T. S. Balaiah

Tirunelveli S. Balaiah (; 23 August 1914 – 22 July 1972) was an Indian actor best known for playing supporting roles in the Tamil films. He was introduced to the cine field by director Ellis R. Dungan in Sathi Leelavathi (1936), along with M. G. Ramachandran, N. S. Krishnan and M.K. Radha. He was one of the very few actors who excelled as a villain, as well as in character roles and comic roles.

 Early life 
T. S. Balaiah was born on 23 August 1914. He was born in Sundankottai, now in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu. He ran away from home at young age and joined a Circus. Later joined Jagannatha Iyer’s famous drama company which was working in Tirunelveli and from which no turning back.

 Career 
Balaiah began his film career through the Tamil film Sathi Leelavathi in 1936. Balaiah played first lead role in Mohini paired opposite Madhuri Devi, where he played elder brother to V. N. Janaki and supporting role by M. G. Ramachandran. He gained lot of weight at the age of 40 in 1954, hence started getting more character roles.  Among his villain roles, Ambikapathy, Madurai Veeran, Thaikkupin Tharam, Hello Mister Zamindar and Thiruvilaiyadal were critically acclaimed. Balaiah also excelled in comedy roles in movies such as Kavalai Illaadha Manithan, Kadhalikka Neramillai, Bama Vijayam and Thillana Mohanambal. Actor Sivaji Ganesan had once mentioned that Balaiah along with M. R. Radha was his most admired actor.

 Personal life 
Actress Manochithra is his daughter, while one of his sons Junior Balaiah has also appeared in films. Another son, Sai Baba, was part of MSV's troupe and sang a few song.

Partial filmography
 Year  Movie ! Role Director  Notes 1972Agathiyar1969Kanne PappaK. R. Vijaya, R. Muthuraman, Baby RaniP. Madhavan1968Thillana MohanambalA. P. Nagarajan1967 Ooty Varai UravuVedachalamC. V. Sridhar1967Bama VijayamEthirajK. Balachander1966Yarukaka Azhudan1965 Vaazhkai PadaguC. Srinivasan1965ThiruvilayadalHemanatha BagavatharA. P. Nagarajan 1965 Hello Mister Zamindar K. J. Mahadevan1964 Karuppu PanamSattanathanG. R. Nathan1964Kaadhalikka NeramillaiVishwanathanC.V.Sridhar1962KavithaMalaiyappanT.R. Raghunath1961Thayilla PillaiPathanjali SasthriL. V. Prasad1961Pavamanippu1961Kumara RajaWealthy man (Chandrababu's father)G. K. Ramu1960Kavalai Illaadha ManithanK.Sankar1960Parthiban KanavuMarappa BhupathiD. Yoganand 1959Vaazha Vaitha DeivamM. A. Thirumugam 1959Orey Vazhi K. Shankar1959Bhaaga PirivinaiA.Bhimsingh1957Neelamalai ThirudanPolice InspectorM. A. Thirumugam1957Allauddin Adhbhuta Deepam1956Kaalam Maari PochuTapi Chanakya1956Madurai VeeranThalapathi MarappanYoganand1955Maaman MagalKanniyappanR. S. Mani1955Chella Pillai Director YamanM. V. Raman1954NallakalamK. Vembu, J. Sinha1954Ratha PaasamMadhuR.S.Mani1953Gunasagari (Kannada film)H.L.N. Simha1951ManamagalN.S.Krishnan1950Ezhai Padum PaduRamnath1949VelaikkariManiA.S.A.Samy1946ChitraWahab Kashmiri1945MeeraJayamanEllis Dungan1945Burma RaniT. R. Sundaram1937AmbikapathyRudrasenanEllis Dungan1936Sathi LeelavathiEllis Dungan

References

Other websites

 http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2319/stories/20061006000707900.htm 
 The Three-in-One T. S. Balaiah in My Movie Minutes
 100 years of laughter

Category:Tamil actors