R. Balki

Career

Balki wrote and directed the 2007 comedy-drama film Cheeni Kum, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu, which marked his directorial debut. His second directorial was the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Paa, produced by Sunil Manchanda and Abhishek Bachchan which was released on 4 December 2009, starring Amitabh Bachchan, his son Abhishek Bachchan and Vidya Balan. The film received multiple nominations in addition to winning the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi the following year. In 2015, he directed the satirical drama Shamitabh which would mark his third collaboration with Amitabh Bachchan. The film also starred Tamil actor Dhanush and marked the acting debut Akshara Haasan, daughter of actor-director Kamal Haasan. In 2016, he directed the comedy-drama Ki and Ka which starred Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. In 2018, he directed the social comedy Pad Man starring Akshay Kumar and Radhika Apte. The film was based on the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham, which he co-produced, scripted and directed. In 2019, he co-produced and scripted the 2019 film Mission Mangal, in addition to serving as a creative director. His next directorial was the thriller Chup : Revenge Of The Artist, starring Dulquer Salmaan, Sunny Deol and Shreya Dhanwanthary in lead roles. The film revolved around a serial killer who targets film critics. In 2023, he wrote and directed and the sports drama Ghoomer starring Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher. It premiered at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.

Personal life

Balki was born on 16 April 1964 in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu and brought up in Bengaluru. Prior to his filmmaking career, he worked in advertising and served as the chairman of advertising agency Lowe Lintas. In 2016, he retired from advertising to focus on his filmmaking career.

Balki married filmmaker Gauri Shinde in 2007.

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Paa received 14 nominations at the 16th Star Screen Awards of which the film won five awards. It also won National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.

For Pad Man, he won the award for Best Director at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne in 2018. Padman also won the National Film Award for the Best Film on Social Issues.

References

References

1. "Kamal Haasan's younger daughter Akshara to jump into Bollywood arena". Tamilstar.
2. "'Cheeni Kum' clocks 13 years: R.Balki shares his experience on making a 'coming of age' film - Times of India".
3. (2020-02-11). "Even after three films with Amitabh Bachchan, it's never easy to get him to sign on, says R Balki".
4. (29 July 2015). "Revealed – Kareena Kapoor's Look As 'KI' In R. Balki's 'Ki And Ka'".
5. (19 January 2018). "Inspired Much". [[Deccan Herald]].
6. [https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/r-balki-dedicates-pad-man-national-award-win-to-arunachalam-muruganantham-it-belongs-to-him-1580223-2019-08-13 R Balki dedicates Pad Man National Award win to Arunachalam Muruganantham: It belongs to him]
7. (24 July 2019). "'Mission Mangal' film about 'ordinary people setting out to do extraordinary things', says director". [[Scroll.in]].
8. [https://www.livemint.com/Companies/ONXWQsq4uNqfDVudkIzRVK/Creative-honcho-R-Balki-quits-Mullen-Lowe-Lintas-Group-as-c.html R Balki quits Mullen Lowe Lintas, advertising for films]
9. (2018-03-24). "The accidental couple: The unconventional marriage of R Balki and Gauri Shinde".
10. "English Vinglish inspired by my mom: Gauri Shinde - Hindustan Times".
11. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100103110858/http://www.screenindia.com/screenaward2010/nomination2010.html Nominations for 16th Star Screen Awards], Star Screen Awards.
12. (23 December 2019). "Akshay Kumar's 'PadMan' wins National Award for being best social film". [[Business Standard]].
13. (16 April 2008). "Nominations for the IIFA Awards 2008". Bollywood Hungama.
14. Bollywood Hungama News Network. (14 March 2008). "Nominations for 3rd Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards".
15. (2 January 2008). "Nominees for 14th Annual Screen Awards". Bollywood Hungama.
16. (25 December 2007). "Nominations for Max Stardust Awards 2008". Bollywood Hungama.
17. (1 April 2008). "Nominations for the Zee Cine Awards 2008". Bollywood Hungama.
18. (11 February 2010). "Nominations for 55th Idea Filmfare Awards 2009".
19. (8 May 2010). "Nominations for IIFA Awards 2010".
20. "57th National Film Awards". Directorate of Film Festivals.
21. (31 December 2009). "Nominations for Nokia 16th Annual Star Screen Awards 2009".
22. (12 July 2018). "Sanju and Padmaavat get most nominations at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Awards 2018".
23. "66th National Film Awards". Directorate of Film Festivals.