S. Balachander

Sundaram Balachander (18 January 1927 – 13 April 1990) was an Indian veena player and filmmaker. He directed, produced, and also composed music for a few of his films. Balachander was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1982. He died of a heart attack at the age of 63, while on a music tour of India.

Film career S Balachander was born to Sundaram Iyer and Parvathi alias Chellamma on 18 January 1927 in Mylapore, a neighbourhood in present-day Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Sunderam Iyer was a patron of Papanasam Sivan and many other musicians in Mylapore.

Balachander began as a child artist in the Tamil film Seetha Kalyanam in 1934, in which many members of his family acted. Balachander himself acted as a child musician in Ravana's court, and his father V. Sundaram Iyer acted as Janaka, elder brother S. Rajam as Rama and elder sister S. Jayalakshmi as Seeta. This was followed by appearances in Rishyasringar (1941) and Araichimani (1942).

In 1948 Balachander directed the film En Kanavar. In 1954 he directed Andha Naal, a classic Tamil film noir thriller.

Swati Tirunal Dispute S Balachander claimed that the composer Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma was a figment of history's imagination, and he did not even exist. He accused Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer of passing off his own compositions as Swati Tirunal's. Balachander also disputed Balamurali Krishna's claims of having invented new ragas.

S Balachander was actively involved in the Swati Tirunal dispute at the time of his death.

Awards 1954 – Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Tamil – Andha Naal 1956 – Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu – Edi Nijam 1982 – Sangeetha Kalasikhamani, by The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai. 1982 – Padmabhushan

Filmography Year Film Language Actor Director Music director Singer Producer Note 1934 Seetha Kalyanam Tamil 1941 Rishyasringar Tamil 1941 Kamadhenu Tamil Credited as Master Balachandar 1942 Aaraichimani Tamil 1947 Baktha Thulasidas Tamil Music Composer along with Anil Biswas 1948 Idhu Nijama Tamil Assistant Director 1948 En Kanavar Tamil Editor 1951 Kaithi Tamil 1951 Devaki Tamil 1951 Rajambal Tamil Music Composer along with M. S. Gnanamani 1952 Rani Tamil 1953 Inspector Tamil 1954 Andha Naal Tamil 1954 Penn Tamil 1954 Sangham Telugu 1955 Koteeswaran Tamil 1955 Doctor Savithri Tamil 1956 Edi Nijam Telugu 1956 Edhu Nijam Tamil 1958 Bhoologa Rambai Tamil Director along with D. Yoganand upon the demise of K. Ramnoth 1958 Bhooloka Rambha Telugu Director along with D. Yoganand upon the demise of K. Ramnoth 1958 Avan Amaran Tamil 1959 Maragadham Tamil 1962 Avana Ivan Tamil 1964 Bommai Tamil 1970 Nadu Iravil Tamil