S. Balachander

Sundaram Balachander (18 January 1927 – 13 April 1990) was an Indian veena player and filmmaker. He directed, produced, and also composed music for a few of his films. Balachander was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1982. He died of a massive heart attack at the age of 63, while on a music tour of India. [1]

In this Indian name, the name Sundaram is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Balachander.

S. Balachander
Balachander in 1948
Born
Sundaram Balachander

18 January 1927
Mylapore, Madras Presidency, British India
Died13 April 1990 (aged 63)
Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India
OccupationVeena player, director, dancer, singer, poet, cine actor, playback singer, music composer, photographer, string artist
Years active1934 to 1990
Spouse(s)Shantha (1953–1990)
(his death)
ChildrenRaman (son)
AwardsPadma Bhushan

Film career

S Balachander was born to Sundaram Iyer and Parvathi alias Chellamma. Sunderam Iyer was a patron of Papanasam Sivan and many other musicians in Mylapore, Chennai. [2]

Balachander began as a child artist in the Tamil film Seetha Kalyanam in 1934, in which many members of his family acted. Balachander himself acted as a child musician in Ravana's court, and his father V. Sundaram Iyer acted as Janaka, elder brother S. Rajam as Rama and elder sister S. Jayalakshmi as Seeta. [3] This was followed by appearances in Rishyasringar (1941) and Araichimani (1942).[4] [5]

In 1948 Balachander directed the film En Kanavar.[6] In 1954 he directed Andha Naal, a classic Tamil film noir thriller.[7][8]

Swati Tirunal Dispute

S Balachander claimed that the composer Swati Tirunal was a figment of history's imagination, and he did not even exist. He accused Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer of passing off his own compositions as Swati Tirunal's. Balachander also disputed Balamurali Krishna's claims of having invented new ragas. [9]

S Balachander was actively involved in the Swati Tirunal dispute at the time of his relatively early death.

Awards

Filmography
YearFilmLanguageActorDirectorMusic DirectorSingerProducerNote
1934Seetha KalyanamTamilYNNNN
1941RishyasringarTamilYNNNN
1941KamadhenuTamilYNNNNCredited as Master Balachandar
1942AaraichimaniTamilYNNNN
1947Baktha ThulasidasTamilNYNNMusic Composer along with Anil Biswas
1948Idhu NijamaTamilNYYYAssistant Director
1948En KanavarTamilYYYYEditor
1951KaithiTamilYYYY
1951DevakiTamilYNNNN
1951RajambalTamilYYMusic Composer along with M. S. Gnanamani
1952RaniTamilYNNNN
1953InspectorTamilYNNNN
1954Andha NaalTamilY
1954PennTamilY
1954SanghamTeluguY
1955KoteeswaranTamilY
1955Doctor SavithriTamilY
1956Edi NijamTeluguY
1956Edhu NijamTamilY
1958Bhoologa RambaiTamilYDirector along with D. Yoganand upon the demise of K. Ramnoth
1958Bhooloka RambhaTeluguYDirector along with D. Yoganand upon the demise of K. Ramnoth
1958Avan AmaranTamilY
1959MaragadhamTamilY
1962Avana IvanTamilYYYY
1964BommaiTamilYYYY
1970Nadu IravilTamilYYYY

References
  1. https://musictales.club/article/sundaram-balachander-veena-musician-and-filmmaker-who-introduced-carnatic-culture-world
  2. http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Oct10_1_15/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_Dhigil_Balachander.html
  3. "Face to Face: S. Balachander". The Illustrated Weekly of India. Vol. 88. Times of India Press. 1967. p. 43.
  4. Sundaresan, P. N. (1990). Sruti, Issues 65-76. Sruti. p. 34.
  5. https://www.dtnext.in/News/Opinion/2017/01/30105438/1026374/Balachander-the-musician-who-was-maverick-movie-genius.vpf
  6. Asian Film Directory and Who's who. 1952. p. 187.
  7. "Andha Naal: Remembering veena S. Balachander". The Hindu. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  8. "Rajinikanth launches first look of Antha Naal". Times of India. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  9. https://www.dtnext.in/News/City/2019/05/26044903/1139617/Decoding-Balachander-the-veena-virtuoso-from-Mylapore.vpf
  10. "2nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  11. "4th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  12. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
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