Bala (2002 film)

Bala
International release DVD cover
Directed by	Deepak
Produced by	Rajabalu Raju Magalingam
Written by	Deepak
Starring	Shaam Meera Jasmine Raghuvaran Thilakan Nagesh Santhoshi Karunas Mayilsamy Murali Sumithra Rajan P. Dev Monalisha
Music by	Yuvan Shankar Raja
Cinematography	Priyan
Edited by	V. T. Vijayan
Production company	Goldmine Pictures
Release date	13 December 2002 (2002-12-13)
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Bala is a 2002 Indian Tamil film starring Shaam and Meera Jasmine in lead roles and Raghuvaran, Thilakan, Nagesh, Rajan P. Dev, Karunas and Sumithra in supporting roles. Music by Yuvan Shankar Raja became popular upon release and was a major highlight of the film. The film was released on 13 December 2002 and is considered an average grosser.

Bala (Shaam) is the favourite hitman of gangster Pasupathi (Rajan P. Dev). When Bala is not zooming around in jeeps with a wild-looking gang, parading down lanes with the same gang faithfully following a step behind him, or knocking down one person or another, he's successfully wooing Aarthi (Meera Jasmine), the girl he has fallen for at first sight. Aarthi is the daughter of Jeyamani (Raghuvaran), a rival gangster. Ailing don Paranthaman (Thilakan), the mentor of the two rivals, seeing his protégés at each other's throats, brings a compromise by suggesting that Aarthi will be married to Pasupathi's wayward son. Bala naturally becomes a pariah in both camps, till it's all's well that ends well.

Vidya Balan, the original choice for lead actress, was replaced by Meera Jasmine in the film.

'Bala' is directed by debutant Deepak who had assisted editors Lenin-Vijayan, and director A.R. Gandhikrishna. Produced by Rajababu and Raju Mahalingam for Goldmine Pictures, 'Bala' has music by Yuvan Shanker Raja, editing by V.T. Vijayan and cinematography by Priyan. The supporting cast has Thilakan, Vadivel, Rajan P. Dev, Murali of Malayalam films. Mayilsamy, Sumitra, Monish, Raghuvaran, Karunas, Nagesh and Meera Krishnan.

Some scenes were shot on a boat about fifteen kilometre from the harbour, in Chennai whereas at the Vauhini Studios, Chennai, a lavish set was erected where Shaam and Meera Jasmine danced to the beat of a song.