T. N. Balu Explained

T. N. Balu
Birth Place:Madras Presidency, British India
Death Date:1981
Death Place:Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation: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

YearFilmCredited asNotes
Directorwidth=65 Writerwidth=65 Producer
1964 Deiva Thai
1965 Aasai Mugam
1965 Iravum Pagalum
1967 Naan
1967 Athey Kangal
1967 Uyir Mel Aasai
1968 Kadhal Vaaganam
1968 Moondrezhuthu
1969 Manasaatchi
1969 Anjal Petti 520
1971 Meendum Vazhven
1972 Bullet Bullodu Telugu film
1973 Pookkari
1973 Maru Piravi
1974 Vairam
1977 Andru Sindhiya Raththam
1977 Nallathukku Kalamillai
1977 Odi Vilayadu Thatha
1977 Uyarnthavargal
1978 Sattam En Kaiyil
1981 Sankarlal

Notes and References

  1. Web site: T N Balu. Spicyonion.com.
  2. News: Athey Kangal 1967. Randor. Guy. The Hindu. 27 June 2015. www.thehindu.com.
  3. News: Moondrezhuthu (1968) TAMIL. Randor. Guy. The Hindu. 21 January 2017. www.thehindu.com.
  4. News: Dheiva Thaai (1964). Randor. Guy. The Hindu. 2 April 2016. www.thehindu.com.
  5. News: Memories of Madras – Verse in the woods. Anusha. Parthasarathy. The Hindu. 8 November 2011. www.thehindu.com.
  6. News: Karuna taught me Tamil, says Kamal Haasan . 29 May 2017 . . 6 October 2020.
  7. 1282923681144922114 . RajaparvaiB .
    1. 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..
    . ta . 14 July 2020 . 6 October 2020 . Bengaluru . Rajaparvai Ramu.
  8. Web site: When Kamal Haasan caused bitter feelings to MGR and Karunanidhi - Tamil News. 27 July 2017. IndiaGlitz.com.
  9. News: 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. Web site: T.N.Balu [Director | Story,Dialogue Writer | Producer]]. 29 April 2018.
  11. Web site: Lakshmansruthi.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20201011202503/http://profiles.lakshmansruthi.com/index1.php?uid=205. dead. 11 October 2020. profiles.lakshmansruthi.com.
  12. News: Dubbing is big business today in Kollywood - Times of India. The Times of India . Suganth . M. .