Gana Bala

Bala Murugan, better known by his stage name Gana Bala is an Indian playback singer in Tamil cinema. He rose to prominence after rendering the songs 'Aadi Pona Aavani' and 'Nadukadalula Kappala' from the soundtrack of Attakathi. He has predominantly sung songs belonging to the gaana genre of Tamil Nadu.^[1] He has been credited for reviving the gaana genre in Tamil Cinema after 'Thenisai Thendral' Deva.^[2][3] He has also penned lyrics for some of his songs.

Gana Bala
Bala performing in Mitafest '14
Background information
Birth name	M. Bala Murugan
Also known as	Anathai Bala, 'Gana Kuyil King' Bala
Born	(1969-06-20) 20 June 1969 (age 55)[where?] Swamimalai
Occupation(s)	Playback singer, lyricist, lawyer
Years active	2007–2021

Career

Bala first tripped on 'Gaana' when he was in high school. He gained confidence as a Gaana singer when he joined Presidency College, Chennai to study Botany.^[4] He later contested in the TV reality show Gana Kuyil Pattu that featured on Kalaignar TV and won it.^[5] He has worked on a number of devotional albums and also performed on stage.^[4] One of his independent albums, Vaanavil was released by composers Deva and Dhina.^[6] He made his debut in the film industry with Piragu composed by Srikanth Deva, son of the 'Father of Gaana Genre' – Deva.^[7] He first found success for his songs 'Aadi Pona Aavani' and 'Nadukadalula' in the sleeper hit Attakathi. Since then he has sung a number of successful songs under top composers like Yuvan Shankar Raja and G. V. Prakash Kumar.

He has also sung a jingle with composer G. V. Prakash Kumar to mark the 10th anniversary celebrations of Radio Mirchi Chennai.^[8]

Other works

Film work

Apart from singing, Bala has also featured in some of his songs.^[9] He has also appeared in a minor role as a mechanic in his debut film Piragu. He has danced for a song in 'Attakathi' Dinesh's second movie as hero, Vaaraayo Vennilaave. At the audio launch of Vikraman's Ninaithathu Yaaro, Bala expressed interest in acting and his desire to become a hero.^[10] He will soon turn hero in a film to be directed by K. Selva Bharathy titled Parry's Corner. The film is said to ponder over the fact that while migrants to Chennai hit it big, Chennai-ties still live mediocre lives. Bala will be playing a cycle rickshaw driver.^[11][12][13]

Philanthropy

Bala is a law graduate and works as an advocate. He has contested local municipal elections twice as an independent candidate, losing only by slender margins. Bala, who identifies himself as an Ambedkarite, says,^[4]

I am always involved in community activities. I like helping people. I would have been a politician if I had not become a singer.

