Bala (director) explained

Birthname:Bala Palanisamy[1]
Birth Date:11 July 1966
Birth Place:Uthamapalayam, Theni, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation:Film director, Screenwriter, Film producer
Alma Mater:Madurai American College
Years Active:1998–present

Bala is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and film producer, working in Tamil cinema. Bala has been praised for "revolutionizing Tamil cinema"[2] [3] [4] through his realistic, dark and disturbing depiction of the working class on celluloid screen.[5] Shaji N. Karun, 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."[6]

Film career

Bala was introduced by lyricist Arivumathi to director Balu Mahendra.[7] Initially, he began working as a production assistant under him.[8] Later Bala turned to work with him as assistant director in his movies.[9] [10] Bala made his directorial debut with Sethu in 1999, that gave a break to Vikram, 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'.[11] [12] The film was said to have initiated a 'new wave'[13] as it received critical acclaim and became a hit. Its success led to remakes in Kannada (Huchcha), Telugu (Seshu), and Hindi (Tere Naam) languages. He next made Nandha in 2001, which gave a breakthrough for Suriya in the industry.[14]

In 2009, Naan Kadavul featuring Arya and Pooja Umashankar, won its first National Film Award for Best Direction.[15] In 2011, Arya and Vishal playing the lead roles in the comedy drama Avan Ivan.[16] Produced by Bala himself under the banner of B Studios, Paradesi (2013), takes on the challenge of transforming the boy-next-door looks of Atharvaa into an almost bald, unsophisticated village simpleton of a bygone era. After working with Ilaiyaraaja and Yuvan Shankar Raja in his earlier films, director Bala for the first time teams up with G. V. Prakash Kumar for the music of Paradesi.[17] In 2016, overall the performances in Tharai Thappattai are of superior quality and so is the technical aspects.[18] In 2018, Naachiyaar stars Jyothika in the titular role, while G. V. Prakash Kumar and newcomer Ivana play important supporting characters in this engaging crime thriller.[19] In 2020, the romantic drama Varmaa was disappointed with critics.[20]

Dispute

Bala was chosen as the director of Varmaa, the Tamil remake of Arjun Reddy, 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.[21] 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.[22] 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.[23]

Personal life

Bala was born and brought up in Madurai. His father worked in a bank in Madurai and his mother was a homemaker. Bala completed his graduation from American College with an aim to dive into the Tamil film industry.[24] Bala married Muthumalar in 2004 and has a daughter. Bala and Muthumalar divorced in 2022, after 18 years of marriage.[25]

Filmography

As director

YearFilmNotes
1999 Sethu Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director
Cinema Express Award for Best Film – Tamil
Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
2001 Nandha Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil
22nd Cinema Express Award for Best Director– Tamil
2003 Pithamagan ITFA Best Director Award
Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil
2009 Naan Kadavul National Film Award for Best Direction
Vijay Award for Best Director
Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil
2011 Avan Ivan
2013 Paradesi Also producer
South Indian Cinematographers Association Award for Best Director
Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil
Vijay Award for Best Director
SIIMA Award for Best Director
Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Director
Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award Best Director
Chennai International Film Festival Special Jury Award
Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Film
Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Film
2016 Tharai Thappattai
2018 Naachiyaar Also producer[26] [27] [28]
2020Varmaa
Also producer[29]

As producer

This is a list of films that he produced but did not direct.

