The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Filmmaker Balu Mahendra to start film institute

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 24, 2007
ePaper


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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Filmmaker Balu Mahendra to start film institute

S.R.Ashok Kumar

It will offer courses in acting, cinematography and direction

Director and cinematographer Balu Mahendra

CHENNAI: Veteran filmmaker Balu Mahendra will soon start a film institute in Chennai. It will offer one-year diploma courses in direction, cinematography and acting from September 2007.

Mr. Mahendra started his career as a cinematographer. He joined the Poona Film Institute to learn cinematography in 1966. His first assignment was "Nellu", directed by Ramukariat. He has worked with some of the best-known directors, including Mani Ratnam.

His first directorial venture was "Kokila", starring Kamal Haasan and Shoba. He has directed 19 films till now. His last directorial venture was "Athu Oru Kanakalam", starring Dhanush.

Mr. Mahendra said acquaintances had been asking him to start an institute for a long time now. "For the past 40 years I have been working round the clock. I had a heart attack in 1997 and a paralytic attack in 2000. But I recovered. I want to pass on my knowledge about films. Hence I decided to start the institute.

"I will be teaching direction and cinematography while Gopali of the National School of Drama will head the acting department. Experienced artists and technicians of the south Indian film industry and award-winning writers will regularly present guest lectures. I am over 60 now and wish to train younger persons for some years. But they must be ready to learn for nearly ten hours a day."

"Balu Mahendra Cinema Pattarai' would be inaugurated on September 7.

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