The prominent writer, novelist and scriptwriter Balakumaran who was 71 years old breathed his last in Chennai today. According to reports, the writer was admitted to Kauvery Hospital for severe breathing trouble earlier on Tuesday.
Balakumaran who wrote scripts for over 20 Tamil films including some of the blockbusters like Nayakan, Gentleman, and Baasha. He wrote and made famous some of the memorable one-liners in Tamil cinema and some examples are ‘Neenga nallavara? Kettavara?’ from Nayakan or ‘Naan oru dhadava sonna…nooru dhadava sonna maari’ from Baasha.
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These dialogues became a part of Tamil popular culture and the actors like Kollywood giants Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth mouthed them to fame. Balakumaran directed the 1988 comedy film Idhu Namba Aalu starring Bhagyaraj.
Some of his famous, award-winning works include Irumbhu Kudhiraigal, Mercury Pookal, Kadarpalam, Sugajeevanam among others. Irumbu Kudirai won the Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar Award and Mercury Pookkal won the Ilakkiya Chinthanai award.
Balakumaran had also written over 150 novels and 100 short stories and contributed to important Tamil periodicals such as Kalki and Kumudam. In January this year, on Thiruvalluvar Day, he was honoured with Thamizhthendran Thiru.Vi.Ka Award by the Tamil Nadu Government.