Noted Malayalam actor, playwright, and screenwriter, P Balachandran, has passed away. He had been unwell for some time and breathed his last this morning at his home in Vaikom. He was 70.

Born to Padmanabha Pillai and Saraswati Bhai in 1952, Balachandran was a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Academy award in 1989 for Paavam Usman. He also won two more Kerala State Awards for the films Punaradhivasam (story) and Ivan Megharoopaan (second-best film).

He began his screenwriting career with Mohanlal's Uncle Ben and Ulladakkam. His other acclaimed screenplays include Pavithram and Kammattipadam.

Balachandran made his directorial debut in 2012 with Ivan Megharoopan, his only directing credit to date.

An alumnus of the Thrissur School of Drama, Balachandran had starring roles in films like Shesham, Trivandrum Lodge, Annayum Rasoolum, Kammattipadam, and Operation Java. He last appeared in One.

Balachandran is survived by his wife Sreelatha and two children, Sreekanth and Parvathy.