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Balachandra Menon

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Balachandra Menon
Menon in 2014
Born (1954-01-11) 11 January 1954 (age 72)[1]
Kollam, Kerala, India
Occupations
  • Director
  • actor
  • screenwriter
  • author
  • journalist
  • lawyer
  • producer
  • distributor
  • editor
  • singer
  • composer
Years active1978 – present
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Spouse
Varada
​
(m. 1982)​
[2]
Children2
Parent(s)Sivasankara Pillai
Lalitha Devi
Websitebalachandramenon.com

Balachandra Menon (born 11 January 1954) is an Indian actor, director and script writer. He made a number of films in the 1980s and 1990s.[3] He has directed 40 films and has acted in over 100.[4]

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 a 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. Menon has introduced many actors into the Malayalam Cinema 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.[3]

Personal life

[edit]

Balachandra Menon was born in Kollam[5] 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 fond memories of his life in Edava in his autobiography Ammayaane Sathyam. He is an alumnus of University College Trivandrum, Fatima Mata National College, Kollam and Kerala Law Academy Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.[6] Sisters: Sushma and Prema. Wife: Varada B. Menon. Children: Akhil Vinayak Menon, Bhavana B. Menon.[7] Menon enrolled as a lawyer on 29 July 2012, 22 years after completing his degree.[8] In 1997, he won the Karshakashree Award for farming from the Government of Kerala.[9][10]

During his early days in Madras, he worked for the film weekly Nana as a correspondent. His column in Nana, 'Nanaji's Cinema Varaphalam' (Nanaji's Cinema Weekly), was very popular at the time.[11] He has completed a diploma in journalism from Press Club, Trivandrum.

Literary works

[edit]
  • Achuvettante Veedu
  • Mugam Abhimugam
  • Samaantharangal
  • 18 April 19 April
  • Ninnay Enthinu Kollaam ?
  • Kaanatha Sulthanu Snehapoorvam
  • Ammayanay Sathyam
  • Ariyathathu, Ariyendathu[12]
  • Balachandramenonte 12 cherukathakal[13]
  • His book Ithirineram Othirikaryam recently released by veteran actor Madhu by handing over a copy to lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi.[14][15]

Awards

[edit]

Civilian Awards:

National Film Awards:

Kerala State Film Awards:

Filmfare Awards South:

Others:

  • 2018 - Limca Book of Records - Filmmaker who is credited as actor, director and writer in the most number of feature films[17]

Filmography

[edit]

As a director, writer, and producer

[edit]
Year Film Credited as Notes
Director Writer Producer Editor
1978Uthrada RathriGreen tickGreen tick
1979Radha Enna PennkuttiGreen tickGreen tick
1980Aniyatha ValakalGreen tickGreen tick
Ishtamanu PaksheGreen tickGreen tick
KalikaGreen tick
Vaiki Vanna VasanthamGreen tickGreen tick
1981Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan PillaGreen tickGreen tick
Prema GeethangalGreen tickGreen tick
TharattuGreen tickGreen tick
1982Chiriyo ChiriGreen tickGreen tick
Ithiri Neram Othiri KaryamGreen tickGreen tick
Kelkatha ShabdamGreen tickGreen tick
KilukilukkamGreen tickGreen tick
1983Karyam NissaramGreen tickGreen tick
Prashnam GurutharamGreen tickGreen tick
Sesham KazhchayilGreen tickGreen tick
1984Inakkilly
April 18Green tickGreen tick
Arante Mulla Kochu MullaGreen tickGreen tick
Oru PainkilikathaGreen tickGreen tick
1985Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude ChakkiGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick
Manicheppu ThurannappolGreen tickGreen tick
1986Thaiku Oru ThalattuGreen tickGreen tick StoryTamil film
Vivahitare ItihileGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick
Rithubhedam
1987Achuvettante VeeduGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick
VilambaramGreen tickGreen tick
1989Kandathum KettathumGreen tickGreen tick
Najangalude Kochu DoctorGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick
1990 Kuruppinte Kanakku PustakomGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick
1991Nayam VyakthamakkunnuGreen tickGreen tick
1993Ammayane SathyamGreen tickGreen tick
1994Santhana Gopalam
Sukham SukhakaramGreen tickGreen tick
1996Kanden SeethaiyaiGreen tickGreen tickUnreleased film
April 19Green tickGreen tick
1998 SamaantharangalGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick
2002Krishna GopalakrishnaGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick
2003 Varum Varunnu VannuGreen tick
2008De Ingottu NokkiyeGreen tickGreen tick
2015Njan Samvidhanam CheyyumGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick
2018 Ennaalum Sarath..? Green tick Green tick

