RIP-பாலச்சந்தர்
Balachander
is veteran director in Indian Cinema. Major contributions in Tamil and Telgu
film industry. He has brought a new definition of Tamil Cinema. Received *Dadasaheb
Phalke* Award in 2010. Considered Guru by both Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth.
Introduced a lot talents in the film industry. He has shown the women in a
different angel of this male dominant society (at that 80s). More details here:
K.
Balachander and here http://www.kavithalayaa.com
Having
entered Tamil film world as dialogue writer to M.G.R starrer Deiva Thai in
1964, K.Balachander is in his glorious golden jubilee year now. He has the rare
distinction of having a little over a hundred movies under his belt (either as
Director or Script Writer) in all the four major South Indian languages as well
as Hindi. The golden period of Balachander. Out of his nearly 100 films, I
would select about 10 films as his very best. Not that his other films were
mediocre, but they were mostly good without being great, though they were still
far better than many of the movies made by his peers around the same time.
Moreover,in my opinion, Balachander made his best films within the first
fifteen years ie between 1966 to 1981, when he was refreshingly original and
spontaneous. He seems to have lost his moorings a little during the later
years, getting trapped in his own image and more often than not repeating
himself, either with clichéd commercials or half-hearted experiments in new
genres. One rare exception was his Vaaname Ellai made in 1992. I cannot name
one. He is brilliant director who always touched upon sensitive topics, which
has food for thought (Ninaivukku virunthu)!
So,
here goes the list:
1)
Marocharitra - This is one of the
films I’ve admired a lot on Telugu movies.
2)
Vaanamae ellai: A film that
portrays literally the major problems of even today's society.The actors have
done hell of a job. Every character of his film has equal importance in the
course of a story.
3)
Kalki Tamil movie
released in year 1996: I’ve impressed by the way how he has took the character
KALKI and the song ‘porul thedum boomiel’.
4)
Pudhu Pudhu
Arthangal
Tamil movie released in year 1989: This film has been released when I was @ 6th
year but still it shows its greenish way when I’m happened to watch this movie.
5)
Nizhal Nijamakirathu Tamil movie
released in year 1978. Can’t forgot this movie, when I hear this film name
itself I could remember the scene which the heroine’s imagination as a queen
and sitting in the ariyasanam and the dialogue delivery.
6)
Manmatha Leelai Tamil movie
released in year 1976. This is one of THE BEST movies for KB and also Kamal.
The story line even match for this generation also. The scene where the old man
will tell to Kamal as “intha oor mulukka un kulandhaikalave thirium” on that
scene kamal’s reaction …. Fantastic show.
7)
Ethir Neechal (1968) an amazing movie with
Nagesh showing his impeccable acting skills in portraying the character of a
destitute orphan who does some odd jobs for the people residing in a
multi-family tenancy. Every character in the movie has perspective and the
dialogues and screenplay are brilliantly done. A movie which is of significance
even in this modern era; a movie which would never fade from the hearts of true
Tamil movie buffs!
8)
My personal favourite movie would be Thillu Mullu. I have seen this movie
over 10 times and mostly with my friends and every time I see the interview
scene it is like wow. Rajinikant at his best in humour genre .Thenga
Srinivasan, Sowkar Janaki and the entire crew gave their best. Illayaraja's
music as it always has been for KB's movies, a double bonanza. Raangangal 16 song,
from our grandmother generation to our children generation everyone just loves
it! Even though the movie was a remake of Gol Maal it is my best movie in
comedy genre and always will be.
9)
Aval Oru
Thodarkathai
(1974) : A path breakin film in the mould of similar classics like Ghatak's
Meghe Dhakhe Thara or Mrinal Sen'S Ek
Din Prathi Din. The character of the woman protagonist was something never
attempted before in the annals of Tamil films. Actor Sujatha lived this role as
perhaps nobody else could. I’ve seen this movie when am studying 3rd
standard I could freshly remember on that age itself I’ve admired a lot on this
movie without knowing about director, actor and all. Even in that age I don’t
know about these are all the things in films. But I’ve admired on this movie.
Other
than that my other KB favorites include:
1. Server Sundaram(1964) written by KB is a movie about how
Sundaram( Nagesh ) from being a waiter turns into an actor and excels in his
life. Some classic comedy scenes in this movie include Audition Scene, Acting
Scene with Manorama..
2. Thanneer Thanneer(1980) a good movie about deprivation, greed
and corruption, and how the modern state assists the feudal setup in exploiting
people. Arguably one of the best female performances in Tamil cinema by
Saritha. In this screen adaption of the hugely successful stage play by Komal
Swaminathan, KB tried to break free of all commercial constraints, and moving
from his usually urban milieu to real rural milieu, made of one of the most
realistic films of Tamil cinema, with sharp,pungent dialogues and totally
natural performances by all the actors,mostly drawn from the stage.
