# Balachandra Menon

Balachandra Menon (born 11 January 1954) is an Indian actor, director and script writer. He made a number of films in the 1980s and 1990s. He has directed 40 films and has acted in over 100.
He won two National Film Awards including the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance as station master Ismail the 1998 film Samaantharangal, which was also directed by him. He has also worked as a distributor, editor, composer, singer and producer in the Malayalam film industry. He has found space in the Limca Book of Records for the maximum number of films directed, scripted and acted in. Menon has introduced many actors into the Malayalam Cinema Industry. Actors who made their debut in his films include Shobana in April 18, Parvathy in Vivahithare Ithile, Maniyanpilla Raju in Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla, Karthika in Manicheppu Thurannappol, Annie in Ammayane Sathyam, and Nandini in April 19.

## Personal life

Balachandra Menon was born in Kollam in 1954 to Shivashankara Pillai and Lalitha Devi. By virtue of his father being a railway station master, he served at Edava railway station and Menon had his formative years of childhood and adolescence life in this village. He studied at Edava Muslim High School, and has narrated nostalgically about his fond memories of his life in Edava in his autobiography Ammayaane Sathyam. He is an alumnus of University College Trivandrum, Fatima Mata National College, Kollam and Kerala Law Academy Law College, Thiruvananthapuram. Sisters: Sushma and Prema. Wife: Varada B. Menon. Children: Akhil Vinayak Menon, Bhavana B. Menon. Menon enrolled as a lawyer on 29 July 2012, 22 years after completing his degree. In 1997, he won the Karshakashree Award for farming from the Government of Kerala.
During his early days in Madras, he worked for the film weekly Nana as a correspondent. He has completed a diploma in journalism from Press Club, Trivandrum.

## Literary works

* Achuvettante Veedu
* Mugam Abhimugam
* Samaantharangal
* 18 April 19 April
* Ninnay Enthinu Kollaam ?
* Kaanatha Sulthanu Snehapoorvam
* Ammayanay Sathyam
* Ariyathathu, Ariyendathu
* Balachandramenonte 12 cherukathakal
* His book Ithirineram Othirikaryam recently released by veteran actor Madhu by handing over a copy to lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi.

## Awards

Civilian Awards:
* 2007 – Padma Shri
National Film Awards:
* 1997 – Best Actor – Samaantharangal
* 1997 – Best Film on Family Welfare – Samaantharangal
Kerala State Film Awards:
* 1979 – Best Screen Play – Uthrada Rathri
* 1997 – Special Jury Award – Samaantharangal
Filmfare Awards South:
* 1983 – Best Director – Karyam Nissaram
* 1998 – Best Actor – Samaantharangal
Others:
* 2018 - Limca Book of Records - Filmmaker who is credited as actor, director and writer in the most number of feature films

