Balachandra Menon

Balachandra Menon (born 11 January 1954) is an Indian film actor, director and script writer. He made a number of films in the 1980s and 1990s. He has directed 40 films and has acted in over 100 films.[2] He won two National film awards including the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance as station master Ismail the 1998 film Samaantharangal, which was also directed by him. He has also worked as distributor, editor, composer, singer and producer in the Malayalam film industry. He has found space in the Limca Book of Records for the maximum number of films directed, scripted and acted in. Most of his films were successful but have been heavily criticised for its male chauvinistic and misogynistic content.[3][4]

Balachandra Menon
Balachandra Menon
Born (1954-01-11) 11 January 1954[1]
Kollam, Kerala, India
Occupation
  • Director
  • actor
  • screenwriter
  • author
  • journalist
  • lawyer
  • producer
  • distributor
  • editor
  • singer
  • composer
Years active1978 – present
Spouse(s)
Varada B Menon
​
(m. 1982)​
Children2, Akhil Vinayak Menon, Bhavana B Menon
Websitebalachandramenon.com

Menon has introduced many actors into the Malayalam film industry. Actors who made their debut in his films include Shobana in April 18, Parvathy in Vivahithare Ithile, Maniyanpilla Raju in Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla, Karthika in Manicheppu Thurannappol, Annie in Ammayane Sathyam, and Nandini in April 19.[5]

Personal life

Balachandra Menon was born in Kollam[6] in 1954 to Shivashankara Pillai and Lalitha Devi. By virtue of his father being a railway station master, he served at Edava railway station and Menon had his formative years of childhood and adolescence life in this village. He studied at Edava Muslim High School and has narrated nostalgically about his memories about his life in this village in his autobiography Ammayaane Sathyam. He is an alumnus of University College Trivandrum and Fatima Mata National College Kollam, Kerala Law Academy Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.[7] Sisters: Sushma and Prema. Wife: Varada B Menon. Children: Akhil Vinayak Menon, Bhavana B Menon.[8] Menon enrolled as a lawyer on 29 July 2012, 22 years after completing his degree.[9] In 1997, he won the Karshakashree award for farming from the Kerala government.[10]

During his early days in Madras, he worked in Nana film weekly as a correspondent. He has completed a diploma in journalism from Press Club, Trivandrum.

Literary works
  • Achuvettante Veedu
  • Mugam Abhimugam
  • Samaantharangal
  • 18 April 19 April
  • Ninnay Enthinu Kollaam ?
  • Kaanatha Sulthanu Snehapoorvam
  • Ammayanay Sathyam
  • Ariyathathu, Ariyendathu[11]
  • Balachandramenonte 12 cherukathakal[12]
  • His book Ithirineram Othirikaryam recently released by veteran actor Madhu by handing over a copy to lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi.[13][14]

Awards

Civilian Awards:

  • 2007 – Padma Shri[15]

National Film Awards:

Kerala State Film Awards:

Filmfare Awards South:

Others:

  • 2018 - Limca_Book_of_Records -Film Maker who is credited as Actor, Director and Writer in the most number of feature films[16]

