Remembering K Balachander: Kamal Haasan celebrates the 'Director Paramount'

Filmmaker K. Balachander would have turned 94 today if he were alive. Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan shared a heartfelt tribute commemorating the 94th birth anniversary of Balachander, who is celebrated as "Director Paramount" in the Tamil film industry.

He noted that he doesn't need a special day to remember or talk about Balachander, who played a very instrumental role in shaping him as an artist. "Not a day goes by without me talking about him. I don't praise him only because he improved my life. He introduced many actors and superstars to benefit the film industry, even though he had nothing to gain personally," Kamal said about Balachander.

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Kamal acted in 28 movies under Balachander's direction, which is a record in itself in the Tamil film industry. While Balachander was a mentor to Kamal, he also introduced a slew of actors who have gone on to redefine Indian cinema on many levels. Superstar Rajinikanth and seasoned actor-producer Prakash Raj were among those who were nurtured and launched by Balachander.

"I can't immediately recall any other filmmaker who was so consistent in introducing new filmmaking methods and actors. Like me, there are several others whose lives were improved by him. Be it acting or how to live a life of restraint, he taught me everything. He has created many actors and technicians who will say the same," Kamal noted.

"Balachander's birthday is the knowledge day for us in the film industry," he said.

Kamal is now busy promoting his upcoming movie Indian 2, which is a sequel to his 1996 classic Indian. The film is the second part of the trilogy and will bring back Kamal's iconic role, Senapathy, to the screen after a gap of 28 years.

Written and directed by Shankar, Indian 2 will hit the screens on July 12.

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