K. Balachander is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer who works mainly in the Tamil film industry. He is well known for his distinct film-making style often dealing with interpersonal relationships and themes of social relevance.
Starting his career as a playwright, he made his cinematic debut as a dialog writer for Dheiva Thaai in 1964. The following year he made his directional debut through Neer Kumizhi a film based on his own play. He secured his first National Film Award for Iru Kodugal, a family drama film released in 1969. His 1975 film Apoorva Raagangal won the award for the Best Feature Film in Tamil. The 1981 Tamil film Thanneer Thanneer that dealt with social issues such as water scarcity and political corruption fetched him the National Film Award for Best Screenplay and the Best Regional Film award. He started his own production house in 1981 and named it Kavithalayaa Productions which produced several of his award-winning films like Achamillai Achamillai and Sindhu Bhairavi. His three films were included in CNN-IBNs List of the 100 Greatest Indian Films of All Time - Maro Charitra, Ek Duuje ke liye and Thanneer Thanneer. He also made forays into Telugu cinema, Hindi cinema and Kannada cinema. His Maro Charitra and its Hindi remake Ek Duuje Ke Liye were huge box-office success and received critical acclaim. For Ek Duuje Ke Liye he received three Filmfare nominations—Best Story, Best Screenplay and Best Director—eventually winning the award for the Best Screenplay. The film was highly responsible in catapulting Balachander to national acclaim. Rudraveena fetched him the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration in 1988. Four years later Roja, a Kavithaalaya production won the same award.
As of 2013, Balachander has directed over 80 films and has worked in more than 100 films either as director or a screenwriter. In 1987 he was honoured with the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour. He has won nine National Film Awards and multiple Filmfare Awards. Balachander is also a recipient of various state awards like the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and the Nandi Awards, instituted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. In 2010 the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was bestowed upon him for his contributions to Indian cinema; he was the second personality and the first director from Tamil cinema to receive the award. The following year he was awarded with the ANR National Award by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Civilian honors Year Award Honouring body Outcome Ref 1987 Padmashri Government of India
National Film Awards Year Film Category Outcome Ref 1969 Iru Kodugal Best Tamil Film 1975 Apoorva Raagangal 1981 Thaneer Thaneer Best Screenplay 1984 Achamillai Achamillai Best Tamil Film 1988 Rudraveena Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration 1991 Oru Veedu Iru Vaasal National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues 1992 Roja Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration 2010 Dadasaheb Phalke Award .K Balachander gets Phalke award, rediff.com 29 April 2011 17:23 IST
Filmfare Awards Year Film Category Outcome Ref 1981 Ek Duuje Ke Liye Best Screenplay Best Director Best Story
Filmfare Awards South
Balachander holds the record for being nominated for the Filmfare Best Tamil Director Award most number of times, being eighteen. He has won the award 7 times. Year Film Language Category Outcome Ref 1974 Aval Oru Thodar Kathai Tamil Best Tamil Director The Times of India directory and year book including who's who, p 234 1975 Apoorva Raagangal 1976 Moondru Mudichu Anthuleni Katha Telugu Best Telugu Director 1977 Avargal Tamil Best Tamil Director 1978 Maro Charitra Telugu Best Telugu Director 1979 Ninaithale Inikkum Tamil Best Tamil Director Guppedu Manasu Telugu Best Telugu Director 1980 Varumayin Niram Sivappu Tamil Best Director Collections, p 394 1981 Thaneer Thaneer 1982 Agni Sakshi Best Tamil Director 1984 Achamillai Achamillai Best Film Best Director 1985 Sindhu Bhairavi Sindhu Bhairavi 1986 Punnagai Mannan 1988 Rudraveena Unnal Mudiyum Thambi 1989 Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal 1990 Oru Veedu Iru Vaasal 1991 Azhagan 1992 Roja Best Film Vaaname Ellai Best Director 1993 Jathi Malli Best Director 1994 Lifetime Achievement Award 2004 Saamy Tamil Best Film 2006 Ayya Tamil
Government of Tamil Nadu Year Award Honouring body Outcome Ref 1973 Kalaimamani Government of Tamil Nadu 1992 Arignar Anna Award Anandan, p 1–10
Honorary doctorate Year Honour Honouring body Outcome Ref 2005 Doctor of Letters Sathyabama University Alagappa University 2007 Madras University
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Year Film Category Outcome Ref 1967 Bama Vijayam Third Best Film 1968 Thamarai Nenjam Best Film (Third) 1968 Ethir Neechal, Thamarai Nenjam Best Dialogue Writer Anandan, p 7–19 1978 Thappu Thalangal 1980 Varumayin Niram Sivappu Best Director Anandan, p 7–17 1982 Agni Sakshi Best Film (Second prize) Anandan, p 7–18 1989 Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal Best Director Best Film (Second prize) 1992 Vaaname Ellai Story Writer Special Prize (Best Film) Anandan, p 7–16 Roja Best Film (First prize) 1993 Jathi Malli 1990 Various films Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award
Nandi Awards Year Film Category Outcome Ref 1976 Anthuleni Katha Best Feature Film (Third prize) 1981 Tholikodi Koosindi Best Feature Film (Second prize) Best Director 1982 Kokilamma Best Screenplay
Santhome Awards Year Film Category Outcome Ref 1988 Manathil Uruthi Vendum Best Film Anandan, p 12–2
ANR National Award Year Recipient Outcome Ref 2010 K. Balachander
Cine Technicians Association Awards Year Film Award Category Outcome Ref 1983 Best Technician 1988 Rudraveena MGR Award Best Director Anandan, p 12
Other awards The TV series Kai Alavu Manasu written and directed by him won the Onida Pinnacle Award in 1995. "Lifetime Achievement award" at the 39th International Film Festival of India in 2008. Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for Excellence in Indian Cinema, Vijay Awards awarded in 2011
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