Actors Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan will always be indebted to him. But for him, we wouldn’t have seen Rajni on the silver screen. With more than 100 films to his credit, he is one filmmaker who has total control over his movies. Yes, I am talking about the legend K Balachander or KB as he is fondly called. I remember watching Sindhu Bhairavi when I was in school. Sindhu’s argument during a concert in the movie is still etched in my mind.
The ace director who turns 80 today had a unique style of making memorable films. It is difficult to spot one movie that is the best. With KB, every film had a protagonist and the entire movie revolved around the character. Whether it was Server Sundaram, Etheer Neechal or Sindhu Bhairavi, his films had a strong message forcing you to think out of the box.
So many of his celluloid characters still remain fresh in your mind – whether it is the fabulous dance by comedian Nagesh as a cancer patient in the movie Neer Kumizhi or the amazing depth of individualization in the love triangle in Sindhu Bhairavi. KB mostly dealt with middle-class issues reinforcing the values of family and relationships.
Clever use of symbolism, carefully scripted characters, powerful storylines and great attention to detail make his movies an intense experience. Here is a list of his best works (according to me):
Server Sundaram
Nagesh always had a special place in KB’s films. The fact that he got one of the best comedians of those times to play the lead role is in itself a testimony that KB was one of the biggest experimenters of his time. Watch a scene from the movie here.
Ethir Neechal
Again, Nagesh plays the poor young boy who does odd jobs to earn his living. The entire plot revolves around the protagonist Madhu and the film highlights the simple lifestyle of the middle-class Tamil household. The punchline in this film said by Nagesh- Naan Madhu Vandirukken, where he plays the role of a gullible innocent fool was a favourite with the masses. Here is a popular song from this film.
Apoorva Ragangal
Rajnikanth’s debut movie, Apoorva Raagangal, deals with an inter-generational romance that culminates in a complex dilemma. This movie could be rated as one of the best performances by both Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan on the silver screen. The mature storyline of intertwined romances was breathtaking and its treatment was flawless. KB’s sensitive handling of a potentially-explosive subject matter earned him rave reviews.
Sindhu Bhairavi
This to me is the best movie by the ace director who redefines the concept of marriage in this film. The role of protagonist Sindhu played by Suhasini can be rated as her best performance ever. The movie revolves around a girl who is an ardent follower of Carnatic music and falls in love with a popular Carnatic musician. The conversation between Sivakumar (the classical musician in the film) and Sindhu on why Carnatic concerts don’t include Tamil songs is a classic scene in this film. In many ways, he redefined the “happily ever after” concept in this flick. A word about the ever green Illayaraja has to be mentioned. I think Illayaraja’s brilliance in the song Padariyen is unmatchable.
Punnagai Mannan
Once again a Kamal and KB combination that worked wonders for the Tamil audience. Balachander’s art of story-telling is at its best in this movie. The story revolves around Sethu, a protagonist, who is jailed for attempting suicide and how his life pans out after that. Revathi who is the lead actress has given a stunning performance. Illayaraja again scores the music and each note is a treat to music lovers.
Later in the 90s, he also ventured into television. He also made a sequel to his movie Sindhu Bhairavi called ‘Sahana’ in 2003. He set high benchmarks and took enormous strides in the tamil film industry. The audience started to talk about this phenomenon, what they called ‘The Balachander Touch’. This touch to me will remain forever.
The whole world is indebted to you,,,,,,,,,,,, simply becpz u introduced the great actor AND STYLE ICON RAJNIKANTH
Happy Birthday to you KB sir.
Happy 80th Birthday Sir.
KB sir… Peeranda naal vaazthukal…
Apporva Ragangal Rajini’s wife is Sujatha Dalapathi Rajini’s mother is Sujatha what a combination
KB wish U many,may happy returns of the day…..may god give u health, to make more movies,with that KB touch.
Dear kb sir,
you r my very Fevourat diracter sir your thoughts and thing is super your story screenplay diolog everthing thouch my heart. aval oru thodarkathai,patapat roll very nice. 2010 girls mentality you tell about 1976 something brilliyend sir.homen relationship you handle something sir and another one matter sir your film very importtance one the music some place travel to music in screenplay
Respected Sri Balachander Sir, You are a greater director not only for tamil but also telugu. You will focus on common man’s /middle class peoples problems, hence every body will like you including me.
Many more happy returns the day, it is coinsident, that to day is also my birth day.
With warm regards
gopala krishna Pinupa
happy B’day K.B sir .
