T. N. Balu | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Died | 1981 (1982) Madras,Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupations | Writer, director, producer |
T. N. Balu (died 1981) was an Indian writer, director and producer who worked inTamil cinema. He was active in the second half of the 1900s, and shared a close association with the former chief ministers of Tamil NaduKarunanidhi.[1]
Balu worked as a writer on several notable Tamil films in the 1960s includingDeiva Thai (1964),Athey Kangal (1967) andMoondrezhuthu (1968).[2][3][4] His work as the storywriter ofNaan (1967), saw him also credited for the films Telugu and Hindi remakes,Nenante Nene (1968) andWaris (1969). He regularly collaborated as a story, screenplay and dialogue writer for productions byModern Theatres.[5]
In the late 1970s, he regularly worked on the scripts forJaishankar's films and directed bothNallathukku Kalamillai (1977) andOdi Vilayadu Thatha (1977). Balu'sSattam En Kaiyil (1978) featuringKamal Haasan andSripriya was a commercially successful venture.[6][7] Balu was jailed soon after the film's release, andKamal Haasan helped bail him out, after seeking permission from chief ministerM. G. Ramachandran, to attend the 100th day celebration ceremony of the film. However, soon after the ceremony was over, with the help of his acquaintances from the opposition party -Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Balu managed to escape toBangalore. The incident created a strain between M. G. Ramachandran and Kamal Haasan.[8][9] He died during the making of his production venture,Sankarlal (1981), which he was also directing and writing. The film was later completed by cinematographerN. K. Viswanathan with the assistance of Kamal Haasan.[10][11]
Balu's son, T. N. B. Kathiravan, also known as Kathir, is a dubbing artiste who works onTamil language films. He has provided voiceovers for actors includingVidyut Jammwal,Ashish Vidyarthi andSharath Lohithaswa in Tamil cinema.[12]
Balu died during the making of his production venture,Sankarlal (1981).
| Year | Film | Credited as | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | Producer | |||
| 1964 | Deiva Thai |  N |  Y | N | |
| 1965 | Aasai Mugam | N | Y | N | |
| 1965 | Iravum Pagalum | N | Y | N | |
| 1967 | Naan | N | Y | N | |
| 1967 | Athey Kangal | N | Y | N | |
| 1967 | Uyir Mel Aasai | N | Y | N | |
| 1968 | Kadhal Vaaganam | N | Y | N | |
| 1968 | Moondrezhuthu | N | Y | N | |
| 1969 | Manasaatchi | Y | Y | N | |
| 1969 | Anjal Petti 520 | Y | Y | N | |
| 1971 | Meendum Vazhven | Y | Y | N | |
| 1972 | Bullet Bullodu | Y | Y | N | Telugu film |
| 1973 | Pookkari | N | Y | N | |
| 1973 | Maru Piravi | N | Y | N | |
| 1974 | Vairam | N | Y | N | |
| 1977 | Andru Sindhiya Raththam | N | Y | N | |
| 1977 | Nallathukku Kalamillai | Y | Y | N | |
| 1977 | Odi Vilayadu Thatha | Y | Y | N | |
| 1977 | Uyarnthavargal | Y | Y | N | |
| 1978 | Sattam En Kaiyil | Y | Y | Y | |
| 1981 | Sankarlal | Y | Y | Y | |