The veteran film director and cinematographer, Balu Mahendra has died today morning The 74-year-old filmmaker was admitted to a hospital after he complained of chest pain.His personal assistant confirmed the news over phone that Balu Mahendra had passed away just past 11 a.m A winner of five national awards, Balu Mahendra was born in Sri Lanka.He worked across film industries and has made movies in almost all South Indian languages.
Mahendra is well known to Telugu spectators with the films Nireekshana that was released in the year 1982 and remained as all-time classic Balu Mahendra started his career as a cinematographer and later moved into direction and screenplay writing.The veteran director made his directorial debut with Kannada film “Kokila” in 1977.
Mahendra was equally praised for his cinematography and directional finesse.He was among the first to pioneer innovative color in south Indian cinema, and is considered to be “one of the few filmmakers in Tamil who believes in telling a story visually’’
For the first time in his four-decade long career, Mahendra starred in a pivotal role in a Tamil film that released last year.
The film “Thalaimuraigal” revolves around the bond between a grandfather and his grandson.Mahendra, who appeared as the grandfather, was lauded for his performance in the film, which has been deemed as one of the veteran’s best creations
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