Balachander wins Dada Saheb Phalke

Veteran filmmaker K Balachander has been conferred Dada Saheb Phalke Award for the year 2010. The award is conferred by the Government of India for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema. 

The award consists of a Swarn Kamal, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakhs and a shawl. The award is given on the recommendations of a committee of eminent persons. K Balachander has been film director, screen play writer and producer for more than 45 years.  He has written, directed and produced more than 100 films in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada.

Balachander is known for his distinct film-making style.  The films he scripts and directs analyze unusual or complicated inter-personal relationships and social themes. Balachander has the uncanny knack of spotting talent.  He has been responsible for bringing into limelight many stars of the present day, including Rajnikanth, Kamal Haasan, Prakashraaj and Vivek.

Born in Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu in July 1930, Balachander came into prominence as a playwright with his dynamic plays like ‘Major Chandrakanth’, ‘Server Sundaram’, ‘Naanal’ and ‘Neerkumizhi’.  These plays enjoyed huge popular and critical acclaim.

He entered the film industry in 1965 and shot into fame with his very first film ‘Neerkumizhi’ starring Nagesh.  Since then he has directed and produced a number of movies which have won many National Awards, awards from the StateGovts. and other organizations.  Some of the prominent films he has directed include ‘Apoorva Raagagal’, ‘Avargal’ ’47Natkal’, ‘Sindhu Bhairavi, ‘Ek Duuje Ke Liye’ (Hindi), ‘Maro Charithra, and ‘Rudraveena’ in Teluguand ‘Bekiyalli AralidaHoovu, in Kannada.

For the last few years, Balachander has also turned his attention to the small screen and has brought to it the same perfection and intensity that he exhibited on the big screen. He was conferred the Padma Shri in 1987 and was honoured with the title ‘Kalaimamani’ by the Tamil Nadu Government in 1973. He has also won the Golden Nandi award and Silver Nandi awards from Govt of Andhra Pradesh and has also won the Filmfare award as Best Director numerous times.

Some of the films of K Balachander which have won National Film Awards are: Irku Kodugal (Tamil) in 1969, Apporva Raagangal (Tamil) in 1975, Thaneer Thaneer (Tamil) in 1981, Achamillai Achamillai (Tamil) in 1984.  Rudraveena (Telugu) has won Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on national Integration in 1988 and Oru Veedu Iru Vaasal (Tamil) won National Best Film Award on social issues in 1991.