T. N. Balakrishna

Tirumakudalu Narasipura Balakrishna (2 November 1911 18 July 1995) was an Indian actor in Kannada cinema. He was said to have a hearing problem and some say that he was totally deaf. However, he would catch the lip movements of the artists and would narrate the dialogues spontaneously. He was popular for his comic and villainous roles in films like Kantheredu Nodu (1961), Muriyada Mane (1964), Bangaarada Manushya (1972), Gandhada Gudi (1973) and Kaamana Billu (1983) and appeared in numerous versatile roles over a hundred films that starred Rajkumar in the lead role.[2]

T. N. Balakrishna
Born(1911-11-02)2 November 1911
Died19 July 1995(1995-07-19) (aged 83)[1]
NationalityIndian
Other namesBalanna
OccupationActor
Spouses
  • Sathyavathi
  • Sarojamma

Balakrishna is known to have played the most roles in Kannada cinema, having appeared in over 560 films as a hero, villain, comedian, good Samaritan, loving father and lunatic.[2] Sudha Chandran is his ex-daughter in law.

Early life

Balakrishna was born into a poor family on 2 November 1911 in Arsikere, Kingdom of Mysore. When he was four years old, his mother sold him to a couple for just 8 in order to provide treatment for her ailing husband. He ran away from his adopted parents after having been treated badly.

In his later years Balakrishna had lung cancer and finally succumbed to it on 18 July 1995 at the age of 83. Yama Kinkara was his last film appearance.

Career

Balakrishna first acted in the play, Shri Rama Pattabhishekha, in 1929. Following this, he worked as the painter of the stage backdrops for a drama company before becoming a professional sign painter. Later, he became a ticket collector in a drama company for a meagre salary. He returned to acting in theatre with Lakshmasana Drama Company and then with Gowrishankar Nataka Mandali. Following this, he joined the drama company of Gubbi Veeranna, a notable theatre director during the time.[3] Film director B. R. Panthulu happened to visit the drama company, saw his acting on stage and offered him a film role, beginning his career as a movie actor. He appeared as an antagonist in the film Kalachakra, a performance that was appreciated. He appeared in over a hundred Kannada films playing mostly comic roles, that starred Rajkumar.

In order to make the Kannada film industry self-reliant and save money for the producers, Balakrishna started the studio, investing all of his money and property. He built the Abhiman studio in Kengeri, Bangalore, on a 20-acre plot in 1963, but faced difficulties initially. When no Kannada films were being made, Balakrishna got together with other actors like Rajkumar and G. V. Iyer and produced the film Ranadheera Kanteerava. He even raised money from the public at 1 per person to build the studio. The studio was a failure, and Balakrishna died in penury. Television serials are still being shot at the studio today which is being looked after by Balakrishna's son, B. Ganesh and grandson Karthik.[4] His final screen appaearance came in Yama Kinkara (1995).[5]

Notable filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1943Radha Ramana
1952Dallali
1954Devasundari
1954Kanyadana
1954Muttiddella Chinna
1955Ashaadabhooti
1955Bhakta Mallikarjuna
1956Daiva Sankalpa
1956Mutthaide BhagyaGundurao
1956Pancharatna
1956Sadarame
1957VaradakshineSeetharamaiah
1958School MasterGundappa
1959Jagajyothi Basveshwara
1960Ranadheera KanteeravaAppanna
1961Kittur ChennammaHarana Setty
1962Bhoodana
1963Jenu GooduStage actor
1964AnnapoornaKailas
1964Thumbida KodaM .S. Ramdev
1968Gejje Pooje
1969Kappu BilupuNarasimha Murthy
1969Mayor Muthanna
1971SakshatkaraLaksmanayya
1971Kasturi NivasaBhojarajaiah
1971Namma Samsara
1972Bangarada ManushyaRaachutappa
1973Gandhada GudiVenkatappa Naika
1973Doorada Betta
1974Bhakta Kumbara
1974Sampathige SavalPuttayya
1974Bangaarada Panjara
1975ThrimurthySeetharama
1975Daari Tappida MagaPrasad's father-in-law
1976Premada Kanike
1976Badavara BandhuNagappa
1976Naa Ninna MareyalareSubbanna
1977Sanaadi AppannaAyyanna
1977Devara Duddu
1978Sneha Sedu
1978Shankar GuruLakshman Rao
1978Maathu Tappada MagaRachappa
1979Naa Ninna BidalaareGayatri's father
1979Preethi Madu Thamashe NoduHanumantha Rao
1980Ondu Hennu Aaru Kannu
1980Moogana Sedu
1980Auto RajaDr Dinakar
1980Kulla KulliVenkateshaiah
1981Thayiya MadilalliRamayya
1982Praya Praya Praya
1982Mullina Gulabi
1983Kaamana Billu
1983Kaviratna KalidasaGunasagara
1985Bettada HoovuDoddajja
1986PreethiConstable Belliappa
1987Ondu Muttina KatheNarasimha Swami
1987Thaliya Aane
1987Shruthi SeridaagaSubbu
1990AshwamedhaRama
1990UdbhavaRamachari
1992Belliyappa BangarappaRajasuite Uthappa
1992Halli Meshtru
1994Love 94
1995Bombat Raja Bandal Rani
1995Yama Kinkara

References

  1. "His last days of "AU REVOIR"". Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  2. "100 and evergreen". The Hindu. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  3. Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-135-94325-7.
  4. "No Abhiman about Balanna". Bangalore Mirror. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012.
  5. ನಟ ಬಾಲಣ್ಣನ ಕಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಡಾ. ರಾಜ್ ಕೊಟ್ಟ ದುಡ್ಡೆಷ್ಟು ಅಂದ್ರೆ-TN Balakrishna LIFE FULL'-GEETABALI-#param (in Kannada). 23 March 2022. Event occurs at 27:13. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
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