and seven Children among them Actress Manochithra is his daughter, while one of his sons Junior Balaiah has also appeared in films. One of his sons, Sai Baba, was part of MSV's troupe and sang a few songs.
Partial filmography Year Film Role Notes1972Agathiyar1970EthiroliSingapur Minor Balaiya1968Thillana MohanambalMuthurakku1967Ooty Varai UravuVedachalam1967Bama VijayamEthiraj1966Yarukaka Azhudan?1966Sadhu Mirandal Ramananda Bhagavathar Special appearance1965 Vaazhkai Padagu1965ThiruvilayadalHemanatha Bagavathar1965 Ennathaan Mudivu? 1965 Hello Mister ZamindarZamin Secretary1964Karuppu PanamSattanathan1964Kaadhalikka NeramillaiVishwanathan1962KavithaMalaiyappan1961Thayilla PillaiPathanjali Sasthri1961Palum PazhamumChinnavar (Sivaji Ganesan's uncle)1961PavamanippuManickam Pillai1961Kumara RajaWealthy man (Chandrababu's father)1966Chavukkadi Chandrakantha1960Kavalai Illaadha ManithanJamabulingam1960Kalathur KannammaRamalingam1960Parthiban KanavuMarappa Bhupathi 1959Vaazha Vaitha DeivamChina Thambi 1959 Paththarai Maathu Thangam 1959Orey VazhiGuest Appearance1959Bhaaga PirivinaiVaithiyalingam Moopanar1958Kathavarayan Chinnan1958Pathi Bakthi Sanyasi1957Neelamalai ThirudanPolice Inspector1957PudhaiyalAmbalam1957Allauddin Adhbhuta DeepamYakub1956Kaalam Maari Pochu1956Madurai VeeranThalapathi Marappan1955Maaman MagalKanniyappan1955Chella Pillai Director Yaman1954Nallakalam1954Ratha PaasamMadhu1953Gunasagari NirgunaKannada film1953 Aasai MaganVikramanSimultaneously shot in Malayalam1951ManamagalBalu1950Ezhai Padum PaduRamgopal1949VelaikkariMani1947RajakumariPrince Aalahaalan1946Chitra Sanjeevi1945MeeraJayaman1945Burma RaniRanjith Singh1937AmbikapathyRudrasenan1936Sathi LeelavathiRamanathan
Death Balaiah lived in T. Nagar locality of Madras (now Chennai), where he died on 22 July 1972 at the age of 59.
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