Tirumakudalu Narasipura Balakrishna (1911 – 19 July 1995) was an Indian actor in Kannada cinema. He was said to have a hearing problem and some say that he was totally deaf. However, he would catch the lip movements of the artists and narrate the dialogues spontaneously. He was popular for his comic and villainous roles in films like Kantheredu Nodu (1961), Muriyada Mane (1964), Bangaarada Manushya (1972), Gandhada Gudi (1973) and Kaamana Billu (1983) and appeared in numerous versatile roles in over 100 films that starred Rajkumar in the lead role.
Balakrishna is known to have played the most roles in Kannada cinema, having appeared in over 560 films as a hero, villain, comedian, good Samaritan, loving father and lunatic. Sudha Chandran is his ex-daughter in law. She was married to Balakrishna's son B. Srinivas who was the associate director of her Kannada movie Bisilu Beladingalu (1989). Sudha Chandran later produced Balakrishna's biopic Kalabhimani (1989) which was directed by B. Srinivas.
Early life Balakrishna was born into a poor family in 1911 in Arsikere, Kingdom of Mysore (now Karnataka). When he was four years old, his mother sold him to a couple for just 8 in order to provide treatment for her ailing husband. He ran away from his adopted parents after having been treated badly.
In his later years, Balakrishna had lung cancer and finally succumbed to it on 18 July 1995. Yama Kinkara was his last film appearance.
Career Balakrishna first acted in the play, Shri Rama Pattabhishekha, in 1929. Following this, he worked as the painter of the stage backdrops for a drama company before becoming a professional sign painter. Later, he became a ticket collector in a drama company for a meagre salary. He returned to acting in theatre with Lakshmasana Drama Company and then with Gowrishankar Nataka Mandali. Following this, he joined the drama company of Gubbi Veeranna, a notable theatre director during the time. Film director B. R. Panthulu happened to visit the drama company, saw his acting on stage and offered him a film role, beginning his career as a movie actor. He appeared as an antagonist in the film Kalachakra, a performance that was appreciated. He appeared in over a hundred Kannada films playing mostly comic roles, that starred Rajkumar.
In order to make the Kannada film industry self-reliant and save money for the producers, Balakrishna started the studio, investing all of his money and property. He built the Abhiman studio in Kengeri, Bangalore, on a 20-acre plot in 1963, but faced difficulties initially. When no Kannada films were being made, Balakrishna got together with other actors like Rajkumar and G. V. Iyer and produced the film Ranadheera Kanteerava. He even raised money from the public at 1 per person to build the studio. The studio was a failure, and Balakrishna died in penury. Television serials are still being shot at the studio today which is being looked after by Balakrishna's son, B. Ganesh and grandson Karthik. His final screen appearance came in Yama Kinkara (1995).
Notable filmography Year Title Role Notes 1943 Radha Ramana 1952 Dallali 1954 Devasundari Kanyadana Muttiddella Chinna 1955 Ashaadabhooti Bhakta Mallikarjuna 1956 Daiva Sankalpa Mutthaide Bhagya Gundurao Pancharatna Sadarame 1957 Rayara Sose Varadakshine Seetharamaiah 1958 School Master Gundappa Mane Thumbida Hennu Sitapathi Mangalya Yoga Anna Thangi Ramachandraiah Bhakta Prahlada 1959 Jagajyothi Basveshwara 1960 Ranadheera Kanteerava Appanna Rani Honnamma Shivalinga Sakshi 1961 Kittur Chennamma (film) Harana Setty Shri Shaila Mahathme Kantheredu Nodu Dasanna Kaiwara Mahathme Bhakta Chetha Vijayanagarada Veeraputhra 1962 Bhoodana Gaali Gopura Zamindar Kapinipathi Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu Balendra Mohana Kutike Mahathma Kabir Thejaswini Daiva Leele 1963 Jenu Goodu Stage actor Saaku Magalu Dashavatharam Nanda Deepa Kanyarathna Jeevana Tharanga Kulavadhu Veera Kesari Mana Mecchida Madadi Ramesh Chandra Kumara Timba Lawyer Magalu Santha Thukaram 1964 Annapoorna (film) Kailas Chandavalliya Thota Kariyappa Shivagange Mahathme Muriyada Mane Boregowda Naandi (film) Sitapathi Thumbida Koda M. S. Ramdev Post Master Bellulli Chinnada Gombe Kavaleradu Kulavandu Kalaavati Balakrishna Sanjeevini Mane Aliya 