Cinematographer and Director Balu Mahendra Passes Away Thursday Feb 13,2014

Cinematographer and Director Balu Mahendra(75)died in Chennai on Thursday Feb 13,2014 and is survived by his wife and son.

Balu Mahendra was admitted to Vijaya Hospital on Thursday morning following chest pain and was pronounced dead just past 11 a.m., according to one of his assistants who was at the hospital. Sources said he had suffered his second heart attack this morning.

Balu Mahendra's body will be kept at his film school ‘Cinema Pattarai’ in Dasarathapuram, Saligramam for fans and well-wishers to pay homage.

About Balu Mahendra(May 20,1939 - Feb 13,2014)

• A native of Amirthakali in Sri Lanka, Balu Mahendra, came to India to study at the Film Institute at Pune and studied cinematography as he could not get admission into other sepcialisations offered and completed the course with a gold medal in 1969. 

• first break in films was as the cinematographer for Malayalam Film Director Ramu Kariat’s ''Nellu''(1974) and won the Kerala State Best Cinematographer Award

• has worked as a cinematographer for the first film of many outstanding directors -

                      with Bharathan for 'Prayanam'(1975)

                      with Manirathan for his first film 'Pallavi Anupallavi'(1983) in Kannada
                      with Mahendran for ''Mullum Malarum'' (1978)

• maiden direction was 'Kokila'(1977) in Kannda

• maiden tamil film direction was  'Azhiyatha Kolangal'

• ‘Moondram Pirai’ in 1983 fetched him the national award for best cinematography, and also won Kamal Haasan his first national award for acting

master piece movies are -

• 'Azhiyatha Kolangal'(1979)
• 'Moodu Pani' (1980)
•  'Moontram Pirai'(1982)
•  'Veedu'(1988)
• 'Santhiya Ragam'(1989)

Balu Mahendra's latest film was ''Thalai Muraigal'',Tamil Film for which he did the cinematography and Diection and released on Dec 20,2013

Awards and Honours

National Awards -Five

• Best Cinematography Award (B&W) for ''Kokila,Kannada Film in 1978
• Best Cinematography Award (Colour) for ''Moondram Pirai,Tamil Film in 1983
• Best Feature Film in Tamil for ''Veedu'' in 1988
• Best Feature Film on Film Welfare for '' Sandhya Raagam'',Tamil Film in 1990 
• Best Feature Film in Tamil for ''Vanna Vanna Pookkal'' in 1992

Filmfare Awards -Three

• Best Director for ''Moondram Pirai,Tamil Film in 1983
• Best Direfctor for ''Olangal'',Malayalam Film in 1983
• Best Director for ''Veedu'',Tamil Film in 1988