Bala, born on 11 July, 1966, is a Tamil Film Director, screenwriter and producer.
Born in Madurai, Bala is a graduate in Tamil literature from Madurai American College. His training began as an assistant director under acclaimed Tamil Director: BaluMahendra-with whom he worked on five films - all of which won National awards.
He broke into the Tamil film industry with "SETHU" in 1999 in an explosive, revitalizing way that brought into focus a new school of auteur movies into Tamil mainstream. Sethu earned widespread critical appreciation and catapulted the leading actor,Vikram, into superstardom overnight.
Bala's films often feature thought-provoking themes woven in seemingly simple plots. His films are marked by complex characters, irreverent humor, and are often shot in the locales of his hometown – the flavor and color of which he captures with the eye of a connoisseur. He has a unique voice and is unafraid to delve into topics that are taboo or often ignored by the mainstream. At the same time, his movies have created a connect with people crossing the boundaries of mainstream or art house, with most of his films becoming commercial success.
With a career spanning nearly a decade, he has garnered high critical acclaim and has been praised for handling serious issues whilst retaining the entertainment value in his films. His films enjoy a worldwide following and he has become a distinct voice on the stage of Tamil cinema with many aspiring directors, drawing inspiration from his work and emulating his style.
His movies, while generally made in the Tamil language are often re-made in languages like Telegu and Hindi owing to their National appeal. His first three films won 13 filmfare awards amongst them. "PITHAMAGAN" has the distinct honor of being the only Tamil movie to be awarded with 6 Filmfare awards. Bala has won the prestigious Kalaimamani Award bestowed by the State of Tamil Nadu in 2007. His 4th film, "NAAN KADAVUL" – starring Arya, Pooja & others – won two National awards at the 56th National Film Awards, 2008 as well as3 State awards at the Tamil Nadu Government Film Awards, 2008. Director Bala won the Best Director award for NaanKadavul .
Currently, he is readying for the release of his new venture Paradesi – set in pre-independence India. Bala, apart from directing, has also scripted and produced Paradesi.
Bala has ventured into production under his home banner, B Studios. B Studios is committed to bringing quality Tamil movies – movies that are unique, real and entertaining at the same time.

Sethu is not an ordinary love story. There is no boy-meets-girl, runs around trees, sings duets or the hero overcoming inane odds to win the woman. This is a story of obsessive love – a love that is all-consuming and powerful enough to drive a person to madness. Sethu, when released in 1999, stood out for his sheer darkness, a complex, haunting love story and stellar performances from a virtually unknown cast at that point in time. The twist in the climax was unpredictable and a rarity when most directors were unwilling to let go of ‘bankable’ feel-good endings.
The movie blitzed lead actor Vikram into a superstar overnight winning him several awards.
| Cast | Vikram, Abitha, Sivakumar | ||
| Music Director | Illayaraja | ||
| Cinematography | Rathnavel | ||
| Producer | Kandaswamy |
| Year | Result | Awards | Category/Recipient(s) |
| 2000 | Won | 47th National Film Festival | Best Regional Film Award |
| Filmfare Award | Best Film | ||
| Cinema Express Award | Best Film | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Director | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Director | ||
| Pepsi Film Award | Best Director | ||
| Dinakaran Award | Best Director | ||
| Filmfare Award | Special Award South - Vikram | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Special Prize - Vikram | ||
| 2001 | Nominated | 47th National Film Festival | Best Actor - Vikram |

Nandha delves into the psychological realm of man and touches upon the mother-son relationship and the dire consequences of depriving a child the love and attention it deserves. The movie won wide critical acclaim both at home as well as in Sri Lanka for its sympathetic view towards Sri Lankan refugees. Surya, as the lead character, gave a riveting performance. In his inimitable style, Bala takes you on a journey through dark, twisty passages in our human mind, questions relationships and breaks the mould on every pre-conceived style in Tamil movies.
| Cast | Surya, Laila, Rajkiran, Saravanan, Rajashree | ||
| Music Director | Yuvan Shankar Raja | ||
| Cinematography | Rathnavel | ||
| Producer | Ganesh Raghu, Karthik Radhakrishnan, Venky Narayanan, Rajan Radhakrishnan |
| Year | Result | Awards | Category/Recipient(s) |
| 2001 | Won | 51st Airtel Film Fans Award | Best Director |
| Filmfare Award | Best Tamil Actress – Laila | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Film Special prize | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Actor in Lead Role – Suria | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Cinematographer - R. Rathnavelu | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Actor in Supporting Role - Rajkiran | ||
| 2002 | Won | 22nd Cinema Express Award | Best Director |
| 2003 | Won | Medimix Dinakaran Award | Best Director |