As an actor

[edit]
Year Film Role Notes
1978Uthrada RathriDinesh
1981Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan PillaGopinathan
Prema GeethangalDoctor
TharattuDileep
Thenum VayambumBabu Mathew
1982Chiriyo ChiriUnni
Ithiri Neram Othiri KaryamGeejo
Kelkatha ShabdamLambodharan Nair
KilukilukkamMahendran
1983Karyam NissaramShekhar
Prashnam GurutharamBalu
Sesham KazhchayilG K Raja
1984InakkillyJohnay
April 18Ravikumar
Arante Mulla Kochu MullaPrabhakaran
Oru PainkilikathaKannan
1985Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude ChakkiS. Nandakumar
DaivatheyorthuAchuthankutty
Manicheppu Thurannappol
1986 Vivahitare ItihileAppu
RithubhedamRajan
1987Achuvettante VeeduVipin
VilambaramP. K. Nampoothiri
Oru Maymasappularayil
1988KudumbapuranamKrishnanunni
JanmandharamPolice Officer
IsabellaUnnikrishna Menon
David David Mr. DavidDavid
OohakachavadamCharlie
1989Kandathum KettathumP K Krishnankutty
Najangalude Kochu DoctorJames Varghese
1990Varthamana KalamJameskutty
Noottonnu RaavukalVishnu
SasnehamThomas Kurien
Kuruppinte Kanakku PustakomVinayachandra Kurup
1993Ammayane SathyamS. Narayanan
1994Santhana GopalamSudhakaran
Sukham Sukhakaram
1995Avittam Thirunaal Aarogya SrimanPrabhakaran
1996Kanden SeethaiyaiUnreleased film
April 19Jayapraksh
1997Krishnagudiyil Oru PranayakalathuPavi
JanathipathyamKrishnamoorthy IPS
1998The TruthChief Minister Madhavan
SamaantharangalIsmail
2000Sathyameva JayatheAhammed Basheer
Sathyam Sivam SundaramK.S.K Nambiar
2001IshtamAnjana's Father
2002Krishna GopalakrishnaGopalakrishnan
AlbumRanganathanTamil film
NammalSathyanadhan
2003SaphalamBarrister Nambiar
Varum Varunnu VannuJohny
2005RappakalDeva Narayanan
DecemberDr Keshava Patteri
2006ClassmatesProf. Iyer
2007PranayakalamBalagopal
2008De Ingottu NokkiyeJoji
College KumaranNarayanan
2009UtharaswayamvaramSreedhara 'Yamandan' Kurup
Nammal ThammilRamachandran Nair
2013BuddyShankaran Namboothiri/Shanku Bhai
Kunjananthante Kada Adv. Moidu
Kadal Kadannu Oru MaathukuttyFather Vattathara
2015Njan Samvidhanam CheyyumKrishna Das
2016 Oozham Krishnamoorthy
2018 Ennaalum Sarath..? Dr. Sam
2021 One Dr. Sreekar Varma
2023Pulimada Dr. Joshi Kuriyan
A Ranjith Cinema Chandraprakash [18]
2026PrathichayaKN Varghese[19]

Television

[edit]
  • Suryodayam (Doordarshan, Direction)
  • Vilakku Vekkum Neram (Doordarshan)
  • Megham (Asianet)
  • Malayogam (Asianet)
  • Nizhalukal (Asianet)
  • Shamanathalam

Discography

[edit]
As composer
As playback singer

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Balachandra Menon – Who am I?". Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "Balachandra Menon :: A Complete Webiography". 26 October 2012. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Home". Archived from the original on 30 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  4. ↑ "Balachandra Menon thrilled by Dubai audience". emirates247.com. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Balachandra Menon in Limca Book of Records". Balachandra Menon – Official Website. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  6. ↑ "Melodrama surrounds release of Balachandra Menon's book". Archived from the original on 18 December 2013.
  7. ↑ "CiniDiary". CiniDiary. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  8. ↑ "Actor Balachandra Menon enrolled as lawyer". Chennai, India: www.thehindu.com. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  9. ↑ "ഇത്തിരിനേരം ഒത്തിരികാര്യം - ബാലചന്ദ്രമേനോന്‍". 20 January 2016. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  10. ↑ "Forced to watch sexual act: Malayalam actor's big charge against filmmaker". India Today. 29 September 2024.
  11. ↑ "ബാലചന്ദ്ര മേനോനും എന്‍.കെ അഹമ്മദ് ലോഡ്ജും". Media One. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  12. ↑ "CM Oommen Chandy releases Balachandra Menon's memoir". 3 September 2011. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  13. ↑ "Ace director, master storyteller". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 7 July 2012.
  14. ↑ "Balachandra Menon's New Book Released". Archived from the original on 18 December 2013.
  15. ↑ "Ithri Neram Othiri Karyam". Manorama Online. Retrieved 28 December 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  16. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Limca Book of Records recognizes Balachandra Menon". 14 May 2018.
  18. ↑ "Asif Ali's next film- 'A Ranjith Cinema' to roll from December 6th". The Times of India. 3 December 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  19. ↑ "Nivin Pauly's Prathichaya gets release date". Cinema Express. 17 March 2026. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
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