'Daskath' Danappa 1965 Sarvagna Murthy Mahasathi Anasuya Kowshika Mavana Magalu Beratha Jeeva Ide Mahasudina 1966 Katari Veera Bala Nagamma Thoogudeepa Mohini Bhasmasura Narada Badukuva Daari 1967 Sathi Sukanya Belli Moda Puttaiah Rajashekara Vijayavarma Bangarada Hoovu Padmanabha Panditha Chakra Theertha Immadi Pulikeshi (film) Rahappa Sri Purandara Dasaru Bagalakote Balakrishnacharya Padavidhara 1968 Gejje Pooje Gandhinagara Bhagya Devathe Bhagyada Bagilu Gunda Rowdy Ranganna Siddappa Manku Dinne Hayavadana Rao Hoovu Mullu Mysore Tanga 1969 Kappu Bilupu Narasimha Murthy Margadarshi Chikkanarasappa Gandondu Hennaru Mallammana Pavaada Rajivi's father Punarjanma (1969 film) Poojarappa Uyyale Seethapati Chikkamma Gundlupete Gundappa Mayor Muthanna Ranganath Rao Maduve Maduve Maduve Namma Makkalu Odahuttidavaru (1969 film) 1970 Sedige Sedu Sitapathi Bhale Jodi (1970 film) Papachchi's father Nanna Thamma 1971 Sakshatkara Laksmanayya Kasturi Nivasa Bhojarajaiah Kula Gourava Raghunatha Rao's personal secretary Baala Bandhana Namma Samsara Military Narayana Swamy Thayi Devaru Ramasubbaiah Pratidwani Anugraha (film) Bhale Adrushtavo Adrushta Ananthaiah 1972 Bangarada Manushya Raachutappa Hrudaya Sangama Daasappa Nanda Gokula Gudibande Ganesha Rao 1973 Gandhada Gudi Venkatappa Naika Bidugade Subba Rao Swayamvara (1973 film) Nanjundaiyya Doorada Betta Seethe Alla Savithri Mane Belagida Sose Mannina Magalu 1974 Bhakta Kumbara Sangya Sampathige Saval Puttayya Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu Singlayya a.k.a. Bundekyatha Professor Huchuraya Colonel Dhanley Bangaarada Panjara Seetharamaiah Anna Attige Chandru Eradu Kanasu (1974 film) Maga Mommaga 1975 Thrimurthy Seetharamaiah Mayura (film) Madhukeshwara Daari Tappida Maga Prasad's father-in-law Onde Roopa Eradu Guna Kathri, Kittu Mahadeshwara Pooja Phala Mane Belaku Kaveri Koodi Balona 1976 Premada Kanike Madhavayya Badavara Bandhu Nagappa Bahaddur Gandu Dewan Bayalu Daari Govinda Rao Devaru Kotta Vara Hosilu Mettida Hennu Raja Nanna Raja Lawyer Hayavadan Rao Naa Ninna Mareyalare Sulibele Subbanna Mugiyada Kathe Devara Duddu 1977 Sanaadi Appanna Ayyanna Bayasade Banda Bhagya Gudibande Gunduraya Sose Tanda Soubhagya Shrimanthana Magalu Military Subbanna Sahodarara Savaal Krishnappa Shani Prabhava Galate Samsara Mahadevayya Olavu Geluvu Narasimhaiah Bhagyavantharu Mahadevayya Pavana Ganga Sampanna 1978 Sneha Sedu Shankar Guru Lakshman Rao Thayige Thakka Maga Ramanagara Kuppuswamy Kiladi Kittu Muttanna Vamsha Jyothi Devayya Maathu Tappada Maga Rachappa Vasantha Lakshmi Madhura Sangama Mala's foster father 1979 Naa Ninna Bidalaare Gayatri's father Preethi Madu Thamashe Nodu Hanumantha Rao Naniruvude Ninagagi Vijay's Father Nentaro Gantu Kallaro Huliya Haalina Mevu Uttanayaka Asadhya Aliya Krishnappa 1980 Ondu Hennu Aaru Kannu Pappanna Moogana Sedu Maria My Darling Krishnappa Auto Raja Dr Dinakar Biligiriya Banadalli Rahasya Rathri Kulla Kulli Venkateshaiah 1981 Thayiya Madilalli Ramayya Nee Nanna Gellalare Hayavadana Rao Guru Shishyaru (1981 film) Virupaksha Shastri Bhagyavantha Anupama (1981 film) Govindaiah Jeevakke Jeeva 1982 Praya Praya Praya Mullina Gulabi 1983 Kaamana Billu Kaviratna Kalidasa Gunasagara Hosa Theerpu Radha's Grandfather Benkiya Bale Ibbani Karagithu Rangappa Anveshane Ajja 1984 Madhuve Madu Tamashe Nodu Neelakhantha Shastri Apoorva Sangama Bhujanga Rudranaga Harishchandra Gajendra (1984 film) Gandu Bherunda James Robert Indina Bharatha Makkaliralavva Mane Thumba 1985 Bettada Hoovu Doddajja Dhruva Thare Kalinga Raya Aahuti (1985 film) Shabash Vikram 1986 Preethi Constable Belliappa Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma Tarle Tamayya Bete (1986 film) 1987 Ondu Muttina Kathe Narasimha Swami Thaliya Aane Olavina Udugore Raghanna Shruthi Seridaaga Subbu Athiratha Maharatha 1988 Devatha Manushya Rangappa Daada Ranaranga Shanthamurthy 1989 Hrudaya Geethe Rudra (film) Samsara Nouke 1990 Ashwamedha (film) Rama Udbhava Ramachari 1991 Kalyana Mantapa Nanjundaiah Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare Narsapura Nanjundaiah 1992 Belliyappa Bangarappa Rajasuite Uthappa Halli Meshtru Purushotthama (film) 1994 Love 94 Odahuttidavaru 1995 Bombat Raja Bandal Rani Yama Kinkara
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