Eminent Cinematographer, Filmmaker, Screen-writer and Editor Balu Mahendra breathed his last today at Vijaya Hospital, Chennai due to serious illness.
The 74 year old veteran filmmaker has been a pioneer in filmmaking practices in the 70s. A gold medalist from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Balu Mahendra has started his career as a cinematographer with Nellu (1974). Later he turned a director with Kannada film Kokila in 1977. He is a five time National Award winner along with three Filmfares and numerous State Awards of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
As a cinematographer for classics like Sankarabharanam and directing yet another classic like Nireekshana, his contribution to Telugu cinema remains times immemorial.
Films like Moondram Pirai, Sadma and Sathi Leelavathi are few among his classics. Thalaimuraigal (Tamil) in 2013 was his last film as a director. The entire Indian film industry mourns his death.
