Padmanabhan Balachandran Nair (2 February 1952 – 5 April 2021)[1] was an Indian writer, playwright, scenarist, director, and actor. He was known for his work in Malayalam literature and Malayalam cinema.[2]

P. Balachandran
Born
Padmanabhan Balachandran Nair

(1952-02-02)2 February 1952
Died5 April 2021(2021-04-05) (aged 69)
Vaikom, Kerala, India
Alma materDevaswom Board College, Sasthamkotta
School of Drama and Fine Arts, Thrissur
Occupations
SpouseSreelatha
Children2
Parents
  • Padmanabha Pillai
  • Saraswati Bhai
AwardsKerala Sahitya Akademi Award

Career

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Balachandran is best known for the play Paavam Usman for which he won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Professional Nataka Award in the year 1989.[3] He has scripted many films including Ulladakkam (1991), Pavithram (1994), Agnidevan (1995), Punaradhivasam (2000), and Kammatti Paadam (2016). His directorial debut is Ivan Megharoopan (2012).[4] He has also acted in a few films, the most notable being Trivandrum Lodge (2012).

Personal life

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He was born to Padmanabha Pillai and Saraswati Bhai on 2 February 1952, in Sasthamkotta, Kerala.[5] He was married to Sreelatha and the couple had two children, Sreekanth and Parvathy.[6]

Death

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Balachandran died at the age of 69 on 5 April 2021 at his house in Vaikom.[7][8] He had suffered from brain fever for a long time and was hospitalized many times, the last time being in July 2020. His body was cremated with full state honours.

Awards

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Filmography

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As actor

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Year Title Role
2023 Kolaambi[11] Kamal Pasha
2021
Minnal Murali Varghese
Kurup Gopalakrishna Pillai
One Attingal Madhusoodanan, MLA Opposition
Operation Java Balachandran
2020 Orange Marangalude Veedu Raju
2019 Thakkol Priest
Edakkad Battalion 06 Mohammed Kutty
Varthakal Ithuvare Divakaran Nair
Kolaambi Kamal Pasha
Athiran Keshava Kaimal
2018 Eeda Sriram Bhatt
Oru Kaatil Oru Paykappal
2017 Sakhavu Namboorichan
Vimaanam Priest
Hadiyya
Melle
C/O Saira Banu
Puthan Panam Adv. M.K. Pillai
Samarppanam Balachandran
2016 Kismath
All of Us
Pa Va Father Micheal Kallayi (Kallayi Achan)
Appuram Bengal Ippuram Thiruvithamkoor Nambeeshan
Kammatti Paadam Krishnan's father
Hello Namasthe Kuriachan Achayan
Maanasaandarapetta Yezdi Chethanappi
2015 Charlie Usman Ikka
Acha Dhin Sir
Life of Josutty Jessy's Father Thomachan
32aam Adhyayam 23aam Vaakyam Doctor Noah
2014 Masala Republic Pattanam Balan (Balettan)
Actually Gopalakrishnan
John Paul Vaathil Thurakkunnu Paul Zacharia
Manglish Krishna Swami
Angry Babies in Love Madhavan
Law Point Charlie
Mosayile Kuthira Meenukal Raviettan
2013 Ginger Balakrishnan
Kaanchi Narayanan Nair
Silence Judge
Nadan Vikraman Pilla
Daivathinte Swantham Cleetus Raphael Vadakkumthala
Kadal Kadannoru Mathukkutty Kochunni
Hotel California Sasi Pillai
Thank You Balettan
Immanuel Gopinathan Nair
David & Goliath Father Gerald
Ithu Pathiramanal
Natholi Oru Cheriya Meenalla Dronar
Annayum Rasoolum Rasheed
2012 Poppins
Trivandrum Lodge Korah
2011 Beautiful Advocate
2009 Neelathamara Balan
2006 Mahasamudram Marakkar
2003 Ivar (2003 film)Ivar Minnal Thankan
2002 Shesham
Shivam Padmanabhan
Malayali Mamanu Vanakkam Easwaran Pillai
2001 Vakkalathu Narayanankutty Jayaram's father
2000 Punaradhivasam Manoj K Jayan's father
1999 Jalamarmaram
1995 Agnidevan Edakka
1991 Aparahnam
1982 Gandhi Muslim in the crowd

As director

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Year Title
2012 Ivan Megharoopan

As script writer

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Year Title Director
2019 Edakkad Battalion 06 Swapnesh K. Nair
2016 Kammatipaadam Rajeev Ravi
2012 Ivan Megharoopan Himself
2005 Police V.K. Prakash
2000 Punaradhivasam V.K. Prakash
1997 Manasam C.S. Sudheesh
1995 Thacholi Varghese Chekavar T. K. Rajeev Kumar
1994 Pavithram T. K. Rajeev Kumar
1991 Ulladakkam Kamal
1991 Uncle Bun Bhadran
1991 Aparahanam MP Sukumaran Nair

References

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  1. ^ "Malayalam actor P Balachandran dies at 62". The Indian Express. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  2. ^ "P Balachandran Profile". filmiparadise.com. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (Drama)" (in Malayalam). Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  4. ^ "P.Ramachandran". IBN Live. 13 May 2012. Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "'പി'യുടെ ഓര്‍മയ്ക്കായി മേഘരൂപന്‍, Interview - Mathrubhumi Movies". Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  7. ^ "നടനും തിരക്കഥാകൃത്തുമായ പി.ബാലചന്ദ്രന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു". Mathrubhumi. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  8. ^ "തിരക്കഥാകൃത്തും നടനുമായ പി.ബാലചന്ദ്രൻ അന്തരിച്ചു". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award" Archived 16 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine (in Malayalam). Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  10. ^ "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Drama". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Nithya Menen-starrer Kolaambi's trailer is here". Cinema Express. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
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