K. Balaji
| K. Balaji | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 5 August 1934 |
| Died |
2 May 2009 (aged 74)[1] Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Cause of death | Renal failure[2] |
| Residence | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Film actor, producer |
| Years active | 1951–2009 |
| Known for | Billa (1980) – Producer |
| Religion | Hindu[3] |
| Spouse(s) | Anandavally (died in 1995) |
| Children |
Suresh Balaje Sujatha Suchitra Mohanlal |
| Relatives |
|
K. Balaji (5 August 1934 – 2 May 2009) was a South Indian producer and actor whose work included Rajinikanth' s Billa and Kamal Haasan' s Vazhvey Maayam. He was the father-in-law of actor Mohanlal.
Early life
Balaji's mother was Malayalee and his father was Tamil. He was the grandson of colonial era advocate T. Rangachari. His interest in acting began when he performed in school plays and amateur theatre shows.[4]
Career
His quest for a space in showbiz led Balaji to the office of S. S. Vasan, then owner of Gemini Studios in 1951. Vasan was not very keen to work with a newcomer but gave him a minor role in Auvaiyar, in which he played Hindu god Muruga.[5]
Slowly he managed to land meatier roles and was featured as a male lead in a few films.
Balaji soon understood he was better off playing a villain or the hero's understudy with a negative angle in films that included Padithaal Mattum Podhumaa, Bale Pandiya and Thillana Mohanambal.
Even as the career was taking shape, he was hired as a manager in Narasu Studios in the southwest suburbs.
In that capacity, he discovered his true calling in the 1960s after coming into contact with top Hindi actors such as Ashok Kumar, Dilip Kumar and Tamil stars Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesan and actress Savithri, who advised him to remake Hindi hits into Tamil with leading actors.
Since the 1960s, all the top Hindi blockbusters such as Dushman (1971) starring Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan's Deewar (1975) and Namak Haraam (1973) were remade in Tamil by Balaji, who always used top stars as his male leads like late Sivaji Ganeshan and thespians Rajnikanth and Kamal Hasan. He founded Sujatha Cine Arts in 1966. He was also the founder of Sujatha Recording Studio, where sound recordings for most of the big-budget movies of the 1980s and '90s were done.[6]
Family
He had three children — Suresh Balaje, Sujatha and Suchitra Mohanlal. Malayalam superstar Mohanlal is his son-in-law. His wife Anandavally died in 1995. He was also the grandfather of Pranav Mohanlal and Sooraj Balaji. Famous comedian Y.G Mahendra is his nephew through his sister Mrs. Rajalakshmi Parthasarathy
Death
Balaji died on 2 May 2009 evening due to multiple organ and renal failure. He had been hospitalised for over a month.
Filmography
As producer
| Year | Film | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Annavin Aasai | ||
| 1968 | Thangai | A. C. Tirulokchandar | |
| 1968 | En Thambi | A. C. Tirulokchandar | Remake of Telugu film Aastiparulu |
| 1969 | Thirudan | ||
| 1972 | Raja | C. V. Rajendran | Remake of Johny Mera Naam |
| 1972 | Needhi | Remake of Dushman | |
| 1974 | En Magan | Remake of Be-Imaan | |
| 1976 | Unakkaga Naan | Remake of Namak Haraam | |
| 1977 | Dheepam | Remake of Malayalam film Theekkanal | |
| 1978 | Thyagam | Remake of Amanush | |
| 1978 | Nallathoru Kudumbam | Remake of Alumagalu | |
| 1979 | Amar Deep | Hindi film, Remake of Dheepam | |
| 1980 | Billa | Remake of Hindi film Don | |
| 1981 | Thee | Remake of Deewaar | |
| 1982 | Vazhvey Maayam | Remake of Premabhishekham | |
| 1982 | Theerpu | ||
| 1983 | Sattam | Remake of Dostana | |
| 1983 | Neethibathi | Remake of Justice Chaudhary | |
| 1984 | Vidhi | Remake of Nyayam Kavali | |
| 1985 | Viduthalai | Remake of Qurbani | |
| 1985 | Kaaval | Remake of Ardh Satya | |
| 1985 | Bandham | ||
| 1986 | Marumagal | Remake of Hindi film Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye | |
| 1987 | Kudumbam Oru Koyil | ||
| 1988 | En Rathathin Rathame | Remake of Mr. India | |
| 1989 | Dravidan | Remake of Aryan | |
As actor
| Year | Film | Character/Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Bale Pandiya | Ravi | Tamil film |
| 1962 | Padithaal Mattum Podhuma | Raju | Tamil film |
| 1964 | School Master | Murali | Malayalam film |
| 1964 | Atom Bomb | Kochuraghavan Pillai | Malayalam film |
| 1967 | Iruttinte Athmavu | Chandran | Malayalam film |
| 1967 | Adhey Kangal | doctor | Tamil film |
| 1968 | Ragini | Malayalam film | |
| 1975 | Swamy Ayyappan | Malayalam film | |
| 1979 | Surakshaa | Doctor Shiva | Hindi film |
| 1979 | Amar Deep | Guest Appearance | Hindi film |
| 1983 | Justice Raja | Commissioner | Malayalam film |
| 1983 | Sattam | Tamil film | |
| 1984 | Billa | Tamil film |
References
- ↑ "Actor-producer K Balaji passes away". sify.com. 3 May 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
- ↑ http://movies.ndtv.com/Ndtv-Show-Special-Story.aspx?ID=107&StoryID=ENTEN20090092624&
- ↑ http://www.geni.com/people/Balaji-K/6000000003694530436
- ↑ http://movies.ndtv.com/Ndtv-Show-Special-Story.aspx?ID=107&StoryID=ENTEN20090092624&
- ↑ http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/05/15/stories/2009051551370700.htm
- ↑ http://www.geni.com/people/Balaji-K/6000000003694530436
- "http://movies.ndtv.com/Ndtv-Show-Special-Story.aspx?ID=107&StoryID=ENTEN20090092624&&cp"
- "Veteran Tamil actor-producer K. Balaji is dead". Thaindian News, 2 May 2009. Retrieved on 27 June 2009.
- "K. Balaji Breathes His Last". IndiaGlitz, 2 May 2009. Retrieved on 27 June 2009.
- "Actor-producer K Balaji passes away". Sify Movies, 3 May 2009. Retrieved on 27 June 2009.