Daniel Balaji
Daniel Balaji | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | T. C. Balaji 2 December 1975 Madras,Tamil Nadu,India |
| Died | 29 March 2024(aged 48) Kottivakkam,Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1998–2024 |
| Relatives | Siddalingaiah(uncle) Murali(cousin) Atharvaa(nephew) |
| Website | Official website |
T. C. Balaji(2 December 1975 – 29 March 2024), better known by his stage nameDaniel Balaji,was an Indian actor, who predominantly worked inTamilfilm industry and in someKannada,TeluguandMalayalamfilms.[1]
Early life[edit]
Balaji was born in Chennai to a Telugu father (fromChittoor) and a Tamil mother (fromArcot).[2]He studied a film direction course in Taramani film institute, Chennai. His mother andMurali's mother are sisters.[2]His uncle isS. Siddalingaiah.[3]His nephew isAtharvaa.
Career[edit]
In 1998, Balaji began his film career as aunit production manageron the sets ofKamal Haasan's unreleasedMarudhanayagamand as an assistant director for the delayedKamarasu.[4][5]
Balaji's first role was in the television serialChithi,where he played a character named Daniel.[6]After the success of the show, in his second serialAlaigal,director Sunder K. Vijayan, named him as Daniel Balaji based on his own character inChithi.
His first film in Tamil wasApril Maadhathil,followed by a role inKaadhal Kondein.[7]His first major role was inKaakha Kaakhaas a police officer alongsideSuriya,who played the leading role. The film, directed byGautham Vasudev Menon,was about a squad of policemen fightingorganized crimeinChennai.Balaji followed this up with another major role in Menon's next film, that of the antagonist Amudhan in the blockbuster filmVettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu.[6]The film starredKamal Haasanand was a police procedural focusing on a series of murders. Balaji's portrayal of both these roles received praise.
His next film,Polladhavan,was also successful.[8]He also acted as one of the villains in the Telugu filmChiruthaand followed this up by playing the hero inMuthirai,produced by Vision Jeeva Studios.
Balaji made his debut inMalayalam cinemathroughBlack.Later, he was cast the villain inBhagavan(oppositeMohanlal) andDaddy Cool(oppositeMammootty).
Death[edit]
Daniel Balaji died of a heart attack in Chennai on 29 March 2024, at the age of 48.[9][10]
Filmography[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | April Madhathil | Suresh | Tamil | Debut film role |
| 2003 | Kaadhal Kondein | Police Inspector | ||
| Kaakha Kaakha | Srikanth | |||
| 2004 | Black | Ezhumalai | Malayalam | |
| Samba | Goon | Telugu | ||
| Gharshana | Srikanth | |||
| 2006 | Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu | Amudhan Sukumaran | Tamil | |
| November Rain | Mattancherry Dada | Malayalam | ||
| Photographer | Inspector | |||
| 2007 | Polladhavan | Ravi | Tamil | |
| Chirutha | Beeku | Telugu | ||
| 2009 | Muthirai | Azhagu | Tamil | |
| Bhagavan | Saifudeen | Malayalam | ||
| Daddy Cool | Siva | |||
| 2011 | Kirataka | Seena | Kannada | |
| 2012 | Mithivedi | Asoka | Tamil | |
| Crime Story | Shivan | Malayalam | ||
| 12 Hours | Antony Raj | |||
| 2013 | Paisa Paisa | Auto driver | ||
| 2014 | Marumugam | Mayazhagan | Tamil | |
| Gnana Kirukkan | Ganesan | |||
| Shivajinagara | Mohammed Ali | Kannada | ||
| 2015 | Yennai Arindhaal | Assassin | Tamil | Guest appearance |
| Dove | Kannada | |||
| Vai Raja Vai | Randhe | Tamil | ||
| 2016 | Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada | Hiren | ||
| Sahasam Swasaga Sagipo | Telugu | |||
| 2017 | Bairavaa | Kottai Veeran | Tamil | |
| Enbathettu | ||||
| Ippadai Vellum | Chota | |||
| Yazh | Asokan | |||
| Maayavan | Rudran | |||
| Bangalore Underworld | ACP Thomas | Kannada | ||
| 2018 | Vidhi Madhi Ultaa | Danie | Tamil | |
| Vada Chennai | Thambi | |||
| 2019 | Gangs of Madras | Boxy | Tamil | |
| Bigil | Daniel | |||
| 2021 | Tuck Jagadish | Veerendra Naidu | Telugu | Released on Amazon Prime[11] |
| Anandham Vilayadum Veedu | Karuppan | Tamil | ||
| 2023 | Ariyavan | Thuraipandi | Final film role |
Television[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-2001 | Chithi | Daniel | Sun TV |
| 2001-2002 | Alaigal | Dharma |
References[edit]
- ^"Tamil actor Daniel Balaji dies of heart attack in Chennai".Hindustan Times.30 March 2024.
- ^ab"Villain Daniel Balaji First Telugu Interview | Actor Daniel Balaji about Actor Murali and Atharvaa".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on 16 May 2023.Retrieved8 May2023.
- ^"Daniel Balaji to essay the character of a Don!".Sify.10 September 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 13 September 2013.Retrieved15 September2013.
- ^""BIGIL" Villain REVEALED!! UNEXPECTED!! | Chennai Memes ".21 September 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 27 June 2021.Retrieved27 June2021.
- ^Rajendran, Gopinath (30 March 2024)."Daniel Balaji, an acting powerhouse whose unrestrained talents deserved a broader canvas"– via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ab"Friday Review Chennai / Cinema: Living the role".The Hindu.22 December 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 10 April 2008.Retrieved15 September2013.
- ^"Metro Plus Chennai / People: Villain to hero".The Hindu.18 June 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 10 September 2013.Retrieved15 September2013.
- ^"Metro Plus Chennai / People: Bad, and loving it".The Hindu.11 December 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 13 December 2007.Retrieved15 September2013.
- ^"Tamil actor Daniel Balaji passes away due to heart attack".The New Indian Express.29 March 2024.Retrieved29 March2024.
- ^"Tamil actor Daniel Balaji, 48, dies of heart attack in Chennai".India Today.
- ^"Nani film Tuck Jagdish gets OTT release date".Indian Express.28 August 2021.