Phalke award for K Balachander
Veteran film maker K Balachander has been conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2010 for his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.
The award consists of a Swarna Kamal and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh. The award has been conferred on him on the recommendations of a committee of eminent persons, a ministry of information and broadcasting official said.
Born in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu in July 1930, 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.
He came into prominence as a playwright with his dynamic plays like “Major Chandrakanth”, “Server Sundaram”, “Naanal” and “Neerkumizhi”.
Distinct style
Known for his distinct film-making style, Balachander scripts, directs and analyse unusual and complicated inter-personal relationships and social themes.
With his uncanny knack of spotting talent, Balachander has been responsible for bringing into limelight many stars of the present day including Rajnikanth, Kamal Haasan, Prakashrai and Vivek.
He joined 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 state governments and other organisations. 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 award from Government of Andhra Pradesh and has also won the Filmfare Award as best director numerous times.
Some of the prominent films that Balachander has directed include “Apoorva Raagangal”, “Avargal”, “47 Natkal”, “Sindhu Bhairavi”, “Maro Charithra”, and “Rudraveena” in Telugu, “Benkiyalli Aralida Hoovu” in Kannada and the blockbuster “Ek Duuje Ke Liye” in Hindi.
For the last few years, Balachander is working for the small screen and has brought to it the same perfection and intensity that he exhibited on the big screen.
