Well-known Tamil actor Bala Singh who has appeared in notable characters in films like Virumaandi, Pudhupettai, Saamy, etc., passed away in Chennai early on Wednesday morning. The actor was admitted at Vijaya Hospital in Chennai a few days ago for food poisoning. He was 67.

Bala Singh who trained at the National School of Drama (NSD) began his acting career as a theatre artist. While he entered Malayalam cinema in 1983, it was his role in the 1995 Tamil film Avatharam starring Nasser and Revathi in the lead, which gained him popularity. This film that marked Nasser’s directorial debut, saw Bala playing a pivotal negative character named Baasi. This is the film that also gave Tamil cinema audiences Ilaiyaraaja’s most famed “Thendral Vandhu Theendumbothu” song. Actor Revathi was appreciated for playing the visually impaired Ponamma in this film.

The next year Bala was a part of Kamal Haasan’s Indian. He continued playing important supporting roles in films like Ullaasam, Simmarasi, Dheena, Virumaandi, Saamy, Kannathil Muthamittal and more.

With his role in Pudhupettai starring Dhanush in the lead, Bala proved his mettle as an actor. This film won him more recognition. In this gangster film directed by Selvaraghavan, he played an important character named Anbu, a local politician and a bad man.

Throughout his career, Bala Singh has appeared in quite a few Malayalam films like Malamukalile Daivam, Kerala House Udan Vilpanakku and Mulla. Malamukalile Daivam that came in 1983 actually marked his cinema debut. In the 2009 film Vannathupoochi, directed by Rasi Azhagappan, Bala played the lead role. The film explored the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.

Last seen in Arya’s Magamuni in which he played a politician, Bala has also appeared in recent films like Jigarthanda, NGK, Sarvam Thaala Mayam, Saamy Square and Thaana Serndha Koottam. Bala Singh has also appeared in TV serials like Rudhraveenai and Aathira.

His mortal remains will be kept at his house in Virugambakkam on Wednesday and will then be taken to Nagercoil for the last rites.