You were one legend who paved a new path to tamil cinema .thillu mullu starring Rajinikanth was one of the best piece of direction in commercial aspect forming the list Vellivizha, Iru Kodugal, Naanal, Neer Kumizhi, Noolvelli, Achamillai Achamillai, Arangetram, Unnal Mudiyum Thambi,Manadhil Urudhi Vendum, Kalyana Agathil, Aval Oru Thodarkadhai, Major Chandrakant, Bama Vijayam, Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu, Pattina Prevesam, Nizhal Nijamagiradhu were also de best ones
Without you no heros would have touched our heart
A modest man whose inborn genius is exposed in every frame of his films. Best directors enviable benchmark. Our Tamil Nadu State’s pride. Hats off to him and best wishes for a longer, healthy life on his birthday.
K.Balachander is a great Director whom no body can equal in the cinima world. No body can imitate his way of telling the story. But it sad that in India there is no recognition for any body really great. Long live Kb. May god bless you with good health, happiness and all the love form all.
Pirandha naal vaazthukkal….May god bless u….
I have watched all ur movies sir. Thay are just masterpieces of Indian cinema
KB one of the finest directors all time. Many happy returns of the day.
Ananthakrishnan
Sir,
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you – MANY MORE HAPPY B’DAY – but as there is a saying in tamil – VAAZHTHA VAYADHILLAI….VANANGUGIROM – I wish to you see for many more years and guide the tamil industry…..
Also…i would like to thank you for bringing out the comedy actor in our superstar thro ur films like NINAITHALE INIKKUM and THILLU MULLU (which i watched numerous times…especially the interview scene…chattaile enna???? poonai sir…. adhula enna peruma..get out… it is really hilarious…and also…. suppi yavathu…kappi yavathu…get out….)…sir hats off sir….
thanks…
My younger days were spent in Triplicane behind Saraswathy Gana Nilayam.We were living in Big St., and at the back side of our house was saraswathy Gana Nilyam.As a Kid I have watched the rehersals of all the Ragni Recreations and also all the plays at N.K.T. Kalamandapam in Triplicane. In those days Plays of KB sir will be full even before it starts and I have watched Plays Ethir Neechal,Navakaragam by sitting near the stage. KB sir created a revolution and in the hero worshipping days, he is the first director who had selected audience to watch his plays and movies. I have watched all his movies and my most favourites are Ethir Neechal, Thamarai Nenjam, Aval Oru Thodarkadhi and of course Apoorva Ragangal. The climax of Thamari Nenjam is still fresh in my mind, where Nagesh gave a stellar performance but unfortunately, it is not being talked anyhwhere.
I am young to wish you sir,I pray almighty to give a long and healthy life.
I am from Mysore and was away in north.My exposure to KB’s movies is limited.Yet,I saw Arengetram,Server Sundaram ,Naanal etc when I lived in Calcutta.They were great movies,which touched one’s heart.Many happy returns to you Sir.You are a great inspiration.
R.Shankar ,Baroda
Belated happy returns of the day sir
Many Many happy returns of the day sir
Tamil King > Bollywood King
Many more Happy Returns of the day Sir!!!
:ACCHA:
THIS WORD IS LOVEBLE IN KB SIR”S SCRIPT
I AM TELLING THE SAME THING TO KB SIR
lolg live KB sir
Dear Sir. K. Balachander.
This is my heart-felt wish to you.
I want you to celebrate many more happy birthdays like this.
You gave the real meaning to the cinema world.
You are not getting older and you are still young in mind and heart.
I’m so glad you were born again,
Sir keep going.
God bless you abundantly.
Anand
Bangalore
Wish him many more happy returns of the day. Mr.KB was named as Everest mountain in film career.
One of very few dirwctors in India, who have created jublee movies with out depending on obscenity and vulgarism allowing entire family to watch a movie with out causing embarrasment to all
Very happy birthday to our Tamil film
Balachander can be spoken of as the perfect artist wielding his craft effortlessly. That he got first time actors, seasoned actors and everything in between to relay roles that he visualised etched in our mind speaks volumes of the genius. In his movies, you were focused on characters. Not the set unless he wanted you to see it. Each movie in cinematic terms and in story telling represented a ‘new’ idea. Quite often, he almost signaled a ‘change’ of value. No two stories of his were similar. That songs from his movies were immensely popular is hardly a surprise.
There is only one KB.
Oscar .. He does not deserve the Oscar. He deserves better. If there is anyone from the film industry truly deserving of the nations highest award, it is KB.
happy birth day KB sir….. u r NO:1 in MOVIE DIRECTORS..
A legend makes a legend:
KB Has made a two legends to tamil industry.. one is for style-rajnikanth another is for acting-kamal
A Great Storyteller. Has brought out unforgettable movies and we need at least few film makers of that calibre. Our salute to this Great. Happy Birthday Sir. Many u live long and continue with the good work for the industry.
