T. S. Balaiah

T. S. Balaiah
T. S. Balaiah
டி. எஸ். பாலையா
Born	21 August 1912; Sundankottai, Sathankulam, Thoothukudi District
Died	22 July 1972 (aged 59)
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1936–1972
Spouses	Padmavati; Leelavati;
Children	7 including Junior Balaiah (actor); Manochithra (actress)

Thirunelveli Subramaniyan Balaiah (21 August 1912 – 22 July 1972) was an Indian actor. He is best known for playing supporting roles in Tamil films. Born in Sundankottai, near Sathankulam in Thoothukudi, Balaiah was introduced to the cine field by director Ellis R. Dungan in Sathi Leelavathi (1936), along with M. G. Ramachandran, N. S. Krishnan and M. K. Radha. He was one of the very few actors who excelled as a villain, as well as in character roles and comic roles.^[1]

Early life and death

T. S. Balaiah was born on 21 August 1912.^[2] He was born in Sundankottai, now in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu^[3] Balaiah lived in T. Nagar, and died at the age of 59.^[3]

Career

Being Part of various drama troupes, his career in films started with 'Madurai Original Boys' drama company which had several talented youngsters who created history in Tamil cinema, including M.K. Radha, M. G. Ramachandran,^[1] and N. S. Krishnan. Balaiah began his film career through the Tamil film Sathi Leelavathi in 1936. Balaiah played first lead role in Mohini paired opposite Madhuri Devi, where he played an elder brother to V. N. Janaki and supporting role by M.G.R . He gained a lot of weight at the age of 40 in 1954, hence started getting more character roles. Among his villain roles, Ambikapathy 1937, Andhaman Kaithi, Madurai Veeran, Thaikkupin Tharam, Hello Mister Zamindar and Thiruvilaiyadal were critically acclaimed. Balaiah also excelled in comedy roles in movies such as Kavalai Illaadha Manithan, Kadhalikka Neramillai, Bama Vijayam and Thillana Mohanambal. Actor Sivaji Ganesan had once mentioned that Balaiah along with M. R. Radha was his most admired actor.^[3]

Personal life

Balaiah had two wives (Padmavati, Leelavati) and seven Children among them Actress Manochithra is his daughter, while one of his sons Junior Balaiah has also appeared in films. One of his sons, Sai Baba, was part of MSV's troupe and sang a few songs.

Partial filmography

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1972	Agathiyar
1970	Ethiroli	Singapur Minor Balaiya
1968	Thillana Mohanambal	Muthurakku
1967	Ooty Varai Uravu	Vedachalam
1967	Bama Vijayam	Ethiraj
1966	Yarukaka Azhudan?
1966	Sadhu Mirandal	Ramananda Bhagavathar	Special appearance
1965	Vaazhkai Padagu
1965	Thiruvilayadal	Hemanatha Bagavathar
1965	Ennathaan Mudivu?
1965	Hello Mister Zamindar	Zamin Secretary
1964	Karuppu Panam	Sattanathan
1964	Kaadhalikka Neramillai	Vishwanathan
1962	Kavitha	Malaiyappan
1961	Thayilla Pillai	Pathanjali Sasthri
1961	Palum Pazhamum	Chinnavar (Sivaji Ganesan's uncle)
1961	Pavamanippu	Manickam Pillai
1961	Kumara Raja	Wealthy man (Chandrababu's father)
1966	Chavukkadi Chandrakantha
1960	Kavalai Illaadha Manithan	Jamabulingam
1960	Kalathur Kannamma	Ramalingam
1960	Parthiban Kanavu	Marappa Bhupathi
1959	Vaazha Vaitha Deivam	China Thambi
1959	Paththarai Maathu Thangam
1959	Orey Vazhi	Guest Appearance
1959	Bhaaga Pirivinai	Vaithiyalingam Moopanar
1958	Kathavarayan	Chinnan
1958	Pathi Bakthi	Sanyasi
1957	Neelamalai Thirudan	Police Inspector
1957	Pudhaiyal	Ambalam
1957	Allauddin Adhbhuta Deepam	Yakub
1956	Kaalam Maari Pochu
1956	Madurai Veeran	Thalapathi Marappan
1955	Maaman Magal	Kanniyappan
1955	Chella Pillai	Director Yaman
1954	Nallakalam
1954	Ratha Paasam	Madhu
1953	Gunasagari (Kannada film)	Nirguna
1953	Aasai Magan
1951	Manamagal	Balu
1950	Ezhai Padum Padu	Ramgopal
1949	Velaikkari	Mani
1947	Rajakumari	Prince Aalahaalan
1946	Chitra	Sanjeevi
1945	Meera	Jayaman
1945	Burma Rani	Ranjith Singh
1937	Ambikapathy	Rudrasenan
1936	Sathi Leelavathi	Ramanathan

References

^ ^a ^b Vamanan (30 November 2022). "Best of the baddest". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
^ Raman, Mohan (23 August 2014). "100 years of laughter". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c Guy, Randor (23 August 2014). "Darling of the masses". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.

External links

T. S. Balaiah at IMDb

[:0-1] Vamanan (30 November 2022). "Best of the baddest". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.

[2] Raman, Mohan (23 August 2014). "100 years of laughter". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2019.

[autogenerated1-3] Guy, Randor (23 August 2014). "Darling of the masses". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.

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