Balan K. Nair
Balakrishnan Nair, more popularly known as Balan K. Nair 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 won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1981 for his performance as Govindan in the film Oppol.
Personal life
Balakrishnan Nair was born as eldest among four to Idakkulam Kizhakke Veettil Kuttiraman Nair, a store owner, and Devaki Amma, a housewife in 1933 in a village called Chemancheri near Quilandy. He has two brothers and a sister. 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 a Malayalam film actor.Balan K. Nair died of Bone Cancer at Sree Chitra Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram on 26 August 2000, aged 67. Balan K. Nair is survived by his wife, Sarada, and children, Anil, Meghanathan, Ajayakumar, Latha and Sujatha.
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 a Muslim 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:- Best Actor – 1981 – Oppol
- Second Best Actor – 1974 – Adhithi
- Second Best Actor – 1978 – Thacholi Ambu
Filmography
Tamil
- Garjanai
- Sattam
- Neengal Kettavai
- Mangamma Sabatham
Malayalam
- Kadavu... Beeran
- Simhadhwani
- Oru Prathyeka Ariyippu... Raghavan
- Keli
- Amaram... Pillaichan
- Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam... Arumukham Chettiyar
- Appu... Abu
- Purappadu
- Gajakesariyogam... Narayanan Nambiar
- Thazhvaram... Kanaran
- Nammude Naadu... Maliyekkal Chacko
- Indrajalam... Ayyappan Nair
- Midhya... Narayanan
- Brahmarakshassu
- Samrajyam
- Devadas
- Vaynattathinu Nalladh Karpoora Thulasi... Potty Iyer/Wakrajilli Chettiyar/Delhi Duttan
- Adhipan... Mashu
- Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha... Kannappan Chekavar
- Aryan
- Mukthi... P. K. Nambyar
- Dhwani... Bahuleyan
- Janmasathru... Avarachan
- Ore Thooval Pakshikal
- Puravrutham... Kanaran
- Ambalakkara Panjayath
- Kanakambaragal
- Theruvu Narthaki
- Abkari... Chathunny
- Aranyakam... Ravunni
- Rahasyam Parama Rahasyam
- 1921... Beeran
- Naradhan Keralathil... Ex M. P. Menon
- Ente Sonia... Thilak
- Neeyallengil Njan... Divakaran
- Naalkavala
- Kalam Mari Katha Mari... Aliyarukunji
- Sarvakalasala
- Ithrayum Kalam... Kunjavummed Haji
- Kilipattu
- Ithente Needhi
- Adimakal Udamakal... Karunakaran Nambiar
- Bhoomiyile Rajakkanmar... Chief Minister
- Kaiyethum Doorathu... Vidwan Maraar
- Yagagni... Maran
- T. P. Balagopalan M. A.... father
- Kulambadikal
- Ashtabandham
- Surabhee Yamangal
- Bharya Oru Manthri
- Vartha
- Caberet Dancer
- Meenamasathile Sooryan... Police officer
- Pidikittappulli
- Karinagam
- Ithile Iniyum Varu... M. S. Nair
- Ottayan... Balu
- Akkachide Kunjuvava
- Uyarum Njan Nadake... Nambyar
- Nullinovikkathe
- Chorakku Chora... Chellappan
- Pathamudhayam... Rahim
- Revenge
- Angadikkappurathu... Khan Sayib
- Chillukottaram
- Arodum Parayaruthu
- Vilichu Vilikettu
- Sannaham
- Shathru... U. P. Menon
- Jeevante Jeevan... Thampi
- Choodatha Pookkal... Moideen
- Vellam... Bappu
- Ulpathi
- Ivide Thudagunnu... M. S. Menon
- Rajavembala
- Uyaragalil
- Mynakam
- NH 47... Thankappan
- Vetta
- Sree Krishna Parundu... Kunjambu
- Unaroo
- Inakili... Kunjambu
- Manithali... Judgal Abu
- Jeevitham... Ummer Haji