I fondly recall my youthdays when I used to book tickets for first week itself to view KB movies. And the next few weeks I used to discuss with my friends the camera angles, biting dialogues, the climax and more specially the special visuals on INTERVAL. I remember in ‘nootrukku nooru’ the interval came with a students answerpaper showing his marks 50/100.
In anothermovie, the interval still freezed on a billboard showing ‘it is time for a coke’. I can go on. Novel ways to end the climax like ‘aval oru thodargathai’ where the climax was without any dialogues for more than 10 minutes. In ‘Punnagai’ how cleverly he depicted the 4 main characters with a solid lamp post, a stream of water manouvering its passage through the terrain so easily, an oppurtunistic waste paper which goes round and round and sticks wherever it can and a kite flying to the current of wind. I want to treasure those memories.
One thing till day I could not understand was the failure of NAAN AVANILLAI. I think KB was very much ahead of his contemporaries.
KB remains a part of my life. I wish him a long life.
Dear K.B sir. Best wishes from my family members to the creative director & let all pray for his good health & wealth.
Kannapiran.r
I agree. In “Sindhu Bhairavi” the puch line in the song ‘Pattariyen” -Illatha Uravukku ennenna paero, Nadodi pattukku thai thanthai yaro”- the whole movie gets summed up there. The reservation the carnatic musicians had on rendering their numbers in Tamil in their kutcheris was well known.
Happy birth day to the creative Director.
Dear kb sir,watching your movie’s from my school days from a small town
in karnataka even i don’t know tamil,felt sad because i can’t understand the conversation of your films. Now i thankful to God i am living in your city, chennai,proud to say i know tamil, i am kb sir’s fan.Enjoing all of your films, especially Apoorva ragangal,servar sundaram, iru kodugal, edir neechal, aval oru thodargathai, unnal mudiyum Thambi,manadil urudi vendum, sindhu bhairavi,Kalki.Azhagan,
each and every thing of your films like screenplay, direction etc. Once again thankful to God i am living in this era,kb’s era,thanks to tamil film Iindustry which gives you in this world makes wonderful.Pray to God give rest of my life to kb sir.Wishing you many more happiest birthday.
I don’t have the age to wish u nor praise u, but still i wish u a very very special B’day.
Happy Birthday Sir
many many happy returns KB Sir with Health, Happiness, Peace & Prosperity and may you live 100 years and Pray to God for the longevity of your life. In my view, you have carved a niche for yourself in Indian Cinema and Tamil Cinema in particular. The public will remember you for a long, long time to come and your movies will stand the best of time. God Bless you with many more happy returns of the Day. from murugan & deepa
Happy Birthday to K.Balachander,i love all your films and one that tops my mind now is your Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal.
Weldone and my Best Wishes for a happy and healthy life.
Hi,
As far as I could understand the renowned director’s movies, I always found that he would place a central character who would go against the established norms of society – in short, break all the rules and become a lawless / non-traditional / non-believer type of character. AS MOVIES ARE A MEANS OF FANTASY AND ESCAPISM, NATURALLY THIS DIRECTOR’S MOVIES BECAME A HIT. Most viewers appreciated the central character’s role as the viewer by themselves could never hope to do it. Take neer kumuzhi – central character steeped in self-pity but in the movie it becomes a virtue, in Sindubhairavi, the central character crosses the threshhold of all established norms of “thampathya life” and also breaks some laws along the way and ultimately gives birth to an illegetimate child – and what do we have???? Audiences who would have baked in anger if it had happened at their own residences, now stand up and give an ovation. Take the character in aval oru thodarkathai – what happens? she is a scandal but packaged in a such a manner that is lapped up by all. Most of his movies were designed to make most fantasize and he has succeeded. But if you were to take a critical view of his respect in some movies for the laws of the land or for the societal norms, then maybe it borders on anarchy, if not downright rebellious behavious. Not convinced? What is the central character’s role in Unnal Mudiyum Thambi – most of the time , he disrespects his father & some times, he evokes so much sympathy in his house, that the other inmates join together to help him out, thus making his father the villan – but remember, it is the father who was responsible for the entire household’s prosperity in that movie & when you appreciate a charcter who manages to get everybody to go against the hand that feeds, the viewer should question themselves as to whether it is to be appreciated….
Actors Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan will always be 100years ago this my for best wishes
long live kb v all love u,many many happy returns of the day
Sir,
For the past 35 years i am your fan.i had seen all your movies.
My self & my friends always enjoy &appriciate KB Touch in each and every frame. Alagan- my doughters favorite movie.
KB sir,live long &Happy B.Day
Ever your fan
d.selva
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