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 movies and acted in over 100 movies. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 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.
Menon has introduced many actors into the Malayalam film industry. Actors who made their debut in his films include Shobhana in April 18, Parvathy in Vivahithare Ithile Ithile, Maniyan Pillai Raju in Maniyan Pillai Athava Maniyan Pillai, 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. Menon enrolled as a lawyer on 29 July 2012, 22 years after completing his degree.
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:
- 1998 – Best Actor – Samaantharangal
- 1998 – Best Film on Family Welfare – Samaantharangal
Kerala State Film Awards:
- 1979 – Best Screen Play – Uthrada Rathri
- 1997 – Special Jury Award – Samaantharangal
Filmfare Awards South:
- 1998 – Best Actor – Samaantharangal