Everyone knows that there is something distinctly original about K. Balachander's movies.

In an era, when movies were linear, simple and formulaic, his movies were gritty, realistic and path breaking. His plots didn't trot the 'happy ever after' path because the world that he created was no less challenging that ours and his characters were complex, difficult and yet lovable.

His critics described him as being bold, distinct, unconventional, unorthodox and singularly original. He was all that and more. Be it stage plays or films, he never shied away from taking on complex themes and subjects. His characters were unique people with distinct idiosyncrasies and his plots were rooted around their journey.

K. Balachander was a maverick storyteller because he could place memorable characters in a challenging world and present a story that delivered socially responsible messages to the society. When most of his contemporaries were presenting sugar coated plots to entertain the masses, his movies not only entertained but also became an instrument of change in the society.

The industry gave him the title 'Iyakkunar Sigaram' which means 'the director who scaled the peak' because his films dealt with subjects that no other director of his time, would dare to take on. His genius was not only in his character-driven plots. He had a great talent for unearthing diamonds in the rough and an innate ability to extract indelible performances from them.

His movies are distinct and original in flavour because he used a great deal of symbolism, a heavy dose of middle-class humour and punchy conversational dialogue. His stamp of genius was so distinct that he inspired an entire generation of young directors and filmmakers to break out of conventional film-making and explore the unknown.