Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth’s guru K Balachander passes away

“He was a filmmaker like no other. His style of working and directing was completely different from any other directors I have worked with,” remembered Bollywood actor-turned-MP Hema Malini who lamented the passing away of octogenarian film director, screenwriter and producer K Balachander.

The Dadasaheb Phalke awardee legend who directed 82 films and worked in 102, passed away at private health facility in Alwarpet after a week-long battle with renal complications around 7 pm on Tuesday.

“He was a great disciplinarian and was stickler for time on the sets,” remembered the Dream Girl. “He had a very sensitive real world understanding of characters from his stories and would painstakingly explains every little detail. Though he spoke largely in English, he would often lapse into Tamil, aware that I spoke the language.” She remembered how she had immediately agreed to do Ek Nai Paheli based on Balchander's Tamil classic Apoorva Raagangal. “It was handled in such a mature and sensitive manner that I was bowled when I watched the original.”

Others like critically acclaimed film-maker and actor Anant Mahadevan too expressed deep grief and shock Balchander's demise. “Not many know Balachander Sir had made Hindi films as early on as 1965 (Oonche Log). He made other films like Aaina (1977) starring Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz but it wasn't until he remade his Telugu blockbuster hit Maro Charithra (1979) into an even bigger one in Hindi -Ek Duje Ke Liye (EDKL) two years later that he became a known name to Bollywood audiences.”

Mahadevan then worked with an ad agency Bombay Publicity which was handling publicity for EDKL. “That's how I met Balachander and Kamal Hassan for the first time for the pres conference at Mumbai's Sun & Sand. The media here who were used to the showmanship of filmmakers like Manmohan Desai and Subhash Ghai did not seem to take him too seriously,” he remembered and added, “That was only till the EDKL released and set the box office on fire.”

Mahadevan acted in the filmmaker's still-to-release crime drama Papanasam which also has Kamal Hassan playing the lead. “In my interaction with Kamal I have seen how much he adored and idolised Balachander who had discovered him. When Kamal who acted in over 35 of his films offered a role to his mentor as a mark of respect in Uthama Villain life indeed came full circle. I was offered a role in the film but couldn't accept it due to prior commitments.”

The nine time National Film awardee who was also conferred the the Padma Shri in 1987 had dabbled in tv too. Mahadevan recounts his reaching out with a role and for help in casting for series which he couldn't do. “I suggested Chhoti Si Asha as a name and he went with that.”

The 84-year-old who had undergone a surgery to remove a brain tumour a month ago slipped into a coma and finally breathed his last according to his doctors. Known for his bold films like Arangetram, Aval Oru Thodar Kathai, Sindhu Bhairavi, Manmadha Leelai, Anthuleni Katha and Moondru Mudichu among others he will be remembered as one of the best film makers that India has seen.

“I met him while accepting the four national awards for my film Sindhutai Sapkal in 2011 the last time. He was being honoured with the Phalke award and sat in the front row. He spoke to me endearingly and said we must catch up. Alas, that'll never be.”