YearFilmNotes
2005 Maayavi
2014 Pisaasu
2015 Chandi Veeran
2022Visithiran

Notes and References

  1. News: Varmaa controversy: Director Bala says he stepped down after he was asked to make changes to the Dhruv Vikram-starrer . 10 February 2019 . . 9 February 2019 . 10 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190210042225/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2019/feb/09/varmaa-controversy-director-bala-says-he-stepped-down-after-he-was-asked-to-make-changes-to-the-dhr-10036.html . live .
  2. News: 25 January 2010 . Bala: Man of the moment . . 2023-10-11 . 0971-8257 . 27 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190227183004/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Bala-Man-of-the-moment/articleshow/5495035.cms?from=mdr . live .
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20110710033701/http://www.sify.com/movies/naan-kadavul-fever-begins-worldwide-news-tamil-kkfsxoejhec.html Naan Kadavul fever begins worldwide!
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20090206053947/http://indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/44767.html Pyramid Saimira releasing Naan kadavul in USA
  5. http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/mar-09-04/bala-24-03-09.html Bala's change for Soundarya
  6. Web site: Vilakudy . Rajaneesh . I never expected a film like Naan Kadavul from Tamil . Rediff.com . 16 March 2013 . 28 January 2010 . 20 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140220060830/http://movies.rediff.com/report/2010/jan/28/why-bala-got-his-national-award.htm . live .
  7. News: Saravanan. T.. Man of his word. 2014-10-09. The Hindu. 2020-03-26. en-IN. 0971-751X. 28 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128090921/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/poet-and-lyricist-arivumathi-talks-about-his-struggles-to-stay-afloat-in-the-mad-rush-to-name-and-fame/article6485201.ece. live.
  8. Web site: To Sir, with love. The New Indian Express. 16 May 2012 . 2020-03-26. 26 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200326162020/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2011/sep/25/to-sir-with-love-294459.html. live.
  9. News: Kolappan. B.. Master craftsman who was also a great teacher. 2014-02-13. The Hindu. 2020-03-26. Subramanian. Karthik. en-IN. 0971-751X. 29 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191229121324/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/master-craftsman-who-was-also-a-great-teacher/article5684162.ece. live.
  10. Web site: 5 Filmmaking Tropes of Bala. 2017-04-24. Film Companion. en-US. 2020-03-26. 2 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221002192346/https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/5-filmmaking-tropes-of-bala. live.
  11. . Hinduonnet.com (19 October 2001). Retrieved on 21 June 2011.
  12. http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2009/mar/10slde2-bala-on-naan-kadavul-god-and-faith.htm 'You can't compare Bala to anyone else'
  13. http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2009/mar/10slde1-bala-on-naan-kadavul-god-and-faith.htm Exclusive: Bala on Naan Kadavul, God and faith
  14. Web site: Strangely familiar.
  15. Web site: Bala bags National Award for Naan Kadavul.
  16. Web site: Avan Ivan.
  17. Web site: Review: Paradesi is exceptional.
  18. Web site: Thaarai Thappattai - Movie Review.
  19. Web site: Naachiyaar Movie Review.
  20. Web site: Varmaa Movie Review.
  21. News: E4 Entertainment not happy with Bala's Varmaa; to re-shoot the Arjun Reddy remake with a new team . 7 February 2019 . . 7 February 2019 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190207131854/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2019/feb/07/e4-entertainment-not-happy-with-of-balas-varmaa-to-re-shoot-the-arjun-reddy-remake-with-a-new-team-10004.html . 7 February 2019.
  22. News: Varmaa controversy: Director Bala says he stepped down after he was asked to make changes to the Dhruv Vikram-starrer . 9 February 2019 . . 10 February 2019 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190210042225/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2019/feb/09/varmaa-controversy-director-bala-says-he-stepped-down-after-he-was-asked-to-make-changes-to-the-dhr-10036.html . 10 February 2019.
  23. Web site: Varmaa: Tamil remake of cult Telugu film Arjun Reddy dropped; producers and director Bala at loggerheads . Sekar . Raja . 7 February 2019 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124526/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/varmaa-tamil-remake-of-cult-telugu-film-arjun-reddy-dropped-producers-and-director-bala-at-loggerheads-6047231.html . 9 February 2019 . 7 February 2019.
  24. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=azhiyadha+kolangal+book#ip=1
  25. News: Director Bala and Muthumalar get divorced after 18 years of marriage . 14 July 2022 . The Indian Express . 8 March 2022 . en . 14 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220714052200/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/director-bala-and-muthumalar-legally-end-their-18-years-of-marriage-7806316/ . live .
  26. News: First look of Jyothika-Bala film . 1 March 2017 . . 28 February 2017 . 8 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190408063503/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/first-look-of-jyothika-bala-film/articleshow/57390391.cms . live .
  27. News: Naachiyar first look: Suriya unveils Jyothika's never-seen-before avatar, see pics . 1 March 2017 . . 28 February 2017 . 28 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170228114955/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/naachiyar-first-look-suriya-unveils-jyothika-never-seen-before-avatar-see-pics-4547968/ . live .
  28. News: Jyothika, G.V. Prakash to star in Bala's next . 1 March 2017 . . 28 February 2017 . 7 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200407024031/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/jyothika-gv-prakash-to-star-in-balas-next/article17382016.ece . live .
  29. News: 2023-09-25 . First look of Arun Vijay - Bala's 'Vanangaan' out . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-09-25 . 0971-751X . 25 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925115735/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/first-look-of-arun-vijay-balas-vanangaan-out/article67343731.ece . live .

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