Filmography
Year Film Credited as Role Notes
Actor Director Producer Screenplay Story Dialogue
2018 Ennaalum Sarath..? Y Y Y Y Y
2016 Oozham Y Krishnamoorthy
2015Njan Samvidhanam CheyyumYYYYYYKrishna Das
2013Kadal Kadannu oru MathukkuttyYFather Vattathara
2013 Kunjananthante Kada Y
2013BuddyYShankaran Namboothiri/Shanku Bhai
2009Nammal ThammilYRamachandran Nair
2009UtharaswayamvaramY'Yamandan' Sreedhara Kurup
2008College KumaranY
2008De Ingottu NokkiyeYYYYYJoji
2007PranayakalamYBalagopal
2006ClassmatesYProf. Iyer
2005DecemberYPatteri
2005RappakalYDeva Narayanan
2003Varum Varunnu VannuYYYYJohny
2003SaphalamYBarrister Nambiar
2002NammalYSathyanadhan
2002AlbumYTamil film
2002Krishna GopalakrishnaYYYYYGopalakrishnanEditor, Playback Singer,Composer
2001IshtamYAnjana's Father
2000Sathyam Sivam SundaramYK.S.K Nambiar
2000Sathyameva JayatheY
1998SamaantharangalYYYYYYIsmailEditor, Composer
1998The TruthYChief Minister Madhavan
1997JanathipathyamY
1997Krishnagudiyil Oru PranayakalathuYPavi
1996April 19YYYYY
1996Kanden SeethaiyaiYYYYYUnreleased film
1995Avittam Thirunaal Aarogya SrimanYPrabhakaran
1994Sukham SukhakaramYYYYY
1993Ammayane SathyamYYYYYS. Narayanan
1991Nayam VyakthamakkunnuYYYY
1990Kuruppinte Kanakku PustakomYYYYYVinayachandra KurupEditor, Composer
1990SasnehamYThomas Kurien
1990Noottonnu RaavukalYVishnu
1990Varthamana KalamYJameskutty
1989Najangalude Kochu DoctorYYYYYJames VargheseEditor
1989Kandathum KettathumYYYYYP K Krishnankutty
1988OohakachavadamYAlex
1988David David Mr. DavidYDavid
1988IsabellaYUnnikrishna Menon
1988JanmandharamYPolice Officer
1988KudumbapuranamYKrishnanunni
1987Oru MaymasappularayilY
1987VilambaramYYYYYP. K. Nampoothiri
1987Achuvettante VeeduYYYYYVipinEditor
1986RithubhedamYRajan
1986Vivahitare ItihileYYYYYYAppu
1986Thaiku Oru ThalattuYYYYTamil film
1985Manicheppu ThurannappolYYYYY
1985DaivatheyorthuYAniyankuttan
1985Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude ChakkiYYYYYYS. NandakumarPlayback Singer, Soundtrack Performer
1984Oru PainkilikathaYYYYYKannanPlayback Singer
1984Arante Mulla Kochu MullaYYYYYPrabhakaran
1984April 18YYYYYRavikumar
1983Sesham KazhchayilYYYYYG K Raja
1983Prasnam GurutharamYYYYYBalu
1983Karyam NissaramYYYYYShekhar
1982KilukilukkamYYYYYMahendran
1982Kelkatha ShabdamYYYYYLambodharan Nair
1982Ithiri Neram Othiri KaryamYYYYYGeejo
1982Chiriyo ChiriYYYYYUnni
1981Thenum VayambumYBabu Mathew
1981TharattuYYYYY
1981Prema GeethangalYYYY
1981Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan PillaYYYYYGopinathan
1980Vaiki Vanna VasanthamYYYY
1980KalikaYYY
1980Ishtamanu PaksheYYYY
1980Aniyatha ValakalYYYY
1979Radha Enna PennkuttiYYYY
1978Uthrada RathriYYYY

Television
  • Suryodayam (Doordarshan, Direction)
  • Vilakku vekkum neram (Doordarshan)
  • Megham (Asianet)

As a singer
  • Aanakoduthaalum ... Oru Painkilikkadha (1984)
  • Kochu Chakkarachi Pettu ... Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki (1985)
  • Kaattinum Thaalam ... Njangalude Kochu Doctor (1989)
  • Choodulla kaattil ... Krishnaa Gopaalakrishnaa (2002)

References
  1. "Balachandra Menon – Who am I?". Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  2. "Balachandra Menon thrilled by Dubai audience". emirates247.com. emirates247.com. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  3. Cris. "FYI Balachandran Menon: Women ain't in your '80s films, it's ok to discuss masturbation". The News Minute.
  4. M.G. Radhakrishnan. "Balachandra Menon: All in One". Open Magazine.
  5. "Home". Archived from the original on 30 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  6. "Balachandra Menon in Limca Book of Records". Balachandra Menon – Official Website. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  7. "Melodrama surrounds release of Balachandra Menon's book".
  8. "CiniDiary". CiniDiary. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  9. "Actor Balachandra Menon enrolled as lawyer". Chennai, India: www.thehindu.com. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  10. https://www.vayanamuri.com/?p=14973
  11. "CM Oommen Chandy releases Balachandra Menon's memoir". 3 September 2011.
  12. "Ace director, master storyteller". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 7 July 2012.
  13. "Balachandra Menon's New Book Released".
  14. "Ithri Neram Othiri Karyam". Manorama Online. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  15. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  16. "Limca Book of Records recognizes Balachandra Menon". 14 May 2018.
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