{{short description|Indian film director and screenwriter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = G. Vasanthabalan | image = Vasantha Balan at the Kaaviya Thalaivan Press Meet.jpg | caption = Vasanthabalan in 2014 | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = Devathanam, Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu, India | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = | years_active = 2002 - present | spouse = | website = https://www.directorvasanthabalan.com/ | occupation = Film director<br />Screenwriter }}
'''G. Vasanthabalan''' (credited as '''G. Vasanta Balan''') is an Indian Tamil film director and screenwriter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-slide-shows/movie-2/top-directors/directors-25-21.html|title=Kollywood's Top 25 Directors - Directors - Vetrimaran Balaji Sakthivel Lingusamy Vasanth Karu Pazhaniappan Simbudevan|website=www.behindwoods.com}}</ref> He has made critically acclaimed films including ''Veyil'' (2006), ''Angadi Theru'' (2010) and ''Kaaviya Thalaivan'' (2014).
==Career== Vasanthabalan began his film career as an editing assistant and later became an assistant director to S.Shankar in the latter's directorial debut, ''Gentleman'' (1993). He continued to work under Shankar in three more films ''Kaadhalan'' (1994), ''Indian'' (1996) and ''Jeans'' (1998).
He later made his break as an independent director with the box-office failure ''Album'' (2002).<ref>{{cite web |last=Ramprasad |first=Sinndhuja |date=27 November 2014 |title=Honest Company: The Vasanthabalan Interview |url=https://silverscreenindia.com/tamil/features/vasanthabalan-interview/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629035310/https://silverscreenindia.com/tamil/features/vasanthabalan-interview/ |archive-date=29 June 2022 |access-date=4 November 2025 |website=Silverscreen India}}</ref>
His second film, produced by Shankar's S Pictures, ''Veyil'' (2006) was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful. It was shown as the Indian representative at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2006/dec/05slide1.htm|title=rediff.com: 'It is a dream to have a producer like Shankar'|website=specials.rediff.com}}</ref> His next release, ''Angadi Theru'' (2010), showcased a romantic tale set in the famous Ranganathan Street in the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The film won critical acclaim and was a commercial success as well. It was shortlisted for India's submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/60327.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100927200124/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/60327.html|archive-date = 27 September 2010|title = Tamil Cinema News | Tamil Movie Reviews | Tamil Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz Tamil}}</ref> In 2012, he released ''Aravaan'', a period film based on the novel ''Kaaval Kottam,'' that reflects the life of people of South Tamil Nadu in the 18th century. Following that, he made the period drama ''Kaaviya Thalaivan'' (2014), which won critical acclaim.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2014/Oct/30/unmasking-the-theatre-of-the-20s-676760.html|title =Unmasking the Theatre of the 20s}}</ref>
The crime drama ''Jail'' (2021) starring G. V. Prakash Kumar and Abarnathi in main roles, and the film didn't go well as expected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/arjun-das-and-vasanthabalans-aneethi-heads-to-the-final-stage-of-production/articleshow/91764348.cms|title = Arjun Das and Vasanthabalan's 'Aneethi' heads to the final stage of production}}</ref> He later directed the psychological thriller film ''Aneethi'' starring Arjun Das and Dushara Vijayan in lead roles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/tamil-review/aneethi-movie-review-a-disturbing-tale-of-capitalism-crippled-by-a-contrived-screenplay-arjun-das-dushara-vijayan-vasanthabalan|title =Aneethi Movie Review: A Disturbing Tale of Capitalism Crippled By A Contrived Screenplay}}</ref> ''Aneethi'' is an impressive and powerful take on exploitation, kindness and everything in between.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/aneethi-movie-review/|title =Aneethi review: Vasanthabalan is back with yet another rooted story}}</ref> In 2024, the political thriller streaming television series ''Thalaimai Seyalagam'' was released to average reviews.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/thalaimai-seyalagam-review/20240517.htm|title =Thalaimai Seyalagam Review: Strained Cliffhanger}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Notes |- | 2002 || ''Album'' || |- | 2006 || ''Veyil'' || National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil<br />Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film<br />Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil |- | 2010 || ''Angaadi Theru'' || Vijay Award for Best Director<br />Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil<br />Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director<br />Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Story |- | 2012 || ''Aravaan'' || |- | 2014 || ''Kaaviya Thalaivan'' || Norway Tamil Film Festival for Best Director<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ntff.no/node/125 |title=The 6th annual Norway Tamil Film Festival - Tamilar Awards 2015 Winners announced! | NTFF |website=www.ntff.no |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320065446/http://www.ntff.no/node/125 |archive-date=20 March 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | 2021 || ''Jail'' || |- | 2023 || ''Aneethi'' || |- | 2024 || ''Thalaimai Seyalagam'' || ZEE5 Original<br />Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Web Series |- |} ;As an actor *''Jeans'' (1998) as Cashier in Pechiappan's Hotel
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|2677913}}
{{Vasanthabalan}} {{FilmfareAwardBestTamilDirector}} {{TamilNaduStateAwardForBestDirector}}
Category:Tamil film directors Category:Living people Category:Film directors from Tamil Nadu Category:People from Virudhunagar district Category:Filmfare Awards South winners Category:21st-century Indian people Category:Year of birth missing (living people)