T. N. Balakrishna

T. N. Balakrishna
Born	(1911-11-02)2 November 1911 Arsikere, Hassan Kingdom of Mysore
Died	19 July 1995(1995-07-19) (aged 83)[1] Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Balanna
Occupation	Actor
Spouses	Sathyavathi Sarojamma

Tirumakudalu Narasipura Balakrishna (2 November 1911 – 18 July 1995) was an Indian actor in Kannada cinema. He was said to have a hearing problem and some say that he was totally deaf. However, he would catch the lip movements of the artists and would narrate the dialogues spontaneously. He was popular for his comic and villainous roles in films like Kantheredu Nodu (1961), Muriyada Mane (1964), Bangaarada Manushya (1972), Gandhada Gudi (1973) and Kaamana Billu (1983) and appeared in numerous versatile roles over a hundred films that starred Rajkumar in the lead role.^[2]

Balakrishna is known to have played the most roles in Kannada cinema, having appeared in over 560 films as a hero, villain, comedian, good Samaritan, loving father and lunatic.^[2] Sudha Chandran is his ex-daughter in law. She was married to Balakrishna's son B.Srinivas who was the associate director of her Kannada movie Bisilu Beladingalu (1989). Sudha Chandran later produced Balakrishna's biopic Kalabhimani (1989) which was directed by B.Srinivas.

Early life

Balakrishna was born into a poor family on 2 November 1911 in Arsikere, Kingdom of Mysore. When he was four years old, his mother sold him to a couple for just ₹8 in order to provide treatment for her ailing husband. He ran away from his adopted parents after having been treated badly.

In his later years Balakrishna had lung cancer and finally succumbed to it on 18 July 1995 at the age of 83. Yama Kinkara was his last film appearance.

Career

Balakrishna first acted in the play, Shri Rama Pattabhishekha, in 1929. Following this, he worked as the painter of the stage backdrops for a drama company before becoming a professional sign painter. Later, he became a ticket collector in a drama company for a meagre salary. He returned to acting in theatre with Lakshmasana Drama Company and then with Gowrishankar Nataka Mandali. Following this, he joined the drama company of Gubbi Veeranna, a notable theatre director during the time.^[3] Film director B. R. Panthulu happened to visit the drama company, saw his acting on stage and offered him a film role, beginning his career as a movie actor. He appeared as an antagonist in the film Kalachakra, a performance that was appreciated. He appeared in over a hundred Kannada films playing mostly comic roles, that starred Rajkumar.

In order to make the Kannada film industry self-reliant and save money for the producers, Balakrishna started the studio, investing all of his money and property. He built the Abhiman studio in Kengeri, Bangalore, on a 20-acre plot in 1963, but faced difficulties initially. When no Kannada films were being made, Balakrishna got together with other actors like Rajkumar and G. V. Iyer and produced the film Ranadheera Kanteerava. He even raised money from the public at ₹1 per person to build the studio. The studio was a failure, and Balakrishna died in penury. Television serials are still being shot at the studio today which is being looked after by Balakrishna's son, B. Ganesh and grandson Karthik.^[4] His final screen appearance came in Yama Kinkara (1995).^[5]

Notable filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1943	Radha Ramana
1952	Dallali
1954	Devasundari
1954	Kanyadana
1954	Muttiddella Chinna
1955	Ashaadabhooti
1955	Bhakta Mallikarjuna
1956	Daiva Sankalpa
1956	Mutthaide Bhagya	Gundurao
1956	Pancharatna
1956	Sadarame
1957	Varadakshine	Seetharamaiah
1958	School Master	Gundappa
1959	Jagajyothi Basveshwara
1960	Ranadheera Kanteerava	Appanna
1961	Kittur Chennamma	Harana Setty
1962	Bhoodana
1963	Jenu Goodu	Stage actor
1964	Annapoorna	Kailas
1964	Thumbida Koda	M .S. Ramdev
1968	Gejje Pooje
1969	Kappu Bilupu	Narasimha Murthy
1969	Mayor Muthanna
1971	Sakshatkara	Laksmanayya
1971	Kasturi Nivasa	Bhojarajaiah
1971	Namma Samsara
1972	Bangarada Manushya	Raachutappa
1973	Gandhada Gudi	Venkatappa Naika
1973	Doorada Betta
1974	Bhakta Kumbara
1974	Sampathige Saval	Puttayya
1974	Bangaarada Panjara
1975	Thrimurthy	Seetharama
1975	Daari Tappida Maga	Prasad's father-in-law
1976	Premada Kanike
1976	Badavara Bandhu	Nagappa
1976	Naa Ninna Mareyalare	Subbanna
1977	Sanaadi Appanna	Ayyanna
1977	Devara Duddu
1978	Sneha Sedu
1978	Shankar Guru	Lakshman Rao
1978	Maathu Tappada Maga	Rachappa
1979	Naa Ninna Bidalaare	Gayatri's father
1979	Preethi Madu Thamashe Nodu	Hanumantha Rao
1980	Ondu Hennu Aaru Kannu
1980	Moogana Sedu
1980	Auto Raja	Dr Dinakar
1980	Kulla Kulli	Venkateshaiah
1981	Thayiya Madilalli	Ramayya
1982	Praya Praya Praya
1982	Mullina Gulabi
1983	Kaamana Billu
1983	Kaviratna Kalidasa	Gunasagara
1985	Bettada Hoovu	Doddajja
1986	Preethi	Constable Belliappa
1987	Ondu Muttina Kathe	Narasimha Swami
1987	Thaliya Aane
1987	Shruthi Seridaaga	Subbu
1990	Ashwamedha	Rama
1990	Udbhava	Ramachari
1992	Belliyappa Bangarappa	Rajasuite Uthappa
1992	Halli Meshtru
1994	Love 94
1995	Bombat Raja Bandal Rani
1995	Yama Kinkara

References

1. "His last days of "AU REVOIR"". Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
2. "100 and evergreen". The Hindu. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
3. Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-135-94325-7.
4. "No Abhiman about Balanna". Bangalore Mirror. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012.
5. ನಟ ಬಾಲಣ್ಣನ ಕಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಡಾ. ರಾಜ್ ಕೊಟ್ಟ ದುಡ್ಡೆಷ್ಟು ಅಂದ್ರೆ-TN Balakrishna LIFE FULL'-GEETABALI-#param (in Kannada). 23 March 2022. Event occurs at 27:13. Retrieved 22 August 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Balakrishna at IMDb