Who made his debut as a director with 'Motor Sundaram Pillai'?

SS Balan, son of SS Vasan. Most sites on the Internet, somehow stupidly say that Balu Mahendra directed this flick. I haven't seen this film. But in TFM, I noticed a film buff mention that 'Thoopariyum Sambu' makes a brief appearance in this film. True or false?