Balan K. Nair
Balakrishnan Kuttiraman Nair, more popularly known as Balan K. Nair (4 April 1933 26 August 2000) was an Indian actor known for his roles in Malayalam cinema. Although he appeared as a villain in most films, he was also noted for his performances in strong character roles. He emerged as one of the top villain of Malayalam cinema in the second half of the 1970s and played some of the best villain characters in Malayalam films during that period.
Also recorded as Balakrishnan Nair
Balan K. Nair
- Name
- Balan K.
- Birth Name
- Balakrishnan Nair
- Born
- 4 April 1933
- Birthplace
- Chemancheri, Kozhikode, Malabar district, British India (present day Kozhikode, Kerala, India)
- Died
- 26 August 2000
- Place of death
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- Occupation
- Actor
- Spouse
- Sarada Nair
- Nationality
- British Raj · Dominion of India · India
- Honours
- National Film Award for Best Actor
- Languages
- Malayalam
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Balakrishnan Kuttiraman Nair, more popularly known as Balan K. Nair (4 April 1933 26 August 2000) was an Indian actor known for his roles in Malayalam cinema. Although he appeared as a villain in most films, he was also noted for his performances in strong character roles. He emerged as one of the top villain of Malayalam cinema in the second half of the 1970s and played some of the best villain characters in Malayalam films during that period.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
No house-authored Note is published until its assertions and sources pass the VALÉORINE evidence contract. The documentary article remains available in full while that enrichment is being consolidated.
Documentary enrichment in progress · no unsupported statement published
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Balan K. Nair. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- unresolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
wikidata · Q4849932 · wikipedia · Balan K. Nair
In this article
Biography
Biography
He won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1981 for his performance as Govindan in the film Oppol.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Balan K. Nair • Birth Name — Balakrishnan Nair • Born — 4 April 1933 • Birthplace — Chemancheri, Kozhikode, Malabar district, British India (present day Kozhikode, Kerala, India) • Died — 26 August 2000 • Place of death — Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1970 1992 • Spouse — Sarada Nair • Children — 5 (incl. Meghanathan) • Parents — * Idakkulam Karinattu Veettil Kuttiraman Nair • Devaki Amma
Personal life
Personal life
Balakrishnan Kuttiraman (Balan K.) Nair was the eldest of four children of Idakkulam Kizhakke Veettil Kuttiraman Nair, a store owner, and Devaki Amma, a housewife in 1933 in the village of Chemancheri near Quilandy. His parents died when he was young and hence he had to take care of his siblings and discontinue his studies at eighth grade. Prior to his entry in films, he worked as a mechanic in Kozhikode and owned a metal workshop. He started his acting career at the age of 14. At that time he was associated with Sangamam Theatre in Kozhikode, Muthappankavu troupe, Kozhikodan drama troupes and his own drama troupe Subash Theaters. After his marriage to Sharadha, he moved to Shoranur in Palakkad. His son Meghanathan is also an actor who died in 2024. Balan K. Nair died of Multiple myeloma at Sree Chitra Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram on 26 August 2000, aged 67.
Film career
Film career
Balan K. Nair made his debut in the film Nizhalattam, directed by A. Vincent in 1970. Prior to acting in Malayalam movies, he worked as a stunt double for Bollywood star Dev Anand. He acted in more than 300 films in Malayalam, mostly as a villain. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor in 1974 and 1978 for his roles in Adhiti and Thacholi Ambu. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role as a reformed military officer in the 1981 film Oppol. Some of his other well-known movies are Ee Naadu, Aaryan, and Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha. His last movie was Kadavu, in which he played the role of an oarsman directed by the novelist M. T. Vasudevan Nair based on a story by another famous literary figure S. K. Pottekkatt.
