Balasubramanian known as Bala is an Tamil

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, pr ...

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

, and producer, working in

Tamil cinema Tamil cinema, also known as Kollywood is a part of Indian Cinema; primarily engaged in production of motion pictures in the Tamil language. Based out of the Kodambakkam neighbourhood in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, it is popularly called ''Kollywo ...

. Bala has been praised for "revolutionizing Tamil cinema" through his realistic, dark and disturbing depiction of the working class on celluloid screen.

Shaji N. Karun Shaji Neelakantan Karun (born 1 January 1952) is an Indian film director and cinematographer. His debut film ''Piravi'' (1988) won the Caméra d'Or – Mention d'honneur at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. He was the premiere chairman of the Kerala ...

, who headed the jury of the 56th National Film Awards, said, "Bala is unique in many ways. The way he changed Tamil cinema's character was commendable ... There were many who tried for a change. Among the new generation of filmmakers, Bala leads the pack in bringing a change in Tamil cinema's outlook and approach."

Film career

Bala was introduced by lyricist

Arivumathi Arivumathi born Mathiazhagan is an Indian poet, lyricist and writer who has worked in the Tamil film industry. His first movie as lyricist was ''Siraichalai.'' Early life Arivumathi was born in Virudhachalam, Tamil Nadu. He changed his na ...

to director

Balu Mahendra Balanathan Benjamin Mahendran (19 May 1939 13 February 2014), commonly known as Balu Mahendra, was a Sri Lankan-born Indian cinematographer, director, screenwriter and film editor who worked predominantly in Tamil cinema. Widely regarded as ...

. Initially he was working as a production assistant in Balu Mahendra movie. Later Bala turned to work with him as assistant director in his movies. Bala made his directorial debut with '' Sethu'' in 1999, that gave a break to

Vikram Vikram may refer to: * Vikram (name), a male name in the Hindu community * ''Vikram'' (1986 Tamil film) * ''Vikram'' (1986 Telugu film) * ''Vikram'' (2022 Tamil film) * Vikram (actor) (born 1966), Indian actor * Vikram (spacecraft), an Indian M ...

, the film's lead actor, who was also struggling in the Tamil film industry for almost a decade without a hit and recognition. More than 60 distributors saw the film and hesitated to screen it because of its tragic ending. The film was released on a low profile without any advertisement but after the first days the film started running to packed houses just through 'word of mouth'. The film was said to have initiated a 'new wave' as it received critical acclaim and became a hit. Its success led to remakes in Kannada (''

Huchcha ''Huchcha'' () is a 2001 Indian Kannada-language romantic action film directed by Om Prakash Rao, starring Sudeep and Rekha Vedavyas in the lead roles. The film, the Kannada remake of the 1999 Tamil film '' Sethu'' directed by Bala and sta ...

''), Telugu (''

Seshu ''Seshu'' is a 2002 Indian Telugu-language romantic drama film starring Rajasekhar in the titular role along with Kaveri, directed by Rajasekar's wife Jeevitha Rajasekhar in her directorial debut. It is a remake of the 1999 hit Tamil film '' ...

'') and Hindi ('' Tere Naam'') languages.

Controversy

Bala was chosen as the director for ''

Varmaa ''Varmaa'' is a 2020 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed by Bala and produced by Mukesh Mehta of E4 Entertainment. A remake of the 2017 Telugu film ''Arjun Reddy'', directed by Sandeep Vanga, the film stars Dhruv Vikram and Meg ...

'', the Tamil remake of ''

Arjun Reddy ''Arjun Reddy'' is a 2017 Indian Telugu-language romantic drama film written and directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, and produced by his brother Pranay Reddy Vanga's company Bhadrakali Pictures. It stars Vijay Deverakonda and Shalini Pandey wh ...

'', for which the rights were bought by E4 Entertainment. Principal photography was wrapped up in September 2018. On 7 February 2019, E4 Entertainment issued a press statement stating that they would go for a complete re-shoot as they were not satisfied with the final cut provided by Bala. They added that the film would be relaunched with a completely new cast and crew while retaining lead actor Dhruv. Bala disagreed with these comments, saying it was his own decision to quit the film "in order to safeguard creative freedom" because he was asked to make changes. This became the first such incident in Tamil cinema that the producer of the film refused to release the film due to unsatisfactory final cut despite the completion of the film.

Personal life

Bala married Muthumalar in 2004 and has a daughter. Bala and Muthumalar divorced in 2022, after 18 years of marriage.

Filmography

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bala Living people 20th-century Indian film directors 21st-century Indian film directors Best Director National Film Award winners Filmfare Awards South winners Film directors from Tamil Nadu Tamil film directors Tamil-language film directors Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners Tamil screenwriters Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu 1966 births