- Sapadham
- Ningalil Oru Sthree
- Krishna Guruvayoorappa... Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri
- Koodu Thedunna Parava
- Piriyilla Naam
- Thacholi Thankappan... Keshu
- Bullet
- Nethavu
- Onnum Mindatha Bharya... Thampi
- Manasse Ninakku Mangalam... Doctor
- Shabadham... Sekhara Pilla
- Koottinilamkili... Yousuf
- Aalkkoottathil Thaniye... Madhavan
- Iniyenkilum... Nambiar
- Eettappuli... Shekharan
- Asthram... Stephen
- Mortuary... Narendran
- Palam
- Passport... Chandrasenan
- Hello Madras Girl
- Himam... Vaasu
- Bookambam
- Ankam... Father John
- Thimingalam... Kuruppu
- Kodumkattu
- Prathijnja... Gopalan/KRG Panikkar
- Aadhipathyam... Menon
- Ee Yugam
- Thavalam... Jayaram
- Maniyara... Ansari
- Visa... Abukka
- Asuran
- Justice Raja... Narendran, Nagendran
- Kadamba... Keshavan
- Thalam Thettiya Tharattu
- Samrambam
- Nadi Muthal Nadi Vare
- Varanmare Avashyamundu... Abdullakka
- Omanathinkal
- Bandham
- Nizhal Moodiya Nirangal.... Thampi
- America America... Jackson
- Ee Nadu... Krishna Pillai
- Innalenkil Nale
- Padayottam... Mootha Marakkar
- Chambalkadu
- Mazhu
- Ankachamayam... Robert
- Kazhumaram
- Akrosham... Kollakkaaran Ganga
- Komaram
- Mylanchi... Abdhurahman Haji
- Maattuvin Chattangale
- Veedu... Sumi's father
- Chiriyo Chiri
- Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam... Sekhar
- John Jaffer Janardhanan... Chandran
- Aayudham... Prathapan
- Idavela
- Kattile Pattu... Panikkar
- Ahimsa... Kunjutty
- Marupacha... Mammadikka
- Thadakam
- Panchajanyam... Balan
- Ethiralikal... Mathai
- Irattimadhuram... K.B. Menon
- Beedikunjamma... Kunjamma's Father
- Sree Ayappanum Vavarum... Otheyanan
- Postmortem... Mammokka
- Koritharicha Naal
- Hamsageetham
- Ahimsa... Kunjutty
- Sphodanam... Muthalali
- Valarthu Mrigangal... Kumaran
- Garjanam
- Thusharam
- Akramanam
- Ithihasam
- Thrasam
- Sangarsham... Parsha/Vikraman
- Raktham
- Oppol... Govindan
- Chaatta... Velu
- Randu Mukhangal
- Vazhikal Yathrakkar
- Adimachangala
- Poochasanyasi
- Itha Oru Dhikkari... Govinda Panikkar
- Attimari... Prasad
- Kolilakkam
- Oppol... Govindan
- Lorry
- Chandrahasam... Bhaskaran
- Angadi
- Baktha Hanuman
- Ivar... Avaran Muthalali
- Prakadanam... Chacko
- Aswaradham... Veeraraghavan
- Benz Vasu
- Ival Ee Vazhi Ithu Vare
- Kari Puranda Jeevithangal
- Kalika... Jamal
- Karimbana
- Makaravilakku
- Idimuzhakkam... Govindan Unnithan
- Lava... Velayudhan
- Moorkhan... Major Chandrasekhar
- Thenthulli
- Yakshipparu... Irumban
- Mamankam
- Arattu
- Oru Ragam Pala Thalam
- Vijayam Nammude Senani
- Valeduthavan Valal
- Anubhavangale Nandi
- Thacholi Ambu... Mayin Kuttiyil
- Agni... Moosa
- Vayanadan Thampan
- Ahalya
- Black Belt
- Ashokavanam
- Chuvanna Vithukal
- Rowdy Ramu
- Aparadhi... Malayi Kunjumon
- Njavalpazhangal
- Panchami... Kochuvareed
- Chottanikkara Amma
- Yudhabhoomi
- Ammini Ammavan... Balan
- Samasya
- Athithi
- Utharayanam
- Udayam Kizhakku Thanne
- Thacholi Marumakan Chanthu... Yenali
- Pathiravum Pakalvelichavum
- Chenda
- Swapnam
- Soundarya Pooja
- Ragging
- Darshanam
- Mazhakkaru
- Mappusakshi
- Chembarathi... Thomas
- Panimudakku... Balan
- Kuttyedathi... Kuttayi
- Nizhalattam... Balan