| Bala Ganapathi William | |
| Other Names: | BGW |
| Birth Place: | Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia |
| Years Active: | 2010–present |
| Occupation: | actor, Dancer, chef, comedian |
Bala Ganapathi William, known professionally as BGW is a Malaysian actor, film director, television host, singer and producer. Bala Ganapathi William is the founder of BGW Studios companies which specialise in advertising, Malaysian Tamil film production (MKU) and film distribution, music record label and digital content.[1]
William was born in Sungai Petani, Kedah.[1]
William's feature films as a hero are Neeyum Naanum. BGW directed the film under BGW Studios in association with HK Network.
| Year | Title | Language | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Vivaagarathu | Revathy Bawadass Kumar | ||
| 2014 | Vinay | Ben G | DVD Movie (2016) | |
| 2018 | Vassan | |||
| 2018 | Neeyum Naanum | Bala Ganapathi William | ||
| 2021 | Athigaari | Kabilan Plondran | Telefilm[2] | |
| 2022 | Kaadhal Enbathu Saabama | Bala Ganapathi William | TBA 2022 | |
William made his debut as a singer in his first single titled "Kaadhal Enbathu Saabama". The music was composed by Lawrence Soosai. The cast of the music video includes Bala Ganapathi, Subashini Asokan, Srithika Sri & Mugen Rao. Rapper Sheezay and Santesh penned the song's lyrics. The song was on the Malaysian Top 10 Hits chart for more than 10 weeks, and it was also the number one song on the chart continuously for seven weeks in THR Raaga.
| Year | Title | Language | Director | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Kaadhal" Saabama | Tamil Song | Music Video Directed by: BGW | Released worldwide on 3 August 2017 | |
| 2018 | "Intha Kaadhale Venam" | Tamil Song | Music Video Directed by: BGW | Released worldwide on 21 February 2018 | |
| 2018 | "Tokkam Illaiye" | Tamil Song | Movie Directed by: BGW | a song from Neeyum Naanum movie |
As for 2020, William acted as lead male on more than 20 Malaysia Tamil Movies, 1,000 episodes of TV programs TV series locally and internationally. He first appeared on television in 2009 in a program titled 'Alaram 2' on ASTRO Vaanavil, at the age of 19. He made his debut as a host on a TV anchor in a dance competition titled Yuttha Medai which was previously known as Aattam 100 Vagai on ASTRO Vaanavil in November 2012. He made his acting debut in a TV Drama titled Vazhkai Valvatharke which was aired on ASTRO Vaanavil in 2012. Alarum Pookkal, also known as 3 Doctors is a drama that was aired on the RTM TV2 channel in 2013. It was the first drama featuring BGW as the male lead.
Rasikka Rusikka TV Show elevated William's career a bit more further in 2014. In the fourth season of Rasikka Rusikka, William traveled to Thailand and Singapore too. William completed 5 seasons of Rasikka Rusikka which 78 episodes in total for the past 5 years.
In 2014, BGW worked as an actor on the Singapore Tamil TV series Annamalai, which aired on Mediacorp Vasantham TV. Singapore TV host Nithya Rao also appeared in the series. William also worked as an assistant director and casting director for the series.
| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Ref/Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Yuttha Medai | Host/Anchor | |||
| 2012 | Vazhkai Valvatharke | Supporting Role | |||
| 2012 | Alaigal | Host | |||
| 2012 | Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga | Lead Role | Deepavali special | ||
| 2013 | Kambatthu Pongal | Host | Pongal special | ||
| 2013 | Alarum Pookkal | Lead Male – Hero | |||
| 2013 | Astro Vaanavil Super Star (Backstage with BALA) | Online Host | |||
| 2013 | Time Out | Participant | |||
| 2013 | Marakkappattavargal | Main Cast | |||
| 2014 | Rasikka Rusikka Season 1 | Host | |||
| 2014 | Kalai Aranggam | Host / Anchor | Directed by: V. Nagaraj | ||
| 2014 | Kaaval Season 1 | Main Cast | Directed by: V. Nagaraj | ||
| 2014 | Yen Nanban, Yen Uyir Telemovie | Lead Male – Hero | Directed by: CJ.Baskar – India | ||
| 2014 | Velvi 2 | Lead Male – Hero | Directed by: MS.Kalai | ||
| 2014 | Yetho Mayakkam Telemovie | Lead Male – Hero | Directed by: Muralikrishnan Munian | ||
| 2014 | Annamalai Season 1 | Supporting Role | Singapore Tamil Drama.[3] | ||
| 2015 | Grahanam Season 1 | Lead Male | |||
| 2015 | Gundhu Ponnae | Lead Male – Hero | |||
| 2015 | Annamalai Season 2 | Main Cast | Singapore Tamil Drama | ||
| 2015 | Velicham Season 1 | Host / Anchor | |||
| 2015 | Rasikka Rusikka Season 2 | Host / Anchor | |||
| 2016 | Marma Camera Telemovie | Main Cast | |||
| 2016 | Velicham Season 2 | Host / Anchor | |||
| 2016 | Manggalyam Tanthunanena Telemovie | Lead Male – Hero & Producer | Produced by: BGW Studios, Directed by: Karthik Shamalan | ||
| 2017 | Kaaval Season 2 (Police TV Series) | Lead Male | Directed by: V. Nagaraj | ||
| 2017 | Rasikka Rusikka Season 3 | Host / Anchor | |||
| 2017 & 2018 | Rasikka Rusikka Season 4 | Host / Anchor | |||
| 2018 | Neeyum Naanum | Inspired from Korean and Kollywood Movies (A Moment to Remember, Uyire, Kandukondein Kandukondien) | BGW & HK Network | ||
| 2019 | Rasikka Rusikka Season 5 | Host / Anchor | [4] | ||
| 2020 | Azhagin Azhaghi Beauty Pageant Season 1 | Host / Anchor |
In 2017, William received the Best Host/Announcer Award for 2016 and 2017 from the Malaysian MGR Youth Association and Persatuan Peminat ASTRO Vaanavil Negeri Kedah. The award was presented to him by the popular Indian actor/director K. Bhagyaraj. The ceremony took place at SP Inn Hotel, Sungai Petani Kedah on 29 July 2017.
On 29 December 2017, William received the Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan Award as Most Promising Artist of the Year 2017. This award was presented to him by Sivaji Ganesan Cultural Society, Malaysia.
On 31 January 2019, William received the Cinefest Malaysia Award as Best Debut Director for his movie titled Neeyum Naanum.
In April 2019, William received twin award from MICA Awards 2019 as the Best Debut Director & Best Movie for Neeyum Naanum.
William started to produce/direct visual for music video from 2012.
| Year | Title | Director | Singer | Music Composer | Lyricist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Unakkulle Mirugam – Cover Video | BGW | K.G. Ranjith | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Na. Muthukumar | |
| 2017 | Kaadhal Embathu Saabama | BGW | Bala Ganapathi | Lawrence Soosai | Sheezay & Santesh | |
| 2017 | Yehnulle | BGW | Anjali | Sundrra | Maney Villanz | |
| 2017 | Nanba Vaa | BGW | Pillay Asbalan | Jose Franklin | Yuwaji | |
| 2018 | Pen Azha Vendam | BGW | Datin Sri Shaila Nair feat Magen Vikadakavi & Aneithazef | R.Lawrence | Jai Alamandra Quest | |
| 2018 | Intha Kaadhale Venam | BGW | Bala Ganapathi | Shane Extreme | BGW | |
| 2018 | Saaral Katru | BGW | Pillay Asbalan | Jose Franklin | Orchid Studios, Chennai | |
| 2018 | Ladybird | BGW | DK Dinesh Kumar | Princeten Charles, Germany | Psychomantra | |
| 2018 | Socks Bala | BGW | Santesh | Santesh | Santesh | |
| 2018 | Bells | BGW | Buggimaan | Killadi Music | Buggimaan | |
| 2019 | Darling Ille | BGW | Taiping Vicky | Santesh | Gana Deena | |
| 2019 | Niagara | BGW | Jigunnamaan | Killadi Music | Psychomantra |