# P. Balachandran

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

## Career

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. 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). He has also acted in a few films, the most notable being Trivandrum Lodge (2012).

## Personal life

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

### Death

Balachandran died at the age of 69 on 5 April 2021 at his house in Vaikom. 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

* 1989: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Drama – Paavam Usman
* 2008: Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Drama

## Filmography
### As actor

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

| Year | Title |
| 2012 | Ivan Megharoopan |

### As script writer

| 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 |
| 1995 | Agnidevan | Venu Nagavalli |
| 1994 | Pavithram | T. K. Rajeev Kumar |
| 1991 | Ulladakkam | Kamal |
| 1991 | Uncle Bun | Bhadran |
| 1991 | Aparahanam | MP Sukumaran Nair |