Balachandra Menon

Balachandra Menon (Malayalam: ബാലചന്ദ്ര മേനോൻ; born 11 January 1954) is an Indian 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.[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 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.

For the Indian politician, see P. Balachandra Menon.

Adv. Balachandra Menon
Balachandra Menon
Born (1954-01-11) 11 January 1954[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 B. Menon
​
(m. 1982)​
Children2
  • Akhil Vinayak Menon (son)
  • Bhavana B Menon (daughter)
Parent(s)Sivasankara Pillai, Lalitha Devi
Websitebalachandramenon.com

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

Balachandra Menon was born in Kollam[4] 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.[5] Sisters: Sushma and Prema. Wife: Varada B. Menon. Children: Akhil Vinayak Menon, Bhavana B. Menon.[6] Menon enrolled as a lawyer on 29 July 2012, 22 years after completing his degree.[7] In 1997, he won the Karshakashree Award for farming from the Government of Kerala.[8]

During his early days in Madras, he worked for the film weekly Nana 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[9]
  • Balachandramenonte 12 cherukathakal[10]
  • His book Ithirineram Othirikaryam recently released by veteran actor Madhu by handing over a copy to lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi.[11][12]

Awards

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[14]

Filmography
Year Film Credited as Role Notes
Actor Director Producer Screenplay Story Dialogue
2023 Pulimada Green tickY Dr. Joshy Kurien
2021 One Green tickY Dr. Sreekar Varma
2018 Ennaalum Sarath..? Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Dr. Sam
2016 Oozham Green tickY Krishnamoorthy
2015Njan Samvidhanam CheyyumGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYKrishna Das
2013Kadal Kadannu oru MathukkuttyGreen tickYFather Vattathara
2013 Kunjananthante Kada Green tickY Adv. Moidu
2013BuddyGreen tickYShankaran Namboothiri/Shanku Bhai
2009Nammal ThammilGreen tickYRamachandran Nair
2009UtharaswayamvaramGreen tickY'Yamandan' Sreedhara Kurup
2008College KumaranGreen tickYNarayanan
2008De Ingottu NokkiyeGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYJoji
2007PranayakalamGreen tickYBalagopal
2006ClassmatesGreen tickYProf. Iyer
2005DecemberGreen tickYPatteri
2005RappakalGreen tickYDeva Narayanan
2003Varum Varunnu VannuGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYJohny
2003SaphalamGreen tickYBarrister Nambiar
2002NammalGreen tickYSathyanadhan
2002AlbumGreen tickYJeeva's fatherTamil film
2002Krishna GopalakrishnaGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGopalakrishnanEditor, playback singer, composer
2001IshtamGreen tickYAnjana's Father
2000Sathyam Sivam SundaramGreen tickYK.S.K Nambiar
2000Sathyameva JayatheGreen tickYAhammed Basheer
1998SamaantharangalGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYIsmailEditor, composer
1998The TruthGreen tickYChief Minister Madhavan
1997JanathipathyamGreen tickYKrishnamoorthy IPS
1997Krishnagudiyil Oru PranayakalathuGreen tickYPavi
1996April 19Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYJayapraksh
1996Kanden SeethaiyaiGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYUnreleased film
1995Avittam Thirunaal Aarogya SrimanGreen tickYPrabhakaran
1994Sukham SukhakaramGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
1993Ammayane SathyamGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYS. Narayanan
1991Nayam VyakthamakkunnuGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
1990Kuruppinte Kanakku PustakomGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYVinayachandra KurupEditor, composer
1990SasnehamGreen tickYThomas Kurien
1990Noottonnu RaavukalGreen tickYVishnu
1990Varthamana KalamGreen tickYJameskutty
1989Najangalude Kochu DoctorGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYJames VargheseEditor
1989Kandathum KettathumGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYP K Krishnankutty
1988OohakachavadamGreen tickYAlex
1988David David Mr. DavidGreen tickYDavid
1988IsabellaGreen tickYUnnikrishna Menon
1988JanmandharamGreen tickYPolice Officer
1988KudumbapuranamGreen tickYKrishnanunni
1987Oru MaymasappularayilGreen tickY
1987VilambaramGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYP. K. Nampoothiri
1987Achuvettante VeeduGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYVipinEditor
1986RithubhedamGreen tickYRajan
1986Vivahitare ItihileGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYAppu
1986Thaiku Oru ThalattuGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYTamil film
1985Manicheppu ThurannappolGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
1985DaivatheyorthuGreen tickYAniyankuttan
1985Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude ChakkiGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYS. NandakumarPlayback singer, soundtrack performer
1984Oru PainkilikathaGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYKannanPlayback singer
1984Arante Mulla Kochu MullaGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYPrabhakaran
1984April 18Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYRavikumar
1984InakkillyGreen tickYJohnay
1983Sesham KazhchayilGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYG K Raja
1983Prashnam GurutharamGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYBalu
1983Karyam NissaramGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYShekhar
1982KilukilukkamGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYMahendran
1982Kelkatha ShabdamGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYLambodharan Nair
1982Ithiri Neram Othiri KaryamGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGeejo
1982Chiriyo ChiriGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYUnni
1981Thenum VayambumGreen tickYBabu Mathew
1981TharattuGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYDileep
1981Prema GeethangalGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYDoctor
1981Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan PillaGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGopinathan
1980Vaiki Vanna VasanthamGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
1980KalikaGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
1980Ishtamanu PaksheGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
1980Aniyatha ValakalGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
1979Radha Enna PennkuttiGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
1978Uthrada RathriGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYDinesh

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

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. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  3. "Home". Archived from the original on 30 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  4. "Balachandra Menon in Limca Book of Records". Balachandra Menon – Official Website. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  5. "Melodrama surrounds release of Balachandra Menon's book".
  6. "CiniDiary". CiniDiary. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  7. "Actor Balachandra Menon enrolled as lawyer". Chennai, India: www.thehindu.com. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  8. "ഇത്തിരിനേരം ഒത്തിരികാര്യം - ബാലചന്ദ്രമേനോന്‍". 20 January 2016.
  9. "CM Oommen Chandy releases Balachandra Menon's memoir". 3 September 2011.
  10. "Ace director, master storyteller". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 7 July 2012.
  11. "Balachandra Menon's New Book Released".
  12. "Ithri Neram Othiri Karyam". Manorama Online. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  13. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  14. "Limca Book of Records recognizes Balachandra Menon". 14 May 2018.
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