{{Short description|Indian filmmaker, screenwriter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = R. Balki | image = R. Balki.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|04|16|df=y}} | birth_place = Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India<ref name="K"/> | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = | other_names = R. Balakrishnan | known_for = | spouse = {{marriage|Gauri Shinde|2007}} | occupation = Former Group Chairman Lowe Lintas, film director, screenwriter }}
'''R. Balakrishnan''', popularly known as '''R. Balki''',<ref name="K">{{cite web|url=http://www.tamilstar.com/news-id-kamal-haasans-younger-daughter-akshara-to-jump-into-bollywood-arena-kamal-haasan-younger-daughter-akshara-tamil-cinema-news-tamil-movies-03-09-135550.htm|title=Kamal Haasan's younger daughter Akshara to jump into Bollywood arena|work=Tamilstar|access-date=5 September 2013|archive-date=26 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526104637/https://www.tamilstar.com/news-id-kamal-haasans-younger-daughter-akshara-to-jump-into-bollywood-arena-kamal-haasan-younger-daughter-akshara-tamil-cinema-news-tamil-movies-03-09-135550.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> (born 16 April 1964) is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter and former Group Chairman of the advertising agency Lowe Lintas (India). He is best known for directing the films ''Cheeni Kum'' (2007), ''Paa'' (2009), ''Pad Man'' (2018), ''Chup: Revenge of The Artist'' (2022), and ''Ghoomer'' (2023).
==Career== Balki wrote and directed the 2007 comedy-drama film ''Cheeni Kum'', starring Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu, which marked his directorial debut.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Cheeni Kum' clocks 13 years: R.Balki shares his experience on making a 'coming of age' film - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/cheeni-kum-clocks-13-years-r-balki-shares-his-experience-on-making-a-coming-of-age-film/articleshow/75976326.cms|access-date=2021-02-08|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-11|title=Even after three films with Amitabh Bachchan, it's never easy to get him to sign on, says R Balki|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/even-after-three-films-with-amitabh-bachchan-it-s-never-easy-to-get-him-to-sign-on-for-a-film-says-r-balki/story-btA0cYkw0NX7x5CVxeilML.html|access-date=2021-02-08|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> In 2016, he directed the comedy-drama ''Ki and Ka'' which starred Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.koimoi.com/bollywood-news/revealed-kareena-kapoors-look-as-ki-in-r-balkis-ki-and-ka/|title=Revealed – Kareena Kapoor's Look As 'KI' In R. Balki's 'Ki And Ka'|date=29 July 2015}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vijayakar |first1=Rajiv |title=Inspired Much |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/654686/inspired-much.html |access-date=21 April 2020 |work=Deccan Herald |date=19 January 2018}}</ref><ref>[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]</ref> In 2019, he co-produced and scripted the 2019 film ''Mission Mangal'', in addition to serving as a creative director.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Raman |first1=Sruthi Ganapathy |title='Mission Mangal' film about 'ordinary people setting out to do extraordinary things', says director |url=https://scroll.in/reel/931544/mission-mangal-film-about-ordinary-people-setting-out-to-do-extraordinary-things-says-director |access-date=24 July 2019 |work=Scroll.in |date=24 July 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref name="K"/><ref>[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]</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-03-24|title=The accidental couple: The unconventional marriage of R Balki and Gauri Shinde|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/the-accidental-couple-the-unconventional-marriage-of-r-balki-and-gauri-shinde/story-mnFe3JHaQudyclAXNS0VNN.html|access-date=2021-02-08|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/English-Vinglish-inspired-by-my-mom-Gauri-Shinde/Article1-913368.aspx |title=English Vinglish inspired by my mom: Gauri Shinde - Hindustan Times |access-date=2012-08-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814161537/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/English-Vinglish-inspired-by-my-mom-Gauri-Shinde/Article1-913368.aspx |archive-date=14 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}, Hindustan Times, 14 August 2012.</ref>
==Filmography== {{BLP unreferenced section|date= December 2022}} {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! rowspan="2" style="width:33px;"|Year ! rowspan="2"|Title ! colspan="3" |Credited as ! rowspan="2" |Notes |- ! Director !Producer ! Writer |- | 2007 | ''Cheeni Kum'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | |- | 2009 | ''Paa'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | |- | 2012 | ''English Vinglish'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | 2015 | ''Shamitabh'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |- | 2016 | ''Ki & Ka'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |- | 2018 | ''Pad Man'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |- | 2019 | ''Mission Mangal'' | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | |- | 2022 | ''Chup: Revenge of The Artist'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |- | rowspan="2" |2023 | ''Lust Stories 2'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} |Segment: ''Made for Each Other'' |- | ''Ghoomer'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |}
==Awards and nominations== ''Paa'' received 14 nominations at the 16th Star Screen Awards<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100103110858/http://www.screenindia.com/screenaward2010/nomination2010.html Nominations for 16th Star Screen Awards], Star Screen Awards.</ref> of which the film won five awards. It also won National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}