In this movie, Director Bala comes together with his previous two Leads – Vikram and Surya – to create yet another haunting tale. Vikram plays a dysfunctional, often violent, “a Shakspearen “Caliban”esque role who grows up in a crematorium with minimal contact with humanity. The story etches the growth of his relationship with a small-town hustler – Surya and the way it transforms and humanizes him.
Pithamagan has been doing the rounds at International festivals too. The Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam screened the film along with a few of the best films in Tamil cinema of all time. (April 22, 2005)
| Cast | Vikram, Surya, Laila, Sangeetha, Simran, Karunaas, Mano Bala | ||
| Music Director | Illayaraja | ||
| Cinematography | Balasubramaniam | ||
| Producer | V.A.Durai / Evergreen Movies International |
| Year | Result | Awards | Category/Recipient(s) |
| 2004 | Won | National Award | Best Actor - Vikram |
| Filmfare Award | Best Film | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Supporting Actor - Surya | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Supporting Actress - Sangeetha | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Director | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Actor - Vikram | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Actress - Laila | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Actor - Vikram | ||
| Pepsi Film Award | Best Director | ||
| Medimix Dinakaran Award | Best Director | ||
| Medimix Dinakaran Award | Best Actor - Vikram | ||
| Medimix Dinakaran Award | Best Cinematographer - Balasubramanian | ||
| Medimix Dinakaran Award | Best Actress Supporting Role - Sangeetha | ||
| Medimix Dinakaran Award | Best Actor in Comic Role - Karunas |

Naan Kadavul chronicles the life of Rudran, an ascetic from Varanasi and his trysts with a seemingly normal life in the temple city in south India, Pazhani. Abandoned as a child by his father in a strange land with strange people, he grows up among the sadhus and the babas adapting to their way of life and becomes one of them. The rest of the plot is formed by the interaction between Rudran, a detached ascetic who has no moorings or bonding with the world and how he unwittingly, unwillingly gets sucked into the world of the beggars which leads to drastic, life altering changes to all of them.
| Cast | Aarya, Pooja, Krishnamurthy, Rajendran | ||
| Music Director | Illayaraja | ||
| Cinematography | Arthur A.Wilson | ||
| Producer | K.S. Sreenivasan (Vasans Visual Ventures) |
| Year | Result | Awards | Category/Recipient(s) |
| 2009 | Won | Filmfare Award | Best Tamil Actress - Pooja |
| 2009 | Nominated | Filmfare Award | Best Tamil Director |
| Filmfare Award | Best Tamil Actor - Arya | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Tamil Film | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Tamil Supporting Actor - Rajendran | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Tamil Lyricist - Illayaraja | ||
| 2010 | Won | 56th National Award | Best Director |
| 56th National Award | Best MakeUp - Sasi & Dasarathan | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Actress - Pooja | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Cinematographer - Arthur A Wilson | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Villain - Rajendran | ||
| Vijay Award | Best Director | ||
| Vijay Award | Best Actress - Pooja | ||
| Vijay Award | Best Villain - Rajendran | ||
| Vijay Award | Best Makeup - Sasi & Dasarathan |

