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 heart attack at the age of 63, while on a music tour of India.[1]

S. Balachander
Balachander in 1948
Born
Sundaram Balachander

18 January 1927
Died13 April 1990 (aged 63)
Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India
Occupation(s)Actor, playback singer
Years active1934 to 1990
AwardsPadma Bhushan

Film career

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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

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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 death.[citation needed]

Awards

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Filmography

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Year Film Language Actor Director Music Director Singer Producer Note
1934 Seetha Kalyanam Tamil  Y  N  N  N  N
1941 Rishyasringar Tamil  Y  N  N  N  N
1941 Kamadhenu Tamil  Y  N  N  N  N Credited as Master Balachandar
1942 Aaraichimani Tamil  Y  N  N  N  N
1947 Baktha Thulasidas Tamil  N  Y  N  N Music Composer along with Anil Biswas
1948 Idhu Nijama Tamil  N  Y  Y  Y Assistant Director
1948 En Kanavar Tamil  Y  Y  Y  Y Editor
1951 Kaithi Tamil  Y  Y  Y  Y
1951 Devaki Tamil  Y  N  N  N  N
1951 Rajambal Tamil  Y  Y Music Composer along with M. S. Gnanamani
1952 Rani Tamil  Y  N  N  N  N
1953 Inspector Tamil  Y  N  N  N  N
1954 Andha Naal Tamil  Y
1954 Penn Tamil  Y
1954 Sangham Telugu  Y
1955 Koteeswaran Tamil  Y
1955 Doctor Savithri Tamil  Y
1956 Edi Nijam Telugu  Y
1956 Edhu Nijam Tamil  Y
1958 Bhoologa Rambai Tamil  Y Director along with D. Yoganand upon the demise of K. Ramnoth
1958 Bhooloka Rambha Telugu  Y Director along with D. Yoganand upon the demise of K. Ramnoth
1958 Avan Amaran Tamil  Y
1959 Maragadham Tamil  Y
1962 Avana Ivan Tamil  Y  Y  Y  Y
1964 Bommai Tamil  Y  Y  Y  Y
1970 Nadu Iravil Tamil  Y  Y  Y  Y

References

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  1. ^ "Sundaram Balachander: The veena musician and filmmaker who introduced Carnatic culture to the world | Music Tales".
  2. ^ "Kalyanamalai Magazine - Serial story, Thiraichuvai - Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema, 'Dhigil' Balachander".
  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. ^ "Balachander, the musician who was maverick movie genius - DTNext.in". Archived from the original on 25 October 2021.
  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. ^ "Decoding Balachander, the veena virtuoso from Mylapore - DTNext.in". Archived from the original on 25 October 2021.
  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 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
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