For ''Pad Man'', he won the award for Best Director at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne in 2018.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}} ''Padman'' also won the National Film Award for the Best Film on Social Issues.<ref>{{cite news |title=Akshay Kumar's 'PadMan' wins National Award for being best social film |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/akshay-kumar-s-padman-wins-national-award-for-being-best-social-film-119122301043_1.html |access-date=29 April 2020 |work=Business Standard |date=23 December 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Film(s) ! Result ! class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | rowspan="6"| 2008 | 9th IIFA Awards | Best Story | rowspan="6"| ''Cheeni Kum'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2008/04/16/3780/index.html|title=Nominations for the IIFA Awards 2008|date=16 April 2008|work=Bollywood Hungama|access-date=9 June 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308032548/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2008/04/16/3780/index.html|archivedate=8 March 2010|agency=Bollywood Hungama News Network}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| Producers Guild Film Awards | Best Story | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="3rd Producers Guild Film Awards">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2008/03/14/3674/index.html |title=Nominations for 3rd Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards |last=Bollywood Hungama News Network |date=14 March 2008 |website=Bollywood Hungama |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921064836/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2008/03/14/3674/index.html |archive-date=21 September 2011 |url-status=dead |access-date=9 June 2022}}</ref> |- | Best Dialogues | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="3rd Producers Guild Film Awards" /> |- | 14th Screen Awards | Most Promising Debut Director | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2008/01/02/3422/index.html|title=Nominees for 14th Annual Screen Awards|date=2 January 2008|work=Bollywood Hungama|access-date=9 June 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429081517/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2008/01/02/3422/index.html|archivedate=29 April 2009|agency=IndiaFM News Bureau}}</ref> |- | Stardust Awards | Hottest Young Film Maker | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2007/12/25/3391/index.html|title=Nominations for Max Stardust Awards 2008|date=25 December 2007|work=Bollywood Hungama|access-date=9 June 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023081753/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2007/12/25/3391/index.html|archivedate=23 October 2011|agency=Bollywood Hungama News Network}}</ref> |- | 11th Zee Cine Awards | Most Promising Debut Director | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2008/04/01/3729/index.html|title=Nominations for the Zee Cine Awards 2008|date=1 April 2008|work=Bollywood Hungama|access-date=9 June 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323104004/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2008/04/01/3729/index.html|archivedate=23 March 2010|agency=Bollywood Hungama News Network}}</ref> |- | rowspan="9"| 2010 | rowspan="2"| 55th Filmfare Awards | Best Director | rowspan="9"| ''Paa'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="55th Filmfare Awards">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/nominations-for-55th-idea-filmfare-awards-2009/ |title=Nominations for 55th Idea Filmfare Awards 2009 |website=Bollywood Hungama |date=11 February 2010 |access-date=10 June 2022}}</ref> |- | Best Screenplay | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="55th Filmfare Awards" /> |- | rowspan="2"| 11th IIFA Awards | Best Director | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="11th IIFA Awards">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/nominations-for-iifa-awards-2010/ |title=Nominations for IIFA Awards 2010 |website=Bollywood Hungama |date=8 May 2010 |access-date=10 June 2022}}</ref> |- | Best Story | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="11th IIFA Awards" /> |- | 57th National Film Awards | Best Feature Film in Hindi | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/45_57thNfacatalogue%20-%20.pdf |title=57th National Film Awards |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=9 June 2022 |archive-date=14 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114060347/https://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/45_57thNfacatalogue%20-%20.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | rowspan="4"| 16th Screen Awards | Best Director | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="16th Screen Awards">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/nominations-for-nokia-16th-annual-star-screen-awards-2009/ |title=Nominations for Nokia 16th Annual Star Screen Awards 2009 |website=Bollywood Hungama |date=31 December 2009 |access-date=10 June 2022}}</ref> |- | Best Story | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="16th Screen Awards" /> |- | Best Screenplay | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="16th Screen Awards" /> |- | Best Dialogue | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="16th Screen Awards" /> |- | rowspan="1"| 2018 | rowspan="1"| Indian Film Festival of Melbourne | Best Director | rowspan="2"| ''Pad Man'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/iffm-indian-film-festival-of-melbourne-awards-2018-sanju-padmaavat-5256831/ |title=Sanju and Padmaavat get most nominations at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Awards 2018 |website=The Indian Express |date=12 July 2018 |access-date=10 June 2022}}</ref> |- | rowspan="1"| 2019 | rowspan="1"| 66th National Film Awards | Best Film on Other Social Issues | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite press release |title=66th National Film Awards |url=https://dff.gov.in/images/News/66th_NFA_Results.pdf |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=10 June 2022 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=9 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809152118/https://dff.gov.in/images/News/66th_NFA_Results.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{IMDb name|2669564|name=R. Balki}} * [http://www.paathefilm.com/ ''Paa'' official website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balki, R.}} Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:Film directors from Tamil Nadu Category:Hindi-language film directors Category:Indian advertising directors Category:Indian male screenwriters Category:21st-century Indian screenwriters Category:Directors who won the Best Film on Other Social Issues National Film Award Category:People from Thanjavur district