B Studios – home banner of the revolutionary director Bala aims to produce diverse, quality Tamil films. In over a decade, B Studios has only produced five films, which explains B Studios has been in highly selective in choosing content and films that would make an effective addition to cinema.
In year 2005, B Studios began its journey by co-producing the comedy-drama ‘MAAYAVI’ with Kalaipuli S. Thanu’s V Creations. The story revolves around a tour guide – conman – thief, played by Surya whom kidnaps a prominent Indian actress, Jyothika in order to teach her a lesson for wrongly accusing him of a crime he did not commit. The film opened to mixed reviews but was widely appreciated for the effortless performance and versatility of Surya.
Following Maayavi, after a long gap of 8 years, Bala once again produced a film under B Studios, this time one of his own, ‘PARADESI’. Released in 2013, the film inspired by true events depicted in the novel ‘Red Tea’ by P.H. Daniel illustrates the life of tea-plantation workers during pre-independent India. Starring Atharvaa Murali, Vedhika and Dhansika, Paradesi was widely appreciated by film critics and won numerous awards, both locally and internationally.
The third film that was produced under B Studios is ‘PISAASU’ by Mysskin. The combination of Bala and Mysskin, two individuals with independent views shocked the film fraternity but Bala had previously openly spoken about his interest and liking in films made by Mysskin. Pisaasu, an experimental horror-drama with unique screenplay starring newcomers Naga and Prayaga Martin proved to be both, critically acclaimed and a box-office success.
Post Pisaasu, Bala once again teamed up with Atharvaa Murali but this time around as a producer of ‘CHANDI VEERAN’, directed by A. Sarkunam, which was released in 2015. Chandi Veeran, which falls under the genre action-drama, is about the feud between two villages for clean water source. Bala has produced a film, which deals with an issue significant to the community, that regardless of boundaries and ownership, water is an open source with equal rights for all.
The fifth film that was released under the banner B Studios is another one of Bala’s own, ‘THARAI THAPPATTAI’. Starring Sasikumar and Varalakshmi Sarathkumar, the film was released early 2016. B Studios also holds the pride of producing the 1000th film of ‘Isaignani’ Ilayaraja, which subsequently won him an award at the 63rd National Film Awards for Best Music Direction – Background Score.
A joint venture by B Studios and EON Studios, ‘NAACHIYAAR’ starring Jyothika, G. V. Prakash Kumar, and Ivana was released in 2018. The film was well received by audience particularly for being the first film in filmmaker’s Bala’s career with a happy ending.
The seventh film to be produced by B Studios is a joint venture. ‘VISITHIRAN’, is the remake of Malayalam film, Joseph, a film with an unpredictable end and strong social message. Directed by the same film director, M. Padmakumar, Visithiran starring R K Suresh, Shamna Kasim, Madhu Shalini was released in 2022.
B Studios next production venture, ‘VANANGAAN’ is all set to be directed by Bala.