Balan K. Nair

Balakrishnan Kuttiraman Nair, more popularly known as Balan K. Nair (4 April 1933 26 August 2000) was an Indian actor known for his roles in Malayalam cinema. Although he appeared as a villain in most films, he was also noted for his performances in strong character roles. He emerged as one of the top villain of Malayalam cinema in the second half of the 1970s and played some of the best villain characters in Malayalam films during that period. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1981 for his performance as Govindan in the film Oppol.

Personal life

Balakrishnan Kuttiraman (Balan K.) Nair was the eldest of four children of Idakkulam Kizhakke Veettil Kuttiraman Nair, a store owner, and Devaki Amma, a housewife in 1933 in the village of Chemancheri near Quilandy. His parents died when he was young and hence he had to take care of his siblings and discontinue his studies at eighth grade. Prior to his entry in films, he worked as a mechanic in Kozhikode and owned a metal workshop. He started his acting career at the age of 14. At that time he was associated with Sangamam Theatre in Kozhikode, Muthappankavu troupe, Kozhikodan drama troupes and his own drama troupe Subash Theaters. After his marriage to Sharadha, he moved to Shoranur in Palakkad. His son Meghanathan is also an actor who died in 2024.

Balan K. Nair died of Multiple myeloma at Sree Chitra Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram on 26 August 2000, aged 67.

Film career Balan K. Nair made his debut in the film Nizhalattam, directed by A. Vincent in 1970. Prior to acting in Malayalam movies, he worked as a stunt double for Bollywood star Dev Anand. He acted in more than 300 films in Malayalam, mostly as a villain. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor in 1974 and 1978 for his roles in Adhiti and Thacholi Ambu. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role as a reformed military officer in the 1981 film Oppol.

Some of his other well-known movies are Ee Naadu, Aaryan, and Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha. His last movie was Kadavu, in which he played the role of an oarsman directed by the novelist M. T. Vasudevan Nair based on a story by another famous literary figure S. K. Pottekkatt.

Awards

National Film Awards:

Best Actor – 1981 – Oppol

Kerala State Film Awards:

Second Best Actor – 1974 – Adhithi Second Best Actor – 1978 – Thacholi Ambu

Filmography Malayalam 1970s Year Title Role Notes 1970 Nizhalattam Balan 1971 Kuttyedathi Kuttayi 1972 Panimudakku Balan Chembarathi Thomas Mappusakshi 1973 Mazhakkaru Darshanam Ragging Soundarya Pooja Swapnam Chenda 1974 Pathiravum Pakalvelichavum Thacholi Marumakan Chanthu Yenali Udayam Kizhakku Thanne 1975 Utharayanam Achuthan Athithi Raghavan 1976 Samasya Ammini Ammavan Balan Yudhabhoomi Chottanikkara Amma Vilwamangalam Swamiyar Panchami Kochuvareed Njavalpazhangal 1977 Aparadhi Malayi Kunjumon 1978 Rowdy Ramu Bhasi Chuvanna Vithukal Ashokavanam Black Belt Ahalya Vayanadan Thampan Agni Moosa Thacholi Ambu Mayin Kuttiyil 1979 Indradhanussu Mammad Anubhavangale Nandi Valeduthavan Valal Vijayam Nammude Senani Oru Ragam Pala Thalam Arattu Chacko Maamaankam Yakshipparu Irumban Thenthulli