1970s
1970s
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1970 — Nizhalattam — Balan • 1971 — Kuttyedathi — Kuttayi • 1972 — Panimudakku — Balan • Chembarathi — Thomas • Mappusakshi • 1973 — Mazhakkaru • Darshanam • Ragging • Soundarya Pooja • Swapnam • Chenda • 1974 — Pathiravum Pakalvelichavum • Thacholi Marumakan Chanthu — Yenali • Udayam Kizhakku Thanne • 1975 — Utharayanam — Achuthan • Athithi — Raghavan • 1976 — Samasya • Ammini Ammavan — Balan • Yudhabhoomi • Chottanikkara Amma — Vilwamangalam Swamiyar • Panchami — Kochuvareed • Njavalpazhangal • 1977 — Aparadhi — Malayi Kunjumon • 1978 — Rowdy Ramu — Bhasi • Chuvanna Vithukal • Ashokavanam • Black Belt • Ahalya • Vayanadan Thampan • Agni — Moosa • Thacholi Ambu — Mayin Kuttiyil • 1979 — Indradhanussu — Mammad • Anubhavangale Nandi • Valeduthavan Valal • Vijayam Nammude Senani • Oru Ragam Pala Thalam • Arattu — Chacko • Maamaankam • Yakshipparu — Irumban • Thenthulli
1980s
1980s
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1980 — Moorkhan — Major Chandrasekhar • Lava — Velayudhan • Idimuzhakkam — Govindan Unnithan • Makara Vilakku • Karimbana — Chellayan • Kalika — Jamal • Kari Puranda Jeevithangal — Daniel • Ival Ee Vazhi Ithu Vare • Benz Vasu — Varkey • Aswaradham — Veeraraghavan • Prakadanam — Chacko • Ivar — Avaran Muthalali • Baktha Hanuman — Ravanan • Angadi — Beeran • Chandrahasam — Bhaskaran • Lorry — Ouseph • Oppol — Govindan • 1981 — Kolilakkam • Attimari — Prasad • Itha Oru Dhikkari — Govinda Panikkar • Poochasanyasi • Adimachangala • Vazhikal Yathrakkar • Randu Mukhangal • Chaatta — Velu • Oppol — Govindan • Raktham — Padmanabhan • Sangarsham — Parsha/Vikraman • Thrasam • Ithihasam — Thankappan • Akramanam — Majeed • Thusharam — Rajeshekharan Menon • Garjanam • Valarthu Mrigangal — Kumaran • Sphodanam — Muthalali • Ahimsa — Kunjutty • Hamsageetham • 1982 — Koritharicha Naal • Postmortem — Mammokka • Sree Ayappanum Vavarum — Otheyanan • Beedikunjamma — Kunjamma's Father • Irattimadhuram — K.B. Menon • Ethiralikal — Mathai • Paanjajanyam — Balan • Thadakam — Gopakumar • Marupacha — Mammadikka • Ahimsa — Kunjutty • Kattile Pattu — Panikkar • Idavela • Aayudham — Prathapan • John Jaffer Janardhanan — Chandran • Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam — Sekhar • Chiriyo Chiri — Abdul Rasaq • Veedu — Sumi's father • Maattuvin Chattangale • Mylanchi — Abdhurahman Haji • Komaram • Akrosham — Kollakkaaran Ganga • Kazhumaram • Ankachamayam — Robert • Mazhu • Chambalkadu • Padayottam — Mootha Marakkar • Innalenkil Nale — Gopalan Mash • Ee Nadu — Krishna Pillai • 1983 — America America — Jackson • Nizhal Moodiya Nirangal — Thampi • Bandham • Omanathinkal • Varanmare Avashyamundu — Abdullakka • Nadi Muthal Nadi Vare — Chekutty • Samrambham — Raghavan • Thalam Thettiya Tharattu — Adv. Rajeshekharan • Kadamba — Keshavan • Justice Raja — Narendran/Nagendran • Asuran • Visa — Abukka • Maniyara — Ansari • Thaavalam — Jayaram • Ee Yugam — Nair • Aadhipathyam — Menon • Prathijnja — Gopalan/KRG Panikkar • Kodumkattu — Raghavan • Thimingalam — Kuruppu • Ankam — Fr. John • Bookambam — Shakthi • Himam — Vaasu • Hello Madras Girl • Passport — Chandrasenan • Paalam • Mortuary — Narendran • Asthram — Stephen • Eettappuli — Shekharan • Iniyenkilum — Nambiar • 1984 — Aalkkoottathil Thaniye — Madhavan • Koottinilamkili — Yousuf • Shabadham — Sekhara Pilla • Manasse Ninakku Mangalam — Doctor • Onnum Mindatha Bharya — Thampi • Nethavu • Bullet • Thacholi Thankappan — Keshu • Piriyilla Naam • Koodu Thedunna Parava — Khader Kakka • Krishna Guruvayoorappa — Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri • Ningalil Oru Sthree — Latha's father • Sapadham — Shekharan Pillai • Jeevitham — Ummer Haji • Manithali — Judgal Abu • Inakili — Kunjambu • Unaroo — Hakkim • Sree Krishna Parundu — Kunjambu • Vetta • NH 47 — Thankappan • Mynakam • Uyaragalil — SP Madhavan Kurup • Raajavembaala — Williams • Ivide Thudagunnu — M. S. Menon • Ulpathi • Vellam — Bappu • 1985 — Choodatha Pookkal — Moideen • Jeevante Jeevan — Thampi • Shathru — U. P. Menon • Sannaham — Prathapan • Vilichu Vilikettu — N. N. K. Nair • Arodum Parayaruthu • Chillukottaram • Angadikkappurathu — Khan Sayib • Revenge • Pathamudhayam — Rahim • Chorakku Chora — Chellappan • Nullinovikkathe • Uyarum Njan Nadake — Nambyar • Akkachide Kunjuvava • Ottayan — Balu • 1986 — Ithile Iniyum Varu — M. S. Nair • Karinagam • Pidikittappulli • Meenamasathile Sooryan — Police officer • Caberet Dancer • Vartha — Forest Minister • Bharya Oru Manthri — Balakrishnan • Surabhee Yamangal — Mathews • Ashtabandham — Pisharody master • Kulambadikal • T. P. Balagopalan M. A. — Father • 1987 — Yagagni — Maran • Kaiyethum Doorathu — Vidwan Maraar • Bhoomiyile Rajakkanmar — Chief Minister • Adimakal Udamakal — Karunakaran Nambiar • Ithente Needhi • Kilipattu • Ithrayum Kalam — Kunjavummed Haji • Sarvakalasala • Kalam Mari Katha Mari — Aliyarukunji • Naalkavala — Hamsa • Neeyallengil Njan — Divakaran • Ente Sonia — Thilak • Naradhan Keralathil — Ex M. P. Menon • 1988 — 1921 — Beeran • Rahasyam Parama Rahasyam • Aranyakam — Ravunni • Abkari — Chathunny • Theruvu Narthaki • Kanakambaragal • Ambalakkara Panjayath • Puravrutham — Kanaran • Ore Thooval Pakshikal • Janmasathru — Avarachan • Dhwani — Bahuleyan • Mukthi — P. K. Nambyar • Aryan — Muhammad • 1989 — Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha — Kannappan Chekavar • Adhipan — Sukumaran Mashu • Vaynattathinu Nalladh Karpoora Thulasi — Potty Iyer/Wakrajilli Chettiyar/Delhi Duttan • Devadas
1990s
1990s
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1990 — Samrajyam — Chandy • Brahmarakshassu — Rudran Pillai • Midhya — Narayanan • Indrajaalam — Ayyappan Nair • Nammude Naadu — Maliyekkal Chacko • Thazhvaram — Kanaran • Gajakesariyogam — Narayanan Nambiar • Purappadu — Ravunni Nair • Appu — Abu • Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam — Arumukham Chettiyar • 1991 — Amaram — Pillaichan • Keli — Ramankutty Nair • Oru Prathyeka Ariyippu — Raghavan • 1992 — Simhadhwani • Kadavu — Beeran
Tamil
Tamil
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1981 — Garjanai • 1983 — Sattam • 1984 — Neengal Kettavai — Stunt Master's friend • 1985 — Mangamma Sabatham
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Chemancheri.
Birth place
Thiruvananthapuram.
Death place
Awards
National Film Awards: • Best Actor – 1981 – Oppol Kerala State Film Awards: • Second Best Actor – 1974 – Adhithi • Second Best Actor – 1978 – Thacholi Ambu
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 27 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
37,515 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Balaji MohanPerson
- Balaji SakthivelPerson
- Balaji TharaneetharanPerson
- BalakumaranPerson
- BalasekaranPerson
- Baldassarre NegroniPerson
- Baldev Raj ChopraPerson
- Balduin KusbockPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Balan K. Nair?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.