Balan K. Nair
Balakrishnan Nair, more popularly known as Balan K. Nair (4 April 1933 26 August 2000) was an Indian actor known for his roles in Malayalam cinema. Although he appeared as a villain in most films, he was also noted for his performances in strong character roles. He emerged as one of the top villain of Malayalam cinema in the second half of the 1970s and played some of the best villain characters in Malayalam films during that period. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1981 for his performance as Govindan in the film  Oppol. Personal life. Balakrishnan (Balan K.) Nair was the eldest of four children of Idakkulam Kizhakke Veettil Kuttiraman Nair, a store owner, and Devaki Amma, a housewife in 1933 in the village of Chemancheri near Quilandy. His parents died when he was young and hence he had to take care of his siblings and discontinue his studies at eighth grade. Prior to his entry in films, he worked as a mechanic in Kozhikode and owned a metal workshop. He started his acting career at the age of 14. At that time he was associated with Sangamam Theatre in Kozhikode, "Muppathunkavu  troupe, Kozhikodan" drama troupes and his own drama troupe "Subash Theaters". After his marriage to Sharadha, he moved to Shoranur in Palakkad. His son Meghanathan is also an actor. Balan K. Nair died of Multiple myeloma at Sree Chitra Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram on 26 August 2000, aged 67. Film career. Balan K. Nair made his debut in the film "Nizhalattam", directed by A. Vincent in 1970. Prior to acting in Malayalam movies, he worked as a stunt double for Bollywood star Dev Anand. He acted in more than 300 films in Malayalam, mostly as a villain. He  won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor in 1974 and 1978 for his roles in "Adhiti" and "Thacholi Ambu". He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role as a reformed military officer in the 1981 film "Oppol". Some of his other well-known movies are "Ee Naadu", "Aaryan", and "Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha". His last movie was "Kadavu", in which he played the role of an oarsman directed by the novelist M. T. Vasudevan Nair based on a story by another famous literary figure S. K. Pottekkatt. Awards. National Film Awards: Kerala State Film  Awards: