T. S. Balaiah

Tirunelveli S. Balaiah (Tamil: திருநெல்வேலி எஸ். பாலையா; 23 August 1914 – 22 July 1972) was an Indian actor best known for playing supporting roles in the Tamil films. He 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.

Early life

T. S. Balaiah was born on 23 August 1914. He was born in Sundankottai, now in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu. He ran away from home at young age and joined a Circus. Later joined Jagannatha Iyer’s famous drama company which was working in Tirunelveli and from which no turning back.

Career

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 elder brother to V. N. Janaki and supporting role by M. G. Ramachandran. He gained lot of weight at the age of 40 in 1954, hence started getting more character roles. Among his villain roles, Ambikapathy, 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.

Personal life

Actress Manochithra is his daughter, while one of his sons Junior Balaiah has also appeared in films. Another son, Sai Baba, was part of MSV's troupe and sang a few song.

Partial filmography

Year	Movie		Role	Director	Notes
1972	Agathiyar
1969	Kanne Pappa		K. R. Vijaya, R. Muthuraman, Baby Rani	P. Madhavan
1968	Thillana Mohanambal			A. P. Nagarajan
1967	Ooty Varai Uravu		Vedachalam	C. V. Sridhar
1967	Bama Vijayam		Ethiraj	K. Balachander
1966	Yarukaka Azhudan
1965	Vaazhkai Padagu			C. Srinivasan
1965	Thiruvilayadal		Hemanatha Bagavathar	A. P. Nagarajan
1965	Hello Mister Zamindar			K. J. Mahadevan
1964	Karuppu Panam		Sattanathan	G. R. Nathan
1964	Kaadhalikka Neramillai		Vishwanathan	C.V.Sridhar
1962	Kavitha		Malaiyappan	T.R. Raghunath
1961	Thayilla Pillai		Pathanjali Sasthri	L. V. Prasad
1961	Pavamanippu
1961	Kumara Raja		Wealthy man (Chandrababu's father)	G. K. Ramu
1960	Kavalai Illaadha Manithan			K.Sankar
1960	Parthiban Kanavu		Marappa Bhupathi	D. Yoganand
1959	Vaazha Vaitha Deivam			M. A. Thirumugam
1959	Orey Vazhi			K. Shankar
1959	Bhaaga Pirivinai			A.Bhimsingh
1957	Neelamalai Thirudan		Police Inspector	M. A. Thirumugam
1957	Allauddin Adhbhuta Deepam
1956	Kaalam Maari Pochu			Tapi Chanakya
1956	Madurai Veeran		Thalapathi Marappan	Yoganand
1955	Maaman Magal		Kanniyappan	R. S. Mani
1955	Chella Pillai		Director Yaman	M. V. Raman
1954	Nallakalam			K. Vembu, J. Sinha
1954	Ratha Paasam		Madhu	R.S.Mani
1953	Gunasagari (Kannada film)			H.L.N. Simha
1951	Manamagal			N.S.Krishnan
1950	Ezhai Padum Padu			Ramnath
1949	Velaikkari		Mani	A.S.A.Samy
1946	Chitra			Wahab Kashmiri
1945	Meera		Jayaman	Ellis Dungan
1945	Burma Rani			T. R. Sundaram
1937	Ambikapathy		Rudrasenan	Ellis Dungan
1936	Sathi Leelavathi			Ellis Dungan

Other websites

• T. S. Balaiya on IMDb
• http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2319/stories/20061006000707900.htm Archived 2010-09-01 at the Wayback Machine
• The Three-in-One T. S. Balaiah in My Movie Minutes
• 100 years of laughter