Veteran director Balachander in hospital

Noted film director K Balachander, a key person behind the successful careers of actors Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth, was admitted to a private hospital in the city on Monday after he developed some health complications.

“He has been suffering from high fever and certain age-related ailments over the past few days. He is being treated at our hospital, and at present stable,” said hospital sources.

They said soon after he was admitted in a serious condition, the veteran director was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and is under supervision of senior doctors.
Rajinikanth rushed to the hospital on hearing about his mentor's condition.

Kamal Hassan is in the United States now, engaged in post-production work of his upcoming film “Uttama Villain”, directed by Ramesh Arvind. 

The 84-year-old Balachander made his directorial debut in 1965 with “Neerkumizhi”, and went on to helm films starring the likes of Sivaji Ganesan,  Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth.

He has worked in more than 100 films throughout more than four decades of his career. He has also directed several superhit films in Telugu, like “Anthuleni Katha”, “Maro Charithra”, “Aakali Rajyam” and “Rudraveena”.

Balachender's son Kailasam, an engineering graduate, recently died due to lung infection.