{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "@id": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/560061/bala",
  "name": "Bala",
  "url": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/560061/bala",
  "knownForDepartment": "Directing",
  "description": "Bala is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer, working in Tamil cinema. Bala is widely acclaimed for \"revolutionizing Tamil cinema\" through his realistic, dark and disturbing depiction of the working class on celluloid screen. He has received several awards and recognition for his work, including the National Film Award for Best Director for his fourth feature film Naan Kadavul (2009).",
  "birthDate": "1966-07-11",
  "birthPlace": "Theni, Tamil Nadu, India",
  "alternateName": [
    "Director Bala",
    "Bala Palanisamy"
  ],
  "image": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/qVG3lLLn2CQQdNoWM8DvChe4Da4.jpg",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1220246"
  ],
  "lastVerified": "3 May 2026",
  "filmography": [
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 69669,
      "title": "Sethu...",
      "year": "1999",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.382,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/ak7L2zzWojsnmwk7Bb3izV6ZkFr.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/69669/sethu-1999"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 949380,
      "title": "Vanangaan",
      "year": "2025",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/3L7lr67HqidLP3SYsLmFq3JZ8lR.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/949380/vanangaan-2025"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 69638,
      "title": "Pithamagan",
      "year": "2003",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.463,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/z6J6EbrDo62pN3qHhiHd45MFFnY.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/69638/pithamagan-2003"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 523030,
      "title": "Varmaa",
      "year": "2020",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 2.3,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/t1hyYFI0W2L5l0rjDwmIkTkOMsC.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/523030/varmaa-2020"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 444516,
      "title": "Naachiyaar",
      "year": "2018",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/yGHZ1Bc2MuPIFC3EvCCiFJyF7Rp.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/444516/naachiyaar-2018"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 111614,
      "title": "Nandha",
      "year": "2001",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.824,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/fl7I3LPqyMU1HjeHxxTt0bCDUHk.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/111614/nandha-2001"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 146584,
      "title": "Paradesi",
      "year": "2013",
      "role": "Producer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.6,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/q7ILAFCPI1Xnou55R9ymJXwwvyO.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/146584/paradesi-2013"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 69637,
      "title": "Maayavi",
      "year": "2005",
      "role": "Producer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.563,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/m6G8dxB4ftDiCarLn7arf7Nbx6a.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/69637/maayavi-2005"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 65518,
      "title": "Avan Ivan",
      "year": "2011",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.8,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/jVxsUgXOcpcHgtbH5ubxIfo36eB.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/65518/avan-ivan-2011"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 280163,
      "title": "Tharai Thappattai",
      "year": "2016",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/cKnO6nxdEmR33coLU0Nc0ZLyWt.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/280163/tharai-thappattai-2016"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 331589,
      "title": "Veedu",
      "year": "1988",
      "role": "as Postman (uncredited)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 8.625,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/rWwVqlSfNJePZ2QmmFyredCMIJw.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/331589/veedu-1988"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 899746,
      "title": "Visithiran",
      "year": "2022",
      "role": "Producer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/aN2bLSiywApPAnEv4FXXYGBxI6l.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/899746/visithiran-2022"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 349198,
      "title": "Chandi Veeran",
      "year": "2015",
      "role": "Producer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.3,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/tZEaBVj7oNRkoMnJCA1OkqyY27N.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/349198/chandi-veeran-2015"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 311155,
      "title": "Pisaasu",
      "year": "2014",
      "role": "Producer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/u3dLe7SJa7FQeM5LICtkiw6LUA7.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/311155/pisaasu-2014"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 69499,
      "title": "Naan Kadavul",
      "year": "2009",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.4,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/he18aYmVT6gLGgbV6QDhcy55Lc2.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/69499/naan-kadavul-2009"
    }
  ]
}