K. Balaji

K. Balaji
Born (1934-08-05)5 August 1934
Died 2 May 2009(2009-05-02) (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 Hinduism[3]
Spouse(s) Anandavally (died in 1995)
Children Suresh Balaje
Sujatha
Suchitra Mohanlal
Relatives

K. Balaji (5 August 1934  2 May 2009) was an Indian film producer and actor best known for his Tamil films, particularity films such as the Rajinikanth-starrer Billa (1980) and Kamal Haasan-starrer Vazhvey Maayam (1982). He was the father-in-law of actor Mohanlal. His son is the producer Suresh Balaje.

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 DirectorNotes
1966 Annavin Aasai Dada Mirasi
1968 Thangai A. C. Tirulokchandar
1968 En Thambi A. C. Tirulokchandar Remake of Telugu film Aastiparulu
1969 Thirudan A. C. Tirulokchandar Remake of Telugu film Adrushtavanthalu
1972 Raja C. V. Rajendran Remake of Hindi film Johny Mera Naam
1972 Needhi C. V. Rajendran Remake of Hindi film Dushman
1974 En Magan C. V. Rajendran Remake of Hindi film Be-Imaan
1976 Unakkaga Naan C. V. Rajendran Remake of Hindi film Namak Haraam
1977 Dheepam K. Vijayan Remake of Malayalam film Theekkanal
1978 Thyagam K. Vijayan Remake of Hindi film Amanush
1978 Nallathoru Kudumbam K. Vijayan Remake of Telugu film Alumagalu
1979 Amar Deep R. Krishnamoorthy, K. Vijayan Remake of Tamil film Dheepam
1980 Billa R. Krishnamoorthy Remake of Hindi film Don
1981 Thee R. Krishnamoorthy Remake of Hindi film Deewaar
1982 Vazhvey Maayam R. Krishnamoorthy Remake of Telugu film Premabhishekham
1982 Theerpu R. Krishnamoorthy
1983 Sattam K. Vijayan Remake of Hindi film Dostana
1983 Neethibathi R. Krishnamoorthy Remake of Telugu film Justice Chowdary
1984 Vidhi K. Vijayan Remake of Telugu film Nyayam Kavali
1985 Bandham K. Vijayan
1985 Kaaval K. Vijayan Remake of Hindi filmArdh Satya
1986 Marumagal Karthick Raghunath Remake of Hindi film Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye
1986 Viduthalai K. Vijayan Remake of Hindi film Qurbani
1987 Kudumbam Oru Koyil A. C. Tirulokchandar
1987 Vairakkiyam K. Vijayan
1989 En Rathathin Rathame K. Vijayan, Sundar K. Vijayan Remake of Hindi film Mr. India
1989 Dravidan R. Krishnamoorthy Remake of Malayalam filmAryan

As actor

Year Film Character/Role Notes
1958 Anbu Engey Ramu Tamil
1959 Uthami Petra Rathinam' Tamil
1959 Sahodhari Tamil
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
1965 Vaazhkai Padagu Kannabiram Tamil film
1967 Iruttinte Athmavu Chandran Malayalam film
1967 Adhey Kangal doctor Tamil film
1968 Ragini Malayalam film
1975 Swamy Ayyappan Malayalam film
1976 Vazhvu En Pakkam Moorthy Tamil film
1979 Surakshaa Doctor Shiva Hindi film
1979 Amar Deep Guest Appearance Hindi film
1981 Thee Jagdish Tamil film
1983 Justice Raja Commissioner Malayalam film
1983 Sattam Tamil film
1984 Billa Tamil film

References

External links

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