T. S. Balaiah

Thirunelveli Subramaniyan Balaiah (23 August 1914 – 22 July 1972) was an Indian actor. He is best known for playing supporting roles in Tamil films. Born in Sundankottai, near Udankudi in Thoothukudi, Balaiah was introduced to the cine field by director Ellis R. Dungan in Sathi Leelavathi (1936), along with M. G. Ramachandran, N. S. Krishnan and M. K. Radha. He was one of the very few actors who excelled as a villain, as well as in character roles and comic roles.[1]

T. S. Balaiah
டி. எஸ். பாலையா
Born(1914-08-23)23 August 1914
Sundankottai, Udangudi, Thoothukudi District
Died22 July 1972(1972-07-22) (aged 57)
NationalityIndian
OccupationActor
Years active1936–1972
ChildrenJunior Balaiah (actor)
Manochithra (actress)
Saibaba (musician)

Early life & death

T. S. Balaiah was born on 23 August 1914.[2] He was born in Sundankottai, now in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu[3] Balaiah lived in T. Nagar, and died at the age of 57.[3]

Career

Being Part of various drama troupes, his career in films started with 'Madurai Original Boys' drama company which had several talented youngsters who created history in Tamil cinema, including M.K. Radha, M. G. Ramachandran,[1] and N. S. Krishnan. Balaiah began his film career through the Tamil film Sathi Leelavathi in 1936. Balaiah played first lead role in Mohini paired opposite Madhuri Devi, where he played an elder brother to V. N. Janaki and supporting role by M.G.R . He gained a lot of weight at the age of 40 in 1954, hence started getting more character roles. Among his villain roles, Ambikapathy 1937, Andhaman Kaithi, Madurai Veeran, Thaikkupin Tharam, Hello Mister Zamindar and Thiruvilaiyadal were critically acclaimed. Balaiah also excelled in comedy roles in movies such as Kavalai Illaadha Manithan, Kadhalikka Neramillai, Bama Vijayam and Thillana Mohanambal. Actor Sivaji Ganesan had once mentioned that Balaiah along with M. R. Radha was his most admired actor.[3]

Personal life

Actress Manochithra is his daughter, while one of his sons Junior Balaiah has also appeared in films. Another son, Sai Baba, was part of MSV's troupe and sang a few songs.

Partial filmography
YearFilmRoleNotes
1972 Agathiyar
1970 Ethiroli
1969 Kanne Pappa K. R. Vijaya, R. Muthuraman, Baby Rani
1968 Thillana Mohanambal
1967 Ooty Varai Uravu Vedachalam
1967 Bama Vijayam Ethiraj
1966 Yarukaka Azhudan?
1966 Sadhu Mirandal Ramananda Bhagavathar Special appearance
1965 Vaazhkai Padagu
1965 Thiruvilayadal Hemanatha Bagavathar
1965 Ennathaan Mudivu?
1965 Hello Mister Zamindar
1964 Karuppu Panam Sattanathan
1964 Kaadhalikka Neramillai Vishwanathan
1962 Kavitha Malaiyappan
1961 Thayilla Pillai Pathanjali Sasthri
1961 Palum Pazhamum Relative (Sivaji Ganesan's uncle)
1961 Pavamanippu
1961 Kumara Raja Wealthy man (Chandrababu's father)
1966 Chavukkadi Chandrakantha
1960 Kavalai Illaadha Manithan
1960 Kalathur Kannamma Ramalingam
1960 Parthiban Kanavu Marappa Bhupathi
1959 Vaazha Vaitha Deivam
1959 Paththarai Maathu Thangam
1959 Orey Vazhi
1959 Bhaaga Pirivinai
1957 Neelamalai Thirudan Police Inspector
1957 Pudhaiyal Ambalam
1957 Allauddin Adhbhuta Deepam
1956 Kaalam Maari Pochu
1956 Madurai Veeran Thalapathi Marappan
1955 Maaman Magal Kanniyappan
1955 Chella Pillai Director Yaman
1954 Nallakalam
1954 Ratha Paasam Madhu
1953 Gunasagari (Kannada film)
1953 Aasai Magan
1951 Manamagal
1950 Ezhai Padum Padu
1949 Velaikkari Mani
1947 Rajakumari Prince Aalahaalan
1946 Chitra Sanjeevi
1945 Meera Jayaman
1945 Burma Rani
1937 Ambikapathy Rudrasenan
1936 Sathi Leelavathi

References
  1. Vamanan (30 November 2022). "Best of the baddest". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  2. Raman, Mohan (23 August 2014). "100 years of laughter". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  3. Guy, Randor (23 August 2014). "Darling of the masses". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.