3. Another excellent
movie of KB is Varumayin Niram Sivappu,
a classic about unemployment and disillusionment, and has a revolutionary
spirit to it. Shines with brilliant performances by Kamal Haasan, Sridevi and
S. Ve. Shekhar, a must watch in Tamil cinema. The scene with Kamal and the
painter discussing the colour of various constructs has to be one of my
favourites, and when you realize it was taken 20 years before Takeshi Kitano
(Director) directed Achilles and the Tortoise, your breath gets taken away. It's
not only my favorite K.B moive but also one of the best movies made in tamil
cinema that I would recommend anyone to watch. A tale of alienation and identity
crisis, encountered by the youth of that era. One of the best performances by
both Kamal Haasan and Sridevi. Balachander scaled new heights in conception and
picturisation of song sequences both in the iconic Sippi irukkudhu Muthum
irukkudhu song, and the Bharathiyar's poignant Nalladhor Veenai Seidhe, picturised
on the veteran Poornam Viswanathan.
4. Bama Vijayam (1967)
: A refreshing satire on the middle class mind set, with uniformly good
performance by all the lead as well as supporting actors.
5. Ethiroli (1970) A
saga of moral decay, black mail and court room drama. K.Balachander's only
tryst with the thespian Sivaji Ganesan, in a complex role with shades of grey.
Though Sivaji delivered a neat performance, the two stalwarts never came
together again. Perhaps a loss to Tamil film world.
6. Punnagai (1971) : A
remake of Hindi "Satyakam" but imo, far better made than the
original. Balachander had made many improvements in the script, making the
characters more consistent and well rounded. His use of Nagesh as something
like the chorus in Greek Tragedies or the Sutradhar in classic Sanskrit drama,
by making him a character, chronicler and commentator all rolled into one, to take the story along
was simply brilliant. Natural performancess with understated dignity and
extreme sensitivity by Gemini Ganesan, Muthu Raman, Jayanthi, M.R.R.Vasu, V.S
Raghavan and of course the inimitable Nagesh were the highlights of this great movie. This film is my personal
favorite, and deserves a separate post,all for itself, to bring out the
subtleties of the theme and treatment.
7. Naan Avanillai
(1974): An offbeat con film way ahead of its time, using the Point of view
technique of storytelling in the celebrated style.
8. Avargal ( 1977) :
Imo, the Best film of K.Balachander, theme wise as well as treatment wise. KB
used a lot of cinematic techniques hitherto untried in Tamil films, like a
non-linear narration or mimes.( the scenes involving Kamal Haasan, Kutti
Padmini and others in a mock cricket match without bats or ball, and a
discussion between the three males vying for the heroine's affection while
playing ping-pong,but without any ball, were very innovative for those days)
and the film could boast of excellent performances from an ensemble cast.
9. Thappu Thalangal
(1978) : A Neo-noir film, more in the tradition of offbeat Bengali or Malayalam
movies of those days, where KB got out of his comfort zone of Middle classes,
and explored the raw psyche of the poor and the down trodden. Excellent
performances by Rajnikant, Saritha, Sundar,and an enjoyable cameo by Kamal were
the highlights of this somewhat depressing film.
10. Vaaname Ellai (
1992) : After an entire decade of making commercially successful but
aesthetically less satisfying films, KB returned to make this film, more or less
on the same lines as Varumayin Niram, dealing with the many social ills
plaguing the country, and the disillusionment of sensitive young minds caused
by these and their ultimate redemption.A really youthful and fresh cast was the
film's main strength.
11. Unnal Mudiyum Thambi:
I like the movie's theme - where the protagonist movies away from the
restrictions of an orthodox music family and opens himself to social service.
This movie packs Balachander's ever crispy dialogues. Maestro Ilayaraja's score
elevates. And Kamal Hassan is in his element. When the veterans are at work -
what else could one ask for?
12. Oru Veedu Iru Vasal
- Epic portrayal of relationships.
13. "Iru
Kodugal": 1. The concept by itself, when you need to make a line smaller,
that is already drawn, without altering it, you have to draw a bigger line near
it! 2. Well-acted by everyone, especially Sowcar Janaki steals the show. KB is
known for his dialogues.
14. I am surprised on
watching "Arangettram". I got to watch this movie and was shocked to
see the subject and genre chosen by K.Balachander during the early 70`s. A
topic which the current gen directors would never work! It is a well-known that
TamBrahms are very conservative. This movie portrays the struggle of a poverty
stricken TamBrahm family. A girl from the family takes the burden to support
their living. The message conveyed in the movie is very strong and sensitive! The reason why I consider this as my
favourite movie of KB is just because of the sheer guts he has got to convey a strong
message to the society during the 70`s. This movie has got some excellent star
cast with the lead played by Prameela and Sivakumar.
Apart
from the above, I would also recommend the below to a beginner to get a feel of
Balachander's movies.
•Thillu
Mullu : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thi...
•Sindhu
Bhairavi : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin...
•Manathiil
Uruthi Vendum : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man...
•Pudhu
Pudhu Arthangal : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pud...
•Punnagai
Mannan : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pun...
Haven't
watched all of KB's movies, to explain a lot about them. But, whatever it is,
now we have lost a big talent and future minded person from us. That’s the truth.
