Balachandra Menon

Balachandra Menon (born 11 January 1954) is an Indian film 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 films. 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 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 film 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 memories about his life in this village in his autobiography Ammayaane Sathyam. He is an alumnus of University College Trivandrum and Fatima Mata National College Kollam, Kerala Law Academy Law College, Thiruvananthapuram. Sisters: Sushma and Prema. Wife: Varada Menon. Children: Akhil Menon, Bhavana 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 Kerala government.

During his early days in Madras, he worked in Nana film weekly 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

Television

 * Suryodayam (Doordarshan, Direction)
 * Vilakku vekkum neram (Doordarshan)

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)