# K. Balaji

Krishnamachari Balaji (24 June 1934 – 2 May 2009) was an Indian film producer and actor. He was a prominent actor in the 1960s and 1970s, playing lead, supporting and antagonist roles. He appeared in many films featuring Sivaji Ganesan.

## Early life

Balaji was born in a Tamil family to Krishnamachari and Janaki Devi in Madras, Madras Presidency. He was the grandson of colonial era advocate T. Rangachari. He started acting at an early age, when he performed in school plays and amateur theatre shows.

## Career

Balaji contacted S. S. Vasan, then owner of Gemini Studios, in 1951, looking for work. He was offered a minor role in Auvaiyar, in which he played the Hindu god Muruga.
Balaji soon understood that he was better off playing a villain or the hero's understudy with a negative angle in films that included Padithaal Mattum Podhumaa, Bale Pandiya, En Kadamai and Thillana Mohanambal.
While working as an actor, he was hired as a manager in Narasu Studios in the southwest suburbs. In the 1960s, after coming into contact with top Hindi actors such as Ashok Kumar, Dilip Kumar and Tamil stars Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan and actress Savithri, he began to remake Hindi hits in Tamil. His first production was Annavin Aasai, a remake of Chand Aur Sooraj directed by Dulal Guha. The debut production film starred Gemini Ganesan and Savithri in the lead.
He then went on to remake popular Hindi films such as Dushman (1971) and Namak Haraam (1973) both starring Rajesh Khanna, Deewaar (1975), and Qurbani.
He founded Sujatha Cine Arts in 1966. He was also the founder of Sujatha Recording Studio, where sound recordings for most of the big-budget movies of the 1980s and '90s were done.
In 1979, began to produce films in Hindi, including the successful Amardeep.

## Family

His wife Anandavalli died in 1996. The couple had three children, Suresh Balaje, Sujatha and Suchitra Mohanlal. Malayalam superstar Mohanlal is his son-in-law. He was also the grandfather of Pranav Mohanlal and Suraj Suresh. The comedian Y. G. Mahendran is his nephew through his cousin sister Rajalakshmi Parthasarathy.

## Death

Balaji died on 2 May 2009 evening due to multiple organ and kidney failure. He had been hospitalised for over a month.

## Partial filmography
### As producer

| Year | Film | Director | Notes |
| 1966 | Annavin Aasai | Dada Mirasi | Remake of Hindi film Chand Aur Suraj |
| 1967 | Thangai | A. C. Tirulokchandar | |
| 1968 | En Thambi | A. C. Tirulokchandar | Remake of Telugu film Aastiparulu |
| 1969 | Thirudan | A. C. Tirulokchandar | Remake of Telugu film Adrushtavanthalu |
| 1970 | Engirundho Vandhaal | A. C. Tirulokchandar | Remake of Telugu film Punarjanma |
| 1972 | Raja | C. V. Rajendran | Remake of Hindi film Johny Mera Naam |
| 1972 | Needhi | C. V. Rajendran | Remake of Hindi film Dushman |
| 1974 | En Magan | C. V. Rajendran | Remake of Hindi film Be-Imaan |
| 1976 | Unakkaga Naan | C. V. Rajendran | Remake of Hindi film Namak Haraam |
| 1977 | Dheepam | K. Vijayan | Remake of Malayalam film Theekkanal |
| 1978 | Thyagam | K. Vijayan | Remake of Hindi film Amanush |
| 1978 | Nallathoru Kudumbam | K. Vijayan | Remake of Telugu film Alumagalu |
| 1979 | Amar Deep | R. Krishnamoorthy, K. Vijayan | Remake of Tamil film Dheepam |
| 1980 | Sujatha | K. Vijayan | Remake of Malayalam movie Shalini Ente Kootukari |
| 1980 | Billa | R. Krishnamoorthy | Remake of Hindi film Don |
| 1981 | Thee | R. Krishnamoorthy | Remake of Hindi film Deewaar |
| 1981 | Savaal | R. Krishnamoorthy | Remake of Hindi film Haath Ki Safai |
| 1982 | Vazhvey Maayam | R. Krishnamoorthy | Remake of Telugu film Premabhishekham |
| 1982 | Theerpu | R. Krishnamoorthy | Remake of Malayalam film Ithihasam |
| 1983 | Sattam | K. Vijayan | Remake of Hindi film Dostana |
| 1983 | Neethibathi | R. Krishnamoorthy | Remake of Telugu film Justice Chowdary |
| 1984 | Vidhi | K. Vijayan | Remake of Telugu film Nyayam Kavali |
| 1984 | Niraparaadhi | K. Vijayan | Remake of Hindi film Be Abroo |
| 1985 | Bandham | K. Vijayan | |
| 1985 | Kaaval | K. Vijayan | Remake of Hindi filmArdh Satya |
| 1985 | Mangamma Sapatham | K. Vijayan | Remake of Hindi film Kasam Paida Karne Wali Ki |
| 1986 | Marumagal | Karthick Raghunath | Remake of Hindi film Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye |
| 1986 | Viduthalai | K. Vijayan | Remake of Hindi film Qurbani |
| 1987 | Kudumbam Oru Koyil | A. C. Tirulokchandar | |
| 1987 | Vairakkiyam | K. Vijayan | Remake of Telugu film Anasuyamma Gari Alludu |
| 1989 | En Rathathin Rathame | K. Vijayan, Sundar K. Vijayan | Remake of Hindi film Mr. India |
| 1989 | Dravidan | R. Krishnamoorthy | Remake of Malayalam filmAryan |
| 1989 | Kuttravali | Raja | Remake of Hindi film Kaal Chakra |

### As actor

| Year | Film | Character/Role | Notes |
| 1956 | Madhurkula Manickam | | Tamil film |
| 1958 | Anbu Engey | Ramu | Tamil film |
| 1959 | Uthami Petra Rathinam | | Tamil film |
| 1959 | Sahodhari | | Tamil film |
| 1960 | Engal Selvi | | Tamil film |
| 1960 | Mahalakshmi | | Tamil film |
| 1960 | Vidivelli | | Tamil film |
| 1960 | Pudhiya Pathai | | Tamil film |
| 1960 | Parthiban Kanavu | | Tamil film |
| 1960 | Paavai Vilakku | | Tamil film |
| 1961 | Naaga Nandhini | | Tamil film |
| 1961 | Kappalottiya Thamizhan | | Tamil film |
| 1961 | Mamiyarum Oru Veetu Marumagale | | Tamil film |
| 1961 | Thooya Ullam | | Tamil film |
| 1962 | Policekaran Magal | | Tamil film |
| 1962 | Bale Pandiya | Ravi | Tamil film |
| 1962 | Padithaal Mattum Podhuma | Raju | Tamil film |
| 1962 | Ellorum Vazhavendum | | Tamil film |
| 1962 | Sumaithaangi | | Tamil film |
| 1963 | Aasai Alaigal | | Tamil film |
| 1963 | Ezhai Pangalan | | Tamil film |
| 1963 | Iruvar Ullam | | Tamil film |
| 1964 | En Kadamai | | Tamil film |
| 1964 | Karuppu Panam | | Tamil film |
| 1964 | Aandavan Kattalai | | Tamil film |
| 1964 | Rishyasringar | | Tamil film |
| 1964 | School Master | Murali | Malayalam film |
| 1964 | Atom Bomb | Kochuraghavan Pillai | Malayalam film |
| 1965 | Anbu Karangal | | Tamil film |
| 1965 | Veera Abhimanyu | | Tamil film |
| 1965 | Vaazhkai Padagu | Kannabiram | Tamil film |
| 1965 | Kaattu Rani | | Tamil film |
| 1966 | Annavin Aasai | | Tamil film |
| 1967 | Pattanathil Bhootham | | Tamil film |
| 1967 | Maadi Veettu Mappilai | | Tamil film |
| 1967 | Thangai | | Tamil film |
| 1967 | Iruttinte Athmavu | Chandran | Malayalam film |
| 1967 | Adhey Kangal | Doctor | Tamil film |
| 1968 | Lakshmi Kalyanam | Lakshmi's husband | Tamil film |
| 1968 | Ragini | | Malayalam film |
| 1968 | En Thambi | Viswam | Tamil film |
| 1968 | Thillana Mohanambal | | Tamil film |
| 1969 | Shanti Nilayam | | Tamil film |
| 1969 | Thirudan | Jagannath | Tamil film |
| 1969 | Gurudhakshaneiy | | Tamil film |
| 1970 | Enga Mama | Muralikrishnan | Tamil film |
| 1970 | Engirundho Vandhaal | | Tamil film |
| 1970 | Ethirkalam | | Tamil film |
| 1970 | Sorgam | | Tamil film |
| 1971 | Veguli Penn | | Tamil film |
| 1972 | Vasantha Maligai | | Tamil film |
| 1972 | Kannamma | | Tamil film |
| 1972 | Thaikku Oru Pillai | | Tamil film |
| 1972 | Raja | Chandran/Babu | Tamil film |
| 1972 | Neethi | | Tamil film |
| 1974 | En Magan | Jagadesh | Tamil film |
| 1975 | Aayirathil Oruthi | Gopi | Tamil film |
| 1975 | Swamy Ayyappan | | Malayalam film |
| 1976 | Vazhvu En Pakkam | Moorthy | Tamil film |
| 1978 | Thyagam | | Tamil film |
| 1979 | Surakshaa | Doctor Shiva | Hindi film |
| 1979 | Amar Deep | Guest Appearance | Hindi film |
| 1980 | Billa | | Tamil film |
| 1980 | Jhonny | Police Officer | Tamil film |
| 1981 | Thee | Jagdish | Tamil film |
| 1981 | Savaal | Baba Sheak | Tamil film |
| 1983 | Justice Raja | Commissioner | Malayalam film |
| 1983 | Sattam | | Tamil film |
| 1986 | Viduthalai | | Tamil film |