Balachandra Menon () (born 11 January 1954) is an Indian actor, director and script writer. He made a number of films in the 1980s and 1990s. He has directed 40 films and has acted in over 100. He won two National Film Awards including the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance as station master Ismail the 1998 film Samaantharangal, which was also directed by him. He has also worked as a distributor, editor, composer, singer and producer in the Malayalam film industry. He has found space in the Limca Book of Records for the maximum number of films directed, scripted and acted in. Menon has introduced many actors into the Malayalam Cinema Industry. Actors who made their debut in his films include Shobana in April 18, Parvathy in Vivahithare Ithile, Maniyanpilla Raju in Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla, Karthika in Manicheppu Thurannappol, Annie in Ammayane Sathyam, and Nandini in April 19. Personal life Balachandra Menon was born in Kollam in 1954 to Shivashankara Pillai and Lalitha Devi. By virtue of his father being a railway station master, he served at Edava railway station and Menon had his formative years of childhood and adolescence life in this village. He studied at Edava Muslim High School, and has narrated nostalgically about his fond memories of his life in Edava in his autobiography Ammayaane Sathyam. He is an alumnus of University College Trivandrum, Fatima Mata National College, Kollam and Kerala Law Academy Law College, Thiruvananthapuram. Sisters: Sushma and Prema. Wife: Varada B. Menon. Children: Akhil Vinayak Menon, Bhavana B. Menon. Menon enrolled as a lawyer on 29 July 2012, 22 years after completing his degree. In 1997, he won the Karshakashree Award for farming from the Government of Kerala. During his early days in Madras, he worked for the film weekly Nana as a correspondent. He has completed a diploma in journalism from Press Club, Trivandrum. Literary works Achuvettante Veedu Mugam Abhimugam Samaantharangal 18 April 19 April Ninnay Enthinu Kollaam ? Kaanatha Sulthanu Snehapoorvam Ammayanay Sathyam Ariyathathu, Ariyendathu Balachandramenonte 12 cherukathakal His book Ithirineram Othirikaryam recently released by veteran actor Madhu by handing over a copy to lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi. Awards Civilian Awards: 2007 – Padma Shri National Film Awards: 1997 – Best Actor – Samaantharangal 1997 – Best Film on Family Welfare – Samaantharangal Kerala State Film Awards: 1979 – Best Screen Play – Uthrada Rathri 1997 – Special