Balachandra Menon

Biography:  Balachandra Menon is a Malayalam film director, actor, script writer, lyricist, and producer. He made some very popular films in the 1980s and 1990s. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role of Ismail in the film Samantharangal in 1998. Along with Fazil and Padmarajan, Menon has introduced the most newcomers into the Malayalam film industry. The notable ones being Shobhana in April 18, Parvathy Jayaram in Vivahithare Ithile Ithile, Maniyan Pillai Raju in Maniyan Pillai Athava Maniyan Pillai, Karthika in Manicheppu Thurannappol, Annie in Ammayane Sathyam, and Nandini (Kausalya) in April 19. Many of his films work on the theme of uncommon relationships of common people. He has also made box-office hits like Chiriyo Chiri and Kaaryam Nissaram (early 80's). He also acted in the highest grossing Malayalam film, Classmates (2006), as a College Professor.