True to Bala's inimitable style, this film explores the fringe elements of society. Unlike his darker fare, Avan Ivan is more a comic satire than a tragic-drama. But that doesn't stop him from etching a film rife with deeply complex and intriguing characters. The story revolves around two half-brothers, played by Arya and Vishal - who despite their differences and rivalry come together to help their godfather. The two protagonists form a perfect foil to each other and often make you question gender stereotypes.
| Cast | Vishal, Arya, Janani Iyer, Madhushalini, G.M.Kumar, R.K | ||
| Music Director | Yuvanshankarraja | ||
| Cinematography | Arthur A.Wilson | ||
| Producer | Kalpathi S. Aghoram, Kalpathi S. Ganesh, Kalpathi S. Suresh ( AGS Entertainment Pvt Ltd ) |
| Year | Result | Awards | Category/Recipient(s) |
| 2012 | Won | Vijay Award | Best Choreographer - Suchitra |

| Cast | Atharvaa Murali, Vedhika C Kumar, Dhanshikaa | ||
| Music Director | G. V. Prakash Kumar | ||
| Cinematography | Chezhian | ||
| Producer | B Studios |
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| Year | Result | Awards | Category/Recipient(s) |
| 2000 | Won | 47th National Film Festival | Best Regional Film Award |
| Filmfare Award | Best Film | ||
| Cinema Express Award | Best Film | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Director | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Director | ||
| Pepsi Film Award | Best Director | ||
| Dinakaran Award | Best Director | ||
| Filmfare Award | Special Award South - Vikram | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Special Prize - Vikram | ||
| 2001 | Nominated | 47th National Film Festival | Best Actor - Vikram |
| Year | Result | Awards | Category/Recipient(s) |
| 2001 | Won | 51st Airtel Film Fans Awards | Best Director |
| Filmfare Award | Best Tamil Actress – Laila | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Film Special prize | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Actor in Lead Role – Suria | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Cinematographer - R. Rathnavelu | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Actor in Supporting Role - Rajkiran | ||
| 2002 | Won | 22nd Cinema Express Award | Best Director |
| 2003 | Won | Medimix Dinakaran Award | Best Director |
| Year | Result | Awards | Category/Recipient(s) |
| 2004 | Won | National Award | Best Actor - Vikram |
| Filmfare Award | Best Film | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Supporting Actor - Surya | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Supporting Actress - Sangeetha | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Director | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Actor - Vikram | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Actress - Laila | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Actor - Vikram | ||
| Pepsi Film Award | Best Director | ||
| Medimix Dinakaran Award | Best Director | ||
| Medimix Dinakaran Award | Best Actor - Vikram | ||
| Medimix Dinakaran Award | Best Cinematographer - Balasubramanian | ||
| Medimix Dinakaran Award | Best Actress Supporting Role - Sangeetha | ||
| Medimix Dinakaran Award | Best Actor in Comic Role - Karunas |
| Year | Result | Awards | Category/Recipient(s) |
| 2009 | Won | Filmfare Award | Best Tamil Actress - Pooja |
| 2009 | Nominated | Filmfare Award | Best Tamil Director |
| Filmfare Award | Best Tamil Actor - Arya | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Tamil Film | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Tamil Supporting Actor - Rajendran | ||
| Filmfare Award | Best Tamil Lyricist - Illayaraja | ||
| 2010 | Won | 56th National Award | Best Director |
| 56th National Award | Best MakeUp - Sasi & Dasarathan | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Actress - Pooja | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Cinematographer - Arthur A Wilson | ||
| Tamilnadu State Award | Best Villain - Rajendran | ||
| Vijay Award | Best Director | ||
| Vijay Award | Best Actress - Pooja | ||
| Vijay Award | Best Villain - Rajendran | ||
| Vijay Award | Best Makeup - Sasi & Dasarathan |
| Year | Result | Awards | Category/Recipient(s) |
| 2012 | Won | Vijay Award | Best Choreographer |
| Year | Result | Awards | Category/Recipient(s) |
| 2012 | Won | National Award | Best Costume Designer - Poornima Ramaswamy |
Best Regional Film Award from Govt. of India at the 47th National film Festival.
Best Director Award from Tamilnadu Govt. given by the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu Mr.M.Karunanidhi.
Best Director Award from Govt of India at 56th National Film Awards 2008.
Old No. 36, New No. 18, Nathamuni Street,
T.Nagar, Chennai - 600 017.
044 - 2815 2919
bstudios@gmail.com balafilmdirector@gmail.com