KOTTAYAM: Students and staff of the School of Letters, Mahatma Gandhi University on Tuesday bid farewell to their beloved ‘Balettan’ who served them as a teacher of creative arts for more than three decades- of course in a way any teacher would have loved.
Actor, scriptwriter and director, P Balachandran, who was affectionately called ‘Balettan’ by those close to him, mingled with his students and colleagues with his usual charm on the day.
‘Memoria Visiva: La vita Cinematographica Di un Dramaturgo’ meaning ‘Visual Memoir: the Cinematic Life of a Dramatist’ a documentary on him directed by his student P J Sajin was screened on the occasion.
This was followed by a play ‘Samarayilekku’ written by Balachandran 30 years ago when he was part of the School of Drama, Thrissur. V C Harris, Balachandran’s colleague in the School of Letters, who directed the play, said that he could not think of a better farewell to a colleague and friend who inspired him throughout his career as a teacher of cinematic arts.
Balachandran, who had acted in more than 20 films, had written screen plays to some Malayalam films, including ‘Pavithram’, which was also screened on the occasion. Taking inspiration from the life and times of poet P Kunhiraman Nair, he directed ‘Evan Megharoopan’ recently.
Vice-Chancellor Dr Rajan Gurukkal and Director Joshy Mathew attended the function. Balachandran’s wife and chairperson of Vaikom municipal council Sreelatha Balachandran also participated in the function.