Throwback Thursday - T.S. Balaiah the most versatile character artiste
- IndiaGlitz, [Thursday,December 21 2017]
T.S. Balaiah, the very name spells versatality which he proved in film after film during his peak which was almost his entire life. Born in Thoothukudi in 1914, Balaiah bitten by the acting bug joined the Madurai Original Boys troupe which boasted other great names such as MGR, M.K. Radha and N.S. Krishnan. The same four actors made their screen debut in the 1936 film 'Sathileelavathi'. Incidently it was Balaiah who became a leading man ahead of the others in 'Mohini' opposite Madhuri Devi with MGR featuring in a supporting role.
As years went by Balaiah switched to villain roles most notably in 'Thooku Thooki', 'Ambikapathy' and 'Madurai Veeran'. As a comedian he is best remembered for his roles as Nagesh's father in 'Kadhalikka Neramillai' and as the vain singer Hemanatha Bhagavathar in 'Thiruvilayadal' not to forget his extraordinary Thaval playing miming in 'Thillana Mohanambal'.
Sivaji Ganesan has openly stated that along with M.R. Radha his role model in acting is T.S. Balaiah. Even though he passed away at a relatively young age of 57 in 1972, the legend continues to live as one of the most mimiced voices in Tamil cinema as such was his unique stamp on the medium.