T. S. B. K. Moulee

Biography:

T. S. B. K. Moulee, born on March 14, 1947, as Thiruvidaimarudur Sambamoorthy Ganapathy Balakrishna Sastrigal Mouli, is a multifaceted figure in Indian cinema. Renowned as a film director, writer, playwright, thespian, and actor, Moulee has left an indelible mark on Telugu and Tamil cinema.

His contributions to celluloid include crafting scripts for notable films such as Kamal Haasan’s “Pammal K. Sambandam,” the biographical sports drama “Ashwini,” and “Nala Damayanthi” in 2003.

Moulee’s theatrical prowess extends to three popular plays translated into Telugu and Bengali, each boasting an impressive record of 4000 stage shows staged in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

Recognized for his literary excellence, Moulee received the Kalaimamani Award for “Best Writer” in 1985 and the Nandi Award for his contributions to five films. His acting portfolio comprises over 100 films in both Tamil and Telugu, featuring in supporting roles in movies like “Thiruvilayaadal Aarambam,” “Pirivom Sandhippom,” “Irumbukkotai Murattu Singam,” and “Kadhal to Kalyanam.”

Moulee is the son of the esteemed Harikatha exponent T. S. Balakrishna Sastrigal. His interest in acting manifested during his school days when he actively participated in stage plays. Despite pursuing a BTech degree, Moulee couldn’t resist the allure of playwriting, leading him to write a 45-minute play at the age of 19.

His journey into cinema commenced in 1969 with the screenplay and acting in the successful play “Flight No. 172,” which ran continuously for thirty years. Subsequently, he transitioned to film direction without prior experience as an assistant director. Moulee’s directorial debut, “Ivargal Vidhyasamaanavargal,” proved commercially viable, and his second film, “Matravai Neril,” achieved commercial success.

Under the mentorship of K. Balachander, Moulee directed two films, “Anne Anne” and “Oru Pullanguzhal Adupputhugirathu,” and contributed to the comedy track in Balachander’s directorial “Nizhal Nijamagiradhu.” His Telugu debut, “Vaa Indha Pakkam,” dubbed in Telugu, marked his entry into the Telugu film industry.

Moulee’s prowess in Telugu filmmaking flourished with the success of “Patnam Vachina Pativrathalu,” a film he made despite not knowing the language. With the assistance of popular Telugu writer Jandhyala, he crafted a successful film that ran for 280 days, kickstarting a career that spanned over 20 Telugu films in the next 15 years.

In his personal life, Moulee is a family man, married with two children—a daughter named Shravanthi, who is a Carnatic singer, and a son. He also has a brother, S. B. Khanthan, who shares his passion as a film and creative director.