T. N. Balu
Born
Madras Presidency, British India
Died1981
Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation(s)Writer, director, producer

T. N. Balu (died 1981) was an Indian writer, director and producer who worked in Tamil cinema. He was active in the second half of the 1900s, and shared a close association with the former chief ministers of Tamil Nadu Karunanidhi.[1]

Film career

Balu worked as a writer on several notable Tamil films in the 1960s including Deiva Thai (1964), Athey Kangal (1967) and Moondrezhuthu (1968).[2][3][4] His work as the storywriter of Naan (1967), saw him also credited for the films Telugu and Hindi remakes, Nenante Nene (1968) and Waris (1969). He regularly collaborated as a story, screenplay and dialogue writer for productions by Modern Theatres.[5]

In the late 1970s, he regularly worked on the scripts for Jaishankar's films and directed both Nallathukku Kalamillai (1977) and Odi Vilayadu Thatha (1977). Balu's Sattam En Kaiyil (1978) featuring Kamal Haasan and Sripriya was a commercially successful venture.[6][7] Balu was jailed soon after the film's release, and Kamal Haasan helped bail him out, after seeking permission from chief minister M. G. Ramachandran, to attend the 100th day celebration ceremony of the film. However, soon after the ceremony was over, with the help of his acquaintances from the opposition party - Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Balu managed to escape to Bangalore. The incident created a strain between M. G. Ramachandran and Kamal Haasan.[8][9] He died during the making of his production venture, Sankarlal (1981), which he was also directing and writing. The film was later completed by cinematographer N. K. Viswanathan with the assistance of Kamal Haasan.[10][11]

Personal life

Balu's son, T. N. B. Kathiravan, also known as Kathir, is a dubbing artiste who works on Tamil language films. He has provided voiceovers for actors including Vidyut Jammwal, Ashish Vidyarthi and Sharath Lohithaswa in Tamil cinema.[12]

Death

Balu died during the making of his production venture, Sankarlal (1981).

Partial filmography

Year Film Credited as Notes
Director Writer Producer
1964Deiva ThaiRed XGreen tickRed X
1965Aasai MugamRed XGreen tickRed X
1965Iravum PagalumRed XGreen tickRed X
1967NaanRed XGreen tickRed X
1967Athey KangalRed XGreen tickRed X
1967Uyir Mel AasaiRed XGreen tickRed X
1968Kadhal VaaganamRed XGreen tickRed X
1968MoondrezhuthuRed XGreen tickRed X
1969ManasaatchiGreen tickGreen tickRed X
1969Anjal Petti 520Green tickGreen tickRed X
1971Meendum VazhvenGreen tickGreen tickRed X
1972Bullet BulloduGreen tickGreen tickRed XTelugu film
1973PookkariRed XGreen tickRed X
1973Maru PiraviRed XGreen tickRed X
1974VairamRed XGreen tickRed X
1977Andru Sindhiya RaththamRed XGreen tickRed X
1977Nallathukku KalamillaiGreen tickGreen tickRed X
1977Odi Vilayadu ThathaGreen tickGreen tickRed X
1977UyarndhavargalGreen tickGreen tickRed X
1978Sattam En KaiyilGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick
1981SankarlalGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick

References

  1. ↑ "T N Balu". Spicyonion.com.
  2. ↑ Guy, Randor (27 June 2015). "Athey Kangal 1967". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  3. ↑ Guy, Randor (21 January 2017). "Moondrezhuthu (1968) TAMIL". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  4. ↑ Guy, Randor (2 April 2016). "Dheiva Thaai (1964)". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  5. ↑ Parthasarathy, Anusha (8 November 2011). "Memories of Madras – Verse in the woods". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  6. ↑ "Karuna taught me Tamil, says Kamal Haasan". Deccan Chronicle. 29 May 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  7. ↑ Bengaluru, Rajaparvai Ramu [@RajaparvaiB] (14 July 2020). "#கமல்ஹாசன் அவர்௧ளின் #சட்டம்என்கையில் இன்று 42ம் ஆண்டு நிறைவுநாள் (14/07/1978) 100 ஓடிய சூப்பர் ஹிட் திரைப்படம் இந்த படம் தெலுங்கு மொழியில் #தொங்௧தோரா என்று வெளிவந்து #ஆந்திராவில் 100 நாட்௧ளுக்கு மேல் ஓடியது." (Tweet) (in Tamil). Retrieved 6 October 2020 – via Twitter.
  8. ↑ "When Kamal Haasan caused bitter feelings to MGR and Karunanidhi - Tamil News". IndiaGlitz.com. 27 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "karunanidhi birthday 2017: Lesser-known tales of south India's grand old man Karunanidhi | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India. 3 June 2017.
  10. ↑ "T.N.Balu [Director | Story,Dialogue Writer | Producer]". 29 April 2018.
  11. ↑ "Lakshmansruthi.com". profiles.lakshmansruthi.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020.
  12. ↑ Suganth, M. "Dubbing is big business today in Kollywood - Times of India". The Times of India.
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