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Credited as | Credited as | Credited as | Credited as | Credited as | Credited as | Role | Notes |
| Year | Film | Actor | Director | Producer | Screenplay | Story | Dialogue | Role | Notes |
| 2023 | A Ranjith Cinema | Y | | | | | | Chandraprakash | |
| 2023 | Pulimada | Y | | | | | | Dr. Joshi Kuriyan | |
| 2021 | One | Y | | | | | | Dr. Sreekar Varma | |
| 2018 | Ennaalum Sarath..? | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Dr. Sam | |
| 2016 | Oozham | Y | | | | | | Krishnamoorthy | |
| 2015 | Njan Samvidhanam Cheyyum | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Krishna Das | |
| 2013 | Kadal Kadannu oru Mathukkutty | Y | | | | | | Father Vattathara | |
| 2013 | Kunjananthante Kada | Y | | | | | | Adv. Moidu | |
| 2013 | Buddy | Y | | | | | | Shankaran Namboothiri/Shanku Bhai | |
| 2009 | Nammal Thammil | Y | | | | | | Ramachandran Nair | |
| 2009 | Utharaswayamvaram | Y | | | | | | Sreedhara 'Yamandan' Kurup | |
| 2008 | College Kumaran | Y | | | | | | Narayanan | |
| 2008 | De Ingottu Nokkiye | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Joji | |
| 2007 | Pranayakalam | Y | | | | | | Balagopal | |
| 2006 | Classmates | Y | | | | | | Prof. Iyer | |
| 2005 | December | Y | | | | | | Dr Keshava Patteri | |
| 2005 | Rappakal | Y | | | | | | Deva Narayanan | |
| 2003 | Varum Varunnu Vannu | Y | | | Y | Y | Y | Johny | |
| 2003 | Saphalam | Y | | | | | | Barrister Nambiar | |
| 2002 | Nammal | Y | | | | | | Sathyanadhan | |
| 2002 | Album | Y | | | | | | Jeeva's father | Tamil film |
| 2002 | Krishna Gopalakrishna | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Gopalakrishnan | Editor, playback singer, composer |
| 2001 | Ishtam | Y | | | | | | Anjana's Father | |
| 2000 | Sathyam Sivam Sundaram | Y | | | | | | K.S.K Nambiar | |
| 2000 | Sathyameva Jayathe | Y | | | | | | Ahammed Basheer | |
| 1998 | Samaantharangal | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Ismail | Editor, composer |
| 1998 | The Truth | Y | | | | | | Chief Minister Madhavan | |
| 1997 | Janathipathyam | Y | | | | | | Krishnamoorthy IPS | |
| 1997 | Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu | Y | | | | | | Pavi | |
| 1996 | April 19 | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Jayapraksh | |
| 1996 | Kanden Seethaiyai | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | | Unreleased film |
| 1995 | Avittam Thirunaal Aarogya Sriman | Y | | | | | | Prabhakaran | |
| 1994 | Sukham Sukhakaram | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | | |
| 1994 | Santhana Gopalam | Y | | | | | | Sudhakaran | |
| 1993 | Ammayane Sathyam | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | S. Narayanan | |
| 1991 | Nayam Vyakthamakkunnu | | Y | | Y | Y | Y | | |
| 1990 | Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Vinayachandra Kurup | Editor, composer |
| 1990 | Sasneham | Y | | | | | | Thomas Kurien | |
| 1990 | Noottonnu Raavukal | Y | | | | | | Vishnu | |
| 1990 | Varthamana Kalam | Y | | | | | | Jameskutty | |
| 1989 | Najangalude Kochu Doctor | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | James Varghese | Editor |
| 1989 | Kandathum Kettathum | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | P K Krishnankutty | |
| 1988 | Oohakachavadam | Y | | | | | | Charlie | |
| 1988 | David David Mr. David | Y | | | | | | David | |
| 1988 | Isabella | Y | | | | | | Unnikrishna Menon | |
| 1988 | Janmandharam | Y | | | | | | Police Officer | |
| 1988 | Kudumbapuranam | Y | | | | | | Krishnanunni | |
| 1987 | Oru Maymasappularayil | Y | | | | | | | |
| 1987 | Vilambaram | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | P. K. Nampoothiri | |
| 1987 | Achuvettante Veedu | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Vipin | Editor |
| 1986 | Rithubhedam | Y | | | | | | Rajan | |
| 1986 | Vivahitare Itihile | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Appu | |
| 1986 | Thaiku Oru Thalattu | | Y | | Y | Y | Y | | Tamil film |
| 1985 | Manicheppu Thurannappol | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | | |
| 1985 | Daivatheyorthu | Y | | | | | | Achuthankutty | |
| 1985 | Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | S. Nandakumar | Playback singer, soundtrack performer |
| 1984 | Oru Painkilikatha | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Kannan | Playback singer |
| 1984 | Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Prabhakaran | |
| 1984 | April 18 | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Ravikumar | |
| 1984 | Inakkilly | Y | | | | | | Johnay | |
| 1983 | Sesham Kazhchayil | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | G K Raja | |
| 1983 | Prashnam Gurutharam | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Balu | |
| 1983 | Karyam Nissaram | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Shekhar | |
| 1982 | Kilukilukkam | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Mahendran | |
| 1982 | Kelkatha Shabdam | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Lambodharan Nair | |
| 1982 | Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Geejo | |
| 1982 | Chiriyo Chiri | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Unni | |
| 1981 | Thenum Vayambum | Y | | | | | | Babu Mathew | |
| 1981 | Tharattu | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Dileep | |
| 1981 | Prema Geethangal | | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Doctor | |
| 1981 | Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Gopinathan | |
| 1980 | Vaiki Vanna Vasantham | | Y | | Y | Y | Y | | |
| 1980 | Kalika | | Y | | | Y | Y | | |
| 1980 | Ishtamanu Pakshe | | Y | | Y | Y | Y | | |
| 1980 | Aniyatha Valakal | | Y | | Y | Y | Y | | |
| 1979 | Radha Enna Pennkutti | | Y | | Y | Y | Y | | |
| 1978 | Uthrada Rathri | | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Dinesh | |

## Television

* Suryodayam (Doordarshan, Direction)
* Vilakku vekkum neram (Doordarshan)
* Megham (Asianet)
* Malayogam (Asianet)
* Nizhalukal (Asianet)
* Shamanathalam

## As a singer

* Aanakoduthaalum ... Oru Painkilikkadha (1984)
* Kochu Chakkarachi Pettu ... Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki (1985)
* Kaattinum Thaalam ... Njangalude Kochu Doctor (1989)
* Choodulla kaattil ... Krishnaa Gopaalakrishnaa (2002)