The list of top talents that the late legendary filmmaker K. Balachander gave Tamil and Indian cinema is unique. Among others his finds include Superstar Rajinikanth, Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan, Sridevi, Srividhya, Jayapradha, Jayasudha, Jayachithra, Sujatha, Saritha, Jai Ganesh, Nasser, Delhi Ganesh, Charlie, Madan Bob and Prakash Raj.

Now the Oscar fever is high after the "Naatu Naatu" song from 'RRR' and 'The Elephant Whisperers' won the Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Best Documentary Short respectively. However it was A.R. Rahman who made it first to the Oscars from South India winning the statuette for Best Original Score of 'Slumdog Millionaire' and its foot-tapping song 'Jai Ho' in 2009.

A notable fact is that Rahman was introduced to Tamil and Indian cinema in 'Roja' 1992 by K. Balachander who produced the film while Mani Ratnam directed it. Similarly though 'RRR' music director M.M. Keeravani made his debut in Telugu cinema he was introduced to Tamil audiences by Balachander in his 1990 super hit film 'Azhagan' starring Mammootty in the lead. Netizens cant stop raving on social media the massive contribution fo the Iyakkunar Sigaram in finding talents.

Balachander worked with Keeravani whom he christened Maragathamani for Tamil audiences in 'Vaaname Ellai' and 'Jaathi Malli' and in 'Nee Paathi Naan Paathi' which he produced. All were superhits. Similarly he worked with Rahman in 'Duet', 'Paarthale Paravasam' and 'Poi' and in Rajinikanth's 'Muthu' which he produced.

A.R. Rahman's upcoming films include 'Pathu Thala', 'Ponniyin Selvan 2', 'Lal Salaam', 'Ayalaan' and 'Maamannan'. Maragathamani's new Tamil film is 'Chandramukhi 2' directed by P. Vasu and starring Raghava Lawrence and Kangana Ranaut and 'Gentleman 2' produced by K.T. Kunjumon.