It’s been 40 long years for Balachandra Menon in the film industry and by the looks of it, he has no plans of taking a break from filmmaking. He says he cannot even think about staying away from cinema. It is this passion that has added a new feather in his cap. Balachandra Menon has found space in the Limca Book of Records this year for maximum number of films directed, scripted and acted in.
“I believe that if a person is destined for something it will happen. It so happened that when I had completed 40 years, the club that I am part of —‘Roses The Family Club’ — wanted to celebrate it. There is a group of really good youngsters in the club, who are also film enthusiasts. I told them that I would not be interested in a felicitation event. Instead, I gave them a suggestion that they study my works and find out in what way I am different.
I wanted to know that on the occasion when I have completed 40 years, do I deserve a special mention or not?” He adds on. “A month later they approached me again and told me that they found out something different in my work. They placed before me their observation wherein they have categorised filmmakers from world over who simultaneously handle direction, scripting and acting in a movie. My name was in it and it was a revelation for me. These kids submitted the data and a report of the same. I entrusted a committee to scrutinise it, they gave me a green signal. We got an authorised letter from AMMA, MACTA, Producers Association, Film Chamber and Chalachitra Academy. We then announced this in Thiruvananthapuram, the announcement was made by Adoor Gopalakrishnan.”
On how his achievement was considered for the Limca Book of Records he says, “Currently, the English translation of my book Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam is on going at Konark Publications, Delhi. The publisher found the information very interesting and it was their decision to bring this under the notice of Limca Book of Records. Hence, the file was submitted to them, they studied it in detail and here it is!”
“To enjoy the first position at least for a minute in the field I work in, I express my sincere gratitude to Almighty. Though such a position on a global scale is for the first time, I guess I found that spot in every Malayali's mind long back.”
