K.Balachander, the Godfather of Super Stars of Tamil Cinema. He is the real Star Maker who has introduced and moulded so many biggies of Tinseltown, from Rajnikanth, Kamalhassan, Sridevi, Sripriya to Vivek, Prakash Raj. He’s the man who inspired me to aspire film making. I was taken aback by his classics and became a die-hard fan of him even at my early teens. I can proudly say that I’m the community owner of most of K.Balachander films in Orkut.
My mother is a great fan of KB and she introduced his films to me. It was his teleserial Kaiyalavu Manasu made me watch his movies. I was stunned on watching his Aval oru Thodarkadhai. I was just 14 then. The age to understand and analyze cinema. Long ago I read Director Vasanth’s interview in a Tamil Weekly that he was stunned by the climax of “Aval Oru Thodarkadhai” and returned home by walk. He forgot his cycle in the Theatre itself. Arangetram gave me a shock since it was not a digestable subject even in 90s. Apoorva Ragangal has such a plot that only the thespian could handle. None touch that kinda film till now. But watching KB Movies differentiated me from my friends who were not even aware of his name. Once my aunt’s father asked me about the film I liked at that time and he was surprised when I said Thamarai Nenjam. I was in my 8th Std vacation then. Thanks to Sun Movies channel in which I watched most of the KB films. I would have watched Azhagan more than 100 times. Sindhu Bhairavi, Moondru Mudichu, Thillu Mullu, Varumaiyin Niram Sigappu come next. Even during my 10th Public Exams, I was watching his films in the afternoons with my mom. But Parthale Paravasam and Poi are craps from him. I still have the letter written to him after watching the former but it wasn’t posted like Madhavan’s letter in 3 Idiots.
His characterization is mindblowing. Even if a character appears for just 2 min, it would create an impact. Such immortal characters he has created. Esp his protagonists are women. Kavitha, Lalitha, Sindhu, Bhairavi, Anu, Kannamma, Kalki and more. I developed an obsession to his characters which are not normal but thoroughly enjoyable. My orkut profile says I’m a cocktail of K.B film characters. I still don’t know being a KB fan and watching his films more I got those characteristics or since I have them in me, I love his films. I think my mom would have watched a lot of KB films when I was in her womb. After Director Sridhar, KB showed a different view of Tamil Cinema and made people watch movies for the Director. Hence he’s called Iyakkunar Sigaram (Peak among the Directors)
He’s the pioneer of Mega Serials. When he has given loads of cult films, he entered television. He started Rayil Sneham, a weekly serial and then Raghuvamsam, a daily serial which was telecast for around 150 episodes. When TV is jammed with such serials he left TV and came back to Theatre and Stage Plays where he started his career. I didnt get the opportunity when he staged his play Pournami. Waiting for yet another stage play. He still makes everyone jaw dropping with his new ventures. He turns 82 today. But no one can say he’s 82 years old. But he is 82 years young. Even in the Grand Finale of Nalaya Iyakkunar, KB’s presence was so enigmatic. I wish my mentor a very Happy Birthday and to entertain us more. I changed my caller tune to “Sangeetha Swarangal…” from Azhagan as a gift from my side to K.B. Good to know that today is B’day of two more legends Tom Hanks and Late Guru Dutt, legendary film maker.
P.S: Kamalhaasan announced at the Music launch of Unnaipol Oruvan that he has planned to direct a film with K.B in the lead role. I wish him to do it asap.
Here’s a link to read an interview of KB http://bit.ly/dhfwJu