Balachandra Menon

For the Indian politician, see P. Balachandra Menon.

Balachandra Menon
Menon in 2014
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
​
(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

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

  • 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

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

Year Film Credited as Role Notes
Actor Director Producer Screenplay Story Dialogue
1978 Uthrada Rathri Y Y Y Y Dinesh
1979 Radha Enna Pennkutti Y Y Y Y
1980 Aniyatha Valakal Y Y Y Y
Ishtamanu Pakshe Y Y Y Y
Kalika Y Y Y
Vaiki Vanna Vasantham Y Y Y Y
1981 Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla Y Y Y Y Y Gopinathan
Prema Geethangal Y Y Y Y Doctor
Tharattu Y Y Y Y Y Dileep
Thenum Vayambum Y Babu Mathew
1982 Chiriyo Chiri Y Y Y Y Y Unni
Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam Y Y Y Y Y Geejo
Kelkatha Shabdam Y Y Y Y Y Lambodharan Nair
Kilukilukkam Y Y Y Y Y Mahendran
1983 Karyam Nissaram Y Y Y Y Y Shekhar
Prashnam Gurutharam Y Y Y Y Y Balu
Sesham Kazhchayil Y Y Y Y Y G K Raja
1984 Inakkilly Y Johnay
April 18 Y Y Y Y Y Ravikumar
Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla Y Y Y Y Y Prabhakaran
Oru Painkilikatha Y Y Y Y Y Kannan Playback singer
1985 Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki Y Y Y Y Y Y S. Nandakumar Playback singer, soundtrack performer
Daivatheyorthu Y Achuthankutty
Manicheppu Thurannappol Y Y Y Y Y
1986 Thaiku Oru Thalattu Y Y Y Y Tamil film
Vivahitare Itihile Y Y Y Y Y Y Appu
Rithubhedam Y Rajan
1987 Achuvettante Veedu Y Y Y Y Y Vipin Editor
Vilambaram Y Y Y Y Y P. K. Nampoothiri
Oru Maymasappularayil Y
1988 Kudumbapuranam Y Krishnanunni
Janmandharam Y Police Officer
Isabella Y Unnikrishna Menon
David David Mr. David Y David
Oohakachavadam Y Charlie
1989 Kandathum Kettathum Y Y Y Y Y P K Krishnankutty
Najangalude Kochu Doctor Y Y Y Y Y James Varghese Editor
1990 Varthamana Kalam Y Jameskutty
Noottonnu Raavukal Y Vishnu
Sasneham Y Thomas Kurien
Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom Y Y Y Y Y Vinayachandra Kurup Editor, composer
1991 Nayam Vyakthamakkunnu Y Y Y Y
1993 Ammayane Sathyam Y Y Y Y Y S. Narayanan
1994 Santhana Gopalam Y Sudhakaran
Sukham Sukhakaram Y Y Y Y Y
1995 Avittam Thirunaal Aarogya Sriman Y Prabhakaran
1996 Kanden Seethaiyai Y Y Y Y Y Unreleased film
April 19 Y Y Y Y Y Jayapraksh
1997 Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu Y Pavi
Janathipathyam Y Krishnamoorthy IPS
1998 The Truth Y Chief Minister Madhavan
Samaantharangal Y Y Y Y Y Y Ismail Editor, composer
2000 Sathyameva Jayathe Y Ahammed Basheer
Sathyam Sivam Sundaram Y K.S.K Nambiar
2001 Ishtam Y Anjana's Father
2002 Krishna Gopalakrishna Y Y Y Y Y Gopalakrishnan Editor, playback singer, composer
Album Y Jeeva's father Tamil film
Nammal Y Sathyanadhan
2003 Saphalam Y Barrister Nambiar
Varum Varunnu Vannu Y Y Y Y Johny
2005 Rappakal Y Deva Narayanan
December Y Dr Keshava Patteri
2006 Classmates Y Prof. Iyer
2007 Pranayakalam Y Balagopal
2008 De Ingottu Nokkiye Y Y Y Y Y Joji
College Kumaran Y Narayanan
2009 Utharaswayamvaram Y Sreedhara 'Yamandan' Kurup
Nammal Thammil Y Ramachandran Nair
2013 Buddy Y Shankaran Namboothiri/Shanku Bhai
Kunjananthante Kada Y Adv. Moidu
Kadal Kadannu oru Mathukkutty Y Father Vattathara
2015 Njan Samvidhanam Cheyyum Y Y Y Y Y Y Krishna Das
2016 Oozham Y Krishnamoorthy
2018 Ennaalum Sarath..? Y Y Y Y Y Dr. Sam
2021 One Y Dr. Sreekar Varma
2023 Pulimada Y Dr. Joshi Kuriyan
A Ranjith Cinema Y Chandraprakash [18]

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 :: A Complete Webiography". 26 October 2012. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b "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.
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