Malayalam actor and screenwriter P Balachandran dies after battling meningitis

P. Balachandran, Malayalam actor, playwright, and author has passed away at the age of 62. e is survived by his wife Srilatha and children Srikanth and Parvathy.P Balachandran has scripted many films including Ulladakkam (1991), Pavithram (1994), Agnidevan (1995), Punaradhivasam (2000), and Kammatti Paadam (2016). He made his directorial debut in 2012 with Ivan Megharoopan (2012). He has also acted in a few films, the most notable being Trivandrum Lodge. The film released in 2012. P Balachandran had won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Professional Nataka Award in the year 1989 for his popular play, Paavam Usman. 

He had a small role in Mammootty starrer political drama ‘One’. The film released last week and it saw P Balachandran in the role of an opposition MLA. Reportedly, the last rites will take place at his residence in Vaikom at 3 PM today. He kicked off his acting career with Richard Attenborough’s landmark 1982 film Gandhi as an extra. Fans and colleagues in the industry paid tributes to P Balachandran. Actor and producer Jayasurya shared a photo of Balachandran on his Facebook page and wished for peace for Balachandran’s soul. Producer Vijayan EastCoast wrote on Facebook, “Heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of actor, writer and director P. Balachandran today. ”Dulquer Salmaan took to Instagram and offered condolences. He wrote, "RIP dearest Baletta," followed by heartbreak emoticons.