Bala

MAIN ENTRY: - BALA [Baa-Laa] -

Part of Speech - noun

Definitions:

A highly intellectual lone dissenter artist who takes an independent stand apart from his or her associates

An exceptionally natural intellectual, especially showing the intellect in creative and original work of art.

The one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe.

Synonyms: Maverick, Genius, God

Origin/Epitomology: Tamil Cinema, Balu Mahendra

Usage in a sentence - Tamil director Bala wins national award for his film Naan Kadavul.

Meaning: - BALA is a name of a Tamil film maker. He makes brutally honest and honestly brutal tragedies for a living. Though only four films old, the man has set very high film making standards and is now looked upon as the face of the revolution of Tamil cinema. Idolised and closely followed by other maverick young film makers like Ameer, Sasikumar and Ram, big brother Bala just got recognized with a National Award for what truly was the most difficult film of his career - Naan Kadavul. A twin tale of about death and destruction - Brothers in arms. What sets Bala apart from any other director in India is the authenticity of his work and the gravity of his content. Not one film of his has failed to stun an audience otherwise used to glossy fun-fare at the theatres. Let us take a closer look at the four marvels of this magician.

Entry NO.1 - SETHU

It is all going fine for a famous college student. There is the usual fun, the usual gangs, the usual fights, the usual confusions and crushes, the usual love turning serious, the usual issues with cast and creed. What is different? It is at this point our man takes over. Spinning into the tale a nerve racking tragic twist, Bala couldn't have chosen a better way to enter the film world. The film went on to launch the career of Vikram, now a star and a highly respected actor. The film was also a runaway success and will always be remembered for granting the tragedy genre a long due rebirth and of course for Ilayaraja's soul stirring works, one of his better compositions in years.

Entry NO.2 - NANDA -

A disturbed childhood, the kid ends up killing his own father for abusing his mother. Back from the juvenile prison, Nanda is hired directly into the world of crime. Richer he grows and powerful he becomes, but no one is happy. The demons of the past and the dire need for a normal life haunt both mother and son. All set for the most natural climax possible. She poisons the food, feeds it to her son and eats it too. A dark film with an underlying theme of sattire and very subtle humour. Bala's most underplayed effort struck gold among the critics and also helped Surya fetch rich laurels and acting lessons that he now savours for life. The "DIRECTOR" in the true sense succeeded again, 'DIRECTING' his protege into fine tuned acting.

Entry NO.3 - PITHAMAGAN -

The first of Bala's two twin-tales. Here the two protagonists are very different, in deeds, in moods, in life and in death. One man is a street smart thief, lovable, good at heart and a bundle of energy, the other has seen only death all his life, nothing else. Fate makes the man meet the animal and rest of film is a tale of friendship, love, faith, loss and one brutal revenge. A national award for Vikram and one of Surya's most remembered and most hilarious performances, this film yet again set new movie-making standards the moment it hit the screens.

Entry NO.4 - NAAN KADAVUL

Yes Bala, we agree, You are GOD! WHAT AN EFFORT. No story of the dead and the deserted has been this comprehensively portrayed on screen. Naan Kadavul talks about the beggars world, people who have only one solution to a better life - Death. In a very parallel stance, Bala brings in the Aghorie element. Ultimately The worlds meet for the ultimate solution. The highlight of the movie is an unimaginably frank and dark sarcasm at everyone from Jesus to the new Mass star. THE Director shines again with an effort of a lifetime, what with making deaf, dumb, dyslexic,disabled men women and children act talk and dance. Making such a tough film in just 2 years is pure genius. Authenticity just hit an unparalleled high.

Today every Tamilian is proud to be talking the same language in which Bala makes movies. MY SALUTATIONS.