1980s Year Title Role Notes 1980 Moorkhan Major Chandrasekhar Lava Velayudhan Idimuzhakkam Govindan Unnithan Makara Vilakku Karimbana Chellayan Kalika Jamal Kari Puranda Jeevithangal Daniel Ival Ee Vazhi Ithu Vare Benz Vasu Varkey Aswaradham Veeraraghavan Prakadanam Chacko Ivar Avaran Muthalali Baktha Hanuman Ravanan Angadi Beeran Chandrahasam Bhaskaran Lorry Ouseph Oppol Govindan 1981 Kolilakkam Attimari Prasad Itha Oru Dhikkari Govinda Panikkar Poochasanyasi Adimachangala Vazhikal Yathrakkar Randu Mukhangal Chaatta Velu Oppol Govindan Raktham Padmanabhan Sangarsham Parsha/Vikraman Thrasam Ithihasam Thankappan Akramanam Majeed Thusharam Rajeshekharan Menon Garjanam Valarthu Mrigangal Kumaran Sphodanam Muthalali Ahimsa Kunjutty Hamsageetham 1982 Koritharicha Naal Postmortem Mammokka Sree Ayappanum Vavarum Otheyanan Beedikunjamma Kunjamma's Father Irattimadhuram K.B. Menon Ethiralikal Mathai Paanjajanyam Balan Thadakam Gopakumar Marupacha Mammadikka Ahimsa Kunjutty Kattile Pattu Panikkar Idavela Aayudham Prathapan John Jaffer Janardhanan Chandran Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam Sekhar Chiriyo Chiri Abdul Rasaq Veedu Sumi's father Maattuvin Chattangale Mylanchi Abdhurahman Haji Komaram Akrosham Kollakkaaran Ganga Kazhumaram Ankachamayam Robert Mazhu Chambalkadu Padayottam Mootha Marakkar Innalenkil Nale Gopalan Mash Ee Nadu Krishna Pillai 1983 America America Jackson Nizhal Moodiya Nirangal Thampi Bandham Omanathinkal Varanmare Avashyamundu Abdullakka Nadi Muthal Nadi Vare Chekutty Samrambham Raghavan Thalam Thettiya Tharattu Adv. Rajeshekharan Kadamba Keshavan Justice Raja Narendran/Nagendran Asuran Visa Abukka Maniyara Ansari Thaavalam Jayaram Ee Yugam Nair Aadhipathyam Menon Prathijnja Gopalan/KRG Panikkar Kodumkattu Raghavan Thimingalam Kuruppu Ankam Fr. John Bookambam Shakthi Himam Vaasu Hello Madras Girl Passport Chandrasenan Paalam Mortuary Narendran Asthram Stephen Eettappuli Shekharan Iniyenkilum Nambiar 1984 Aalkkoottathil Thaniye Madhavan Koottinilamkili Yousuf Shabadham Sekhara Pilla Manasse Ninakku Mangalam Doctor Onnum Mindatha Bharya Thampi Nethavu Bullet Thacholi Thankappan Keshu Piriyilla Naam Koodu Thedunna Parava Khader Kakka Krishna Guruvayoorappa Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri Ningalil Oru Sthree Latha's father Sapadham Shekharan Pillai Jeevitham Ummer Haji Manithali Judgal Abu Inakili Kunjambu Unaroo Hakkim Sree Krishna Parundu Kunjambu Vetta NH 47 Thankappan Mynakam Uyaragalil SP Madhavan Kurup Raajavembaala Williams Ivide Thudagunnu M. S. Menon Ulpathi Vellam Bappu 1985 Choodatha Pookkal Moideen Jeevante Jeevan Thampi Shathru U. P. Menon Sannaham Prathapan Vilichu Vilikettu N. N. K. Nair Arodum Parayaruthu Chillukottaram Angadikkappurathu Khan Sayib Revenge Pathamudhayam Rahim Chorakku Chora Chellappan Nullinovikkathe Uyarum Njan Nadake Nambyar Akkachide Kunjuvava Ottayan Balu 1986 Ithile Iniyum Varu M. S. Nair Karinagam Pidikittappulli Meenamasathile Sooryan Police officer Caberet Dancer Vartha Forest Minister Bharya Oru Manthri Balakrishnan Surabhee Yamangal Mathews Ashtabandham Pisharody master Kulambadikal T. P. Balagopalan M. A. Father 1987 Yagagni Maran Kaiyethum Doorathu Vidwan Maraar Bhoomiyile Rajakkanmar Chief Minister Adimakal Udamakal Karunakaran Nambiar Ithente Needhi Kilipattu Ithrayum Kalam Kunjavummed Haji Sarvakalasala Kalam Mari Katha Mari Aliyarukunji Naalkavala Hamsa Neeyallengil Njan Divakaran Ente Sonia Thilak Naradhan Keralathil Ex M. P. Menon 1988 1921 Beeran Rahasyam Parama Rahasyam Aranyakam Ravunni Abkari Chathunny Theruvu Narthaki Kanakambaragal Ambalakkara Panjayath Puravrutham Kanaran Ore Thooval Pakshikal Janmasathru Avarachan Dhwani Bahuleyan Mukthi P. K. Nambyar Aryan Muhammad 1989 Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha Kannappan Chekavar Adhipan Sukumaran Mashu Vaynattathinu Nalladh Karpoora Thulasi Potty Iyer/Wakrajilli Chettiyar/Delhi Duttan Devadas

1990s Year Title Role Notes 1990 Samrajyam Chandy Brahmarakshassu Rudran Pillai Midhya Narayanan Indrajaalam Ayyappan Nair Nammude Naadu Maliyekkal Chacko Thazhvaram Kanaran Gajakesariyogam Narayanan Nambiar Purappadu Ravunni Nair Appu Abu Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam Arumukham Chettiyar 1991 Amaram Pillaichan Keli Ramankutty Nair Oru Prathyeka Ariyippu Raghavan 1992 Simhadhwani Kadavu Beeran

Tamil Year Title Role Notes 1981 Garjanai 1983 Sattam 1984 Neengal Kettavai Stunt Master's friend 1985 Mangamma Sabatham