The man on left — Narayanan Lakshmi Balakrishnan — needs no introduction. A small thread on some lesser known facts about the man. #NLBalakrishnan

He passed away this day in 2014. 1+

He was from Powdikonam. Actual name was Velan (Velayudhan). Reportedly, the name Balakrishnan was suggested by a school headmaster when a 5 year old Velan came to join there. 2+

Writer V K Seeraman once described NLB as 'പളുങ്കുഗോട്ടി പോലുള്ള മനസ്സും ഹിമാലയം പോലെ ശരീരവുമുള്ള ഒരാൾ’ (loosely translating as ‘someone with a tender heart and a gigantic appearance’).

And that describes him pretty much fairly. 3+

Learned photography from College of Fine Arts (erstwhile Maharaja’s School of Arts) in Thiruvananthapuram, and famous studios like Metro, Sivan’s, Roopalekha and Kalalaya. He started career as a still photographer afterwards. 4+ @santoshsivan

His stint with films stated when he joined the shoot of Kallichellamma in 1969. Incidentally, this film was produced by Sobhana Parameswaran Nair who himself was a famous still photographer. 5+

The man seen along with cycle in still photo had this brief appearance in that film. An aspiring writer and an employee of All India Radio. He was from Muthukulam.
Yes you guessed it right— it was Padmarajan. 6+

He did still photography for 172 films. He was the one who started the system of taking stills while the actual shoot is / was on. Before that, the system was to ask actors to reprise scenes for stills after the shoot got over. 7+

He had an acting career as well. 160 films. Starting with Rajeev Anchal’s Ammaanam Kili.
Among all, his peers pal favourite was Appaji from Kamal’s Orkkaappuraththu. 8+

He was a voracious reader, with a huge collection of books. Was fond of writing letters too, and had this habit of writing diary. A habit that spanned over so many decades. 9+

Some of his pics. Just a very few. 10+

1. Zacharia, V. Rajakrishnan and Aravindan.

2. Balachandran Chullikkad and Kalpana.

3. Poet A. Ayyappan.

4. Still from Kaanchanaseetha. 11+

He had a deep friendship and bonding with Aravindan. He worked for all 11 films of the late director. It’s said that whenever Aravindan wrote letters to him, he’d draw a liquor bottle also.

Drinking was a favourite item for him. Perhaps the most favourite. 12+

Heard of an association called Forum For Better Spirit? Perhaps India’s first ever union of people who drink! This was aimed at demanding and ensuring subsidised supply of good quality liquor in Kerala. NLB was the head of this group. The name also was suggests by him. 13+

There are countless stories about him and his unbelievable fetish for drinking. Had seen an old interview where he was saying the highest ever he had — in one setting — was 20 pegs. Along with 50 boiled eggs! 14+

His act of throwing away and destroying camera in front of top management (Kerala Kaumudi — where he worked from 1968 to 79) was very (in)famous. He did so when an irritated M S Mani, the Chief Editor, asked NLB to leave Kaumudi. 15+

Fun thing is, after destroying both the cameras (belonging to Kaumudi management), he went out, came back again with his own camera, and banged it, thereby destroying that too. Why? For reasons best known to him only. 16+

Seen with Mother Teresa. 17+

18+

Ace cinematographer Venu recollects two incidents.

Says NLB disliked travelling. When both were off to the location of MT’s Manju, NLB demanded to have couple of drinks before entering train from Trivandrum. But after that, he refused to board the train —> 19+

—> and Venu had to literally plead and do everything to make him get into it. 20+

Next one was more hilarious.

MT once asked Venu to meet him at an Ayurveda clinic in Nagercoil. (He was planning to make a film on a story by S K Pottekkad). Venu and a friend went and met the writer who was undergoing some treatment there. 21+

MT handed over an incomplete script (close to 30 pages only) and asked Venu to go through it so as to have a rough idea of the work ahead. Venu kept those pages carefully and safely on the back seat of his Fiat. 22+

Venu had to attend a function at Sreemoolam club in Trivandrum that evening. Balannan (as he fondly calls NLB) was there and in full form — and creating minor problems there. Upon request of staff, Venu managed to somehow make NLB get inside his car.
23+

Then he drove to his place in Powdikkonam and dropped him.

Now starts the hilarious part. 24+

Balannan walked away and entered home. Venu could see some papers laying stranded on road ahead — thanks to car’s headlight. Panic struck, he looks back and realised that while getting out, NLB had taken those papers as well and threw it away. Just like that, unconsciously. 25+

Imagine! MT Nair’s script — lying just like that on Powdikkonam junction!

Venu wrote later that he thought of suiciding at that very moment. 26+

He somehow collected himself first and all those papers as well. But since they were not serially numbered, it took many a days efforts for him to read, reread and sort. But he did it eventually. 27+

That film happened — and later went on to bag so many State, National and International Awards. Including State and National Awards for Best Screenplay. The very same screenplay.

Kadavu — was that film.

Thread ends. But NL Balakrishnan stories never seem to...