Narendra Nagarwala-Gundech, owner of Sujata Talkies, Wani (district Yavatmal), passed away yesterday (17th January) in Nagpur due to kidney failure. He will be cremated today (18th) at 10 a.m. at Wani where he used to live. He was 70 years old. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter, three sisters and their families.
Balu Seth, as veteran Narendra Nagarwala was known in the film trade, had had a kidney transplant in May last year after his wife donated one of her kidneys. He was recovering after the surgery but his condition started to deteriorate a month back. He was rushed to Kingsway Hospital in Nagpur from Wani on 16th January when his condition deteriorated further. He breathed his last at 11 a.m. on 17th in the hospital. His body was taken to Wani this morning.
It was his sheer will power that kept him alive after his kidney transplantation because not only was he a diabetic patient since 38 years but had also survived a heart attack two months back. Before that, he had had a heart bypass surgery seven years ago and had undergone four angioplasty procedures.
Besides film exhibition business, Balu Seth had a flourishing cotton business. He was involved in several social activities and had donated a plot of land at Wani for a Jain temple. An extremely soft-spoken person, he endeared himself to whomever he interacted with.