{{Short description|Indian journalist, filmmaker, and analyst (1935–2014)}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see :Template:Infobox writer/doc --> | name= S. Balasubramanian | image= S. BALASUBRAMANIYAN (S.S.BALAN)- OIL PAINTING BY RAJASEKHARAN.jpg | alt = | caption= Oil painting of S. S. Balan. | pseudonym = | birth_name= S. Balasubramanian | birth_date= {{Birth date|1935|12|28|df=yes}} | birth_place= Madras, Madras Presidency, British India (now Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) | death_date= {{Death date and age|2014|12|19|1935|12|28|df=yes}} | death_place= Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India | occupation= Journalist, filmmaker & political analyst | ethnicity = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | period = | genre = | subject = | movement = | notableworks = | spouse = | partner = | children = | relatives = | awards = | signature = | website = | portaldisp = | imagesize = | influences = | influenced = }}
'''S. Balasubramanian''' (28 December 1935 – 19 December 2014)<ref name="Indiatoday">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-and-current-affairs/story/vikatan-group-chief-s-balasubramanian-passes-away-on-december-19-2014-232305-2014-12-22|title=Vikatan group chief S. Balasubramanian passes away|access-date= 25 May 2026}}</ref> better known as '''S. S. Balan''', was an Indian journalist, filmmaker, political analyst, and media executive.
Balan had a six-decade-long career in Indian media as the editor of the Tamil-language magazine, ''Ananda Vikatan,'' based in Chennai, India, and as managing director of Gemini Studios, starting in the 1950s.<ref name="Indiatoday"/> He later served as chairman of the Vikatan Group.<ref name="Printweek"/>
Balan died on 19 December 2014 in Chennai, India.<ref name="Indiatoday"/>
== Early life and education == Balan was born on 28 December 1935 in Madras (now Chennai) to S. S. Vasan and Pattammal Vasan (d. 1996).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-61/|title=MGR Remembered – Part 61|access-date=24 May 2026}}</ref> He studied at Presentation Convent, Church Park, and P. S. High School. Afterwards, he later went on to earn a B.Com. degree from Loyola College, Madras.<ref name="Indiatoday"/>
== Magazine career == ''Ananda Vikatan'', the flagship weekly magazine of Vikatan Publications, was founded in 1926 and acquired by Balan's father, S. S. Vasan in 1928.{{citation needed|date=May 2026}} Balan joined ''Ananda Vikatan'' as joint managing director and chief editor on 26 August 1956 at 19.{{citation needed|date=May 2026}} He became managing director on 26 August 1969, following the death of his father, Vasan.{{citation needed|date=May 2026}} He served as a chairman to '''Vikatan''' until his death.<ref name="Printweek">{{Cite web|url=https://www.printweek.in/article/vikatans-balasubramaniam-dies/4h523tqcvpxv709x800sjyc6m7|title=Vikatan's Balasubramaniam dies at 78|date=30 December 2014|first=Samir|last=Lukka}}</ref>
In 1987, Balan was involved in controversy when the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly lodged him in prison for three days over a cartoon satire published on the cover of ''Ananda Vikatan''.<ref name="Printweek"/><ref name="Indiatoday"/> Following public backlash, he was released and in 1994, he appealed to court against his unlawful arrest and the Madras High Court ruled in his favor, awarding him ₹1,000 in compensation. Balan reportedly framed and displayed the achievement in his office.<ref name="Printweek"/><ref name="Indiatoday"/>
Balan also introduced a program for student journalists, contributing to the development of many Tamil media professionals.<ref name="Indiatoday"/>
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Films !Director !Writer !Producer !Language !Notes |- |1961 |''Gharana'' |{{No}} |{{Yes}} |{{No}} | rowspan="2" |Hindi | |- |1963 |''Grahasti'' |{{No}} |{{Yes}} |{{No}} | |- |1966 |''Motor Sundaram Pillai'' |{{Yes}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fantasyboxofficegame.com/movies/261705|title=Motor Sundaram Pillai|access-date=24 May 2026}}</ref> |{{No}} |{{No}} |Tamil | |- |1967 |''Aurat'' |{{Yes}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fantasyboxofficegame.com/movies/714923|title=Aurat|access-date=24 May 2026}}</ref> |{{No}} |{{Yes}} | rowspan="2" |Hindi | |- | rowspan="2" |1968 |''Teen Bahuraniyan'' |{{Yes}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fantasyboxofficegame.com/movies/324870|title=Teen Bahuraniyan|access-date=24 May 2026}}</ref> |{{No}} |{{Yes}} | |- |''Oli'' ''Vilakku'' |{{Yes}} |{{Yes}} |{{No}} |Tamil | |- |1969 |''Shatranj'' |{{No}} |{{Yes}} |{{Yes}} | rowspan="3" |Hindi | |- |1971 |''Lakhon Mein Ek'' |{{Yes}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fantasyboxofficegame.com/movies/273853|title=Lakhon Me Ek|access-date=24 May 2026}}</ref> |{{No}} |{{Yes}} | |- |1972 |''Sanjog'' |{{Yes}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fantasyboxofficegame.com/movies/393615|title=Sanjog|access-date=24 May 2026}}</ref> |{{No}} |{{No}} | |- | rowspan="2" |1974 |''Siriththu Vaazha Vendum'' |{{Yes}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/ss-balan/movies|title=SS Balan|access-date=24 May 2026}}</ref> |{{No}} |{{No}} |Tamil | |- |''Kannavaari Kalalu'' |{{Yes}}<ref name="IFH">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/filmography/s-s-balan|access-date=24 May 2026|title=S S Balan}}</ref> |{{Yes}} |{{No}} |Telugu | |- |1975 |''Ellorum Nallavare'' |{{Yes}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/generic/s-s-balan/research-centre/all/ek-gaon-ki-kahani-1975-cinema-song-synopsis-booklet-1659|title=Balan S.S}}</ref> |{{No}} |{{Yes}} |Tamil |Also released in Hindi as ''Ek Gaon Ki Kahani'' |- |1976 |''Maa Daivam'' |{{Yes}}<ref name="IFH"/> |{{Yes}} |{{No}} |Telugu | |- |1978 |''Nishan'' |{{Yes}} |{{Yes}} |{{Yes}} |Bengali | |}
== Personal life == Balan was an avid aviculturalist and agriculturalist.<ref name="Indiatoday"/>
==Death== Balan died of a heart attack on 19 December 2014 in a private hospital in Chennai, nine days before his 79th birthday. He donated his body to the Sri Ramachandra Medical College. He is survived by his wife and seven kids.<ref name="Indiatoday"/>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}} {{Authority control}} {{Gemini Studios}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balan, S. S.}} Category:Indian male journalists Category:Loyola College, Chennai alumni Category:1936 births Category:2014 deaths Category:Writers from Chennai Category:Indian male novelists Category:21st-century Indian novelists Category:20th-century Indian novelists Category:Novelists from Tamil Nadu Category:20th-century Indian male writers Category:21st-century Indian male writers