JOIN USSeveral Kannada actors have shone bright under his tutelage, delivering memorable performances in blockbusters. A large number of Balachander’s films have featured Kannada actors and technicians. The veteran directed films in Kannada including “Benkiyalli Aralida Hoovu” and “Sundara Swapnagalu”. Many of his films, remade in Kannada, were also box office hits.
Actor-director Ramesh Arvind, who debuted in Balachander’s “Sundara Swapnagalu” in 1986 gushed: “ A fantastic person who deserved the award most has got it. A complete film maker, Balachander has an x-ray vision when it comes to spotting talent.”
Even today, his influence is guiding all of us,” Ramesh, who recently acquired the rights of Balachander’s “Pudupudu Arthangal”, said.
Actor Sundarraj, who was given a commercial ‘break’ by the director in “Tappida Taala” in 1978 was glad that the director was recognised at last: “ He is the man who transformed the language of cinema. I am delighted that the award, though late, has come at last to a thoroughly deserving personality.”
Director P H Vishwanath observed: “ He should have got the award much earlier. Balachander has always trodden a different path, even during the MGR-Sivaji Ganesan era. He chose not to make ‘parallel’ cinema either. He can indeed be called the father of bridge cinema, whose films focused on the travails of the middle class, specially the women and inter-personal relationships”.