Filmography

As playback singer

Films

Year	Song(s)	Film	Composer	Co-Singer(s)	Notes
2007	"Pathinoru Peru Aattam" "Unnaipola Pennai"	Piragu	Srikanth Deva	Solo Srikanth Deva, Srilekha Parthasarathy	Credited as Anathai Bala
2008	"Phona Pottu"	Thodakkam	Jeyrom Pushparaj		Credited as Anathai Bala
2008	"Chikku Bukku Rayilu"	Vedha	Srikanth Deva		Credited as Anathai Bala
2012	"Aadi Pona Aavani" "Nadukadalula Kappala"	Attakathi	Santhosh Narayanan		[14] Also composed 'Nadukadalula Kappala'
2012	"Nenaikuthey"	Pizza	Santhosh Narayanan		[15]
2013	"Duet Song" "Pottiyunnu Vanthuputta"	Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya	S. Thaman	Muralidhar, Rahul Nambiar, Ranjith Solo	[16]
2013	"Thannai Thaane"	Paradesi	G. V. Prakash Kumar		[17]
2013	"Edhathaan Kanduttey Nee Pudhusa"	Settai	S. Thaman		[18]
2013	"Mannadacha Pandhu" "Oru Grammam"	Gouravam	S. Thaman
2013	"Ora Kannala"	Udhayam NH4	G. V. Prakash Kumar
2013	"Kaasu Panam"	Soodhu Kavvum	Santhosh Narayanan	Andony Dasan	[19]
2013	"Poosani Kaai"	Pattathu Yaanai	S. Thaman		[20]
2013	"Ayyo Ramare"	Pusthakamlo Konni Pageelu Missing	Gunwanth Sen		Telugu film
2013	"Sandhegam"	Arya Surya	Srikanth Deva		[21]
2013	"Hey Baby"	Raja Rani	G. V. Prakash Kumar	G. V. Prakash Kumar, Aishwarya	[22]
2013	"En Veetula"	Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara	Siddharth Vipin		[23]
2013	"Pa Pa"	Pizza II: Villa	Santhosh Narayanan	Rap by Vineet Mani	[24]
2013	"Vaazhka Oru"	Naveena Saraswathi Sabatham	Prem Kumar		[25]
2013	"Odi Odi"	3D Thaedi Pidi Adi	Karthik Harsha
2013	"Run For Your life"	Biriyani	Yuvan Shankar Raja	ft. PSYCHO.unit
2013	"Sethu Po"	Vizha	James Vasanthan	Sunandhan, Theodore	[26]
2014	"Nee Quarter Nan Water"	Be Right Back	Princeten Charles		[27]
2014	"Aaru Adi Veedu" "All Your Beauty"	Goli Soda	S. N. Arunagiri		[28]
2014	"Don't Worry Be Happy"	Nimirndhu Nil	G. V. Prakash Kumar	S. Selva
2014	"Enda Mapla"	Cuckoo	Santhosh Narayanan	Sathish, Dhee	[29]
2014	"Vaazhkai Thaan"	Marumunai	Sathya Dev
2014	"Bachelor Enakke"	Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavaanikalum	Natarajan Sankaran	Rap by Premgi Amaren	[30][31]
2014	"Lovely Ladies"	Naan Sigappu Manithan	G. V. Prakash Kumar	Vijay Prakash, Megha, Aryan Dinesh, G. V. Prakash Kumar	[32]
2014	"Oru Ponnu"	Pongadi Neengalum Unga Kadhalum	Kannan	M. A. Ramakrishnan	[33]
2014	"Adaikalam"	Yaamirukka Bayamey	SN Prasad	El Fe Choir	[34]
2014	"Chinnadaaga Morachiputta"	Adhu Vera Idhu Vera	Taj Noor		[35]
2014	"Kelunganne Kelunga"	Vadacurry	Vivek Siva Mervin Solomon		[36]
2014	"Kokkara Kozhi"	Saivam	G. V. Prakash Kumar	Chinnaponnu, Ashwitha, Harish, Aishwarya	[37]
2014	"Elarai"	Aindhaam Thalaimurai Sidha Vaidhiya Sigamani	Simon	Yabama JO	[38][39]
2014	"Nokia Ponnu Samsung Paiyan"	Kadhalai Thavira Verondrum Illai	Srikanth Deva	Simrutha	[40]
2014	"Porappu Erappu"	Poriyaalan	M.S. Jones		[41]
2014	"Kaakidha Kappal" "Irandhidava"	Madras	Santhosh Narayanan	Sean Roldan, Tholkappiyan, Santhosh Narayanan Solo	[42]
2014	"Athangarai Orathile"	Yaan	Harris Jayaraj	Emcee Vickey (rap)	[43][44][45]
2014	"Johny Johny"	Vennila Veedu	Dhanraj Manickam	Dhanraj Manickam	[46]
2014		Royapuram-13	Dheen Dayal		Short film[47]
2014	"Ayya Padichavare"	Jaihind 2	Arjun Janya	Rajesh Krishnan	[48]
2014	"En Karunchingamaai"	Appuchi Gramam	Vishal Chandrasekar	Vishnu Muralee	[49]
2014	"Vaada Poda"	Murugaatrupadai	Ganesh Raghavendra
2014	"Doggy Style"	Naaigal Jaakirathai	Dharan Kumar		[50]
2014	"Kannaadithanda"	Aaaah			[51]
2014	"Gumthalakka"	Gugan	Guru Kalyan	Sri Nisha	[52]
2014	"20-20"	Cricket Scandal	Deepan		[53]
2014	"Venaam Mappilla"	Velmurugan Borewells	Srikanth Deva	Naveen Madhav
2014	"Enna Solla"	Saravana Poigai	D. Vijay		[54]
2014	"Jinji Nakka"	Nee Yen Uyire	Vijay Manthra		[55]
2014	"Santhayila Bajarula"	Saravanan Engira Surya	Dhanraj Manickam
2014	"Ponnuga Buththi"	Win	U. K. Murali
2014	"Kadhalikka"	Rettai Kathir	Deva Kumar		[56]
2014	"Thamizh Nattin"	Thiraipada Nagaram	Nithin Karthik		[57]
2014	"Ambaani Ponnu"	Vaaraayo Vennilaave	Karthik Raja
2014	"Yenda"	Ula	Saajan Madhav	Naveen Madhav, Dwayne Bravo	[58][59]
2014	"Nadukadulula"	Vaaliba Raja	Radhan	Radhan	[60]
2014	"Atta Kathi Mokka Peesu"	Mozhivathu Yathenil	Nithyan Karthik		[61]
2014	"Adhaaru Udhaaru"	Yennai Arindhaal...	Harris Jayaraj	Vijay Prakash	[62]
2014	"Jallikattu Kaalai"	Manam Nilluna Nikkadhadi	R.G. Allen
2014	"Kastathae Yaaru Kitta"	Maalumi	Baskar
2014	"Friend Nambuda", "God God"	Rombha Nallavan Da Nee	Ram Surender
2014		Love Pannunga Life Nallarukkum			[63]
2014	"Aashe Paddadu"	Superstar Kidnap	Sai Karthik		Telugu film[64]
2014	"Kaal Mulacha Beer"	Mei Marandhen	K. R. Kawin	K. R. Kawin
2014	"Devadas"		Ravi Arziyaan (Ksmusic)	Saint and Ramnath (Malaysia)
2014	"Vandha Malai"	Darling	G. V. Prakash Kumar	Karunas, Arun Raja Kamaraj
2014	'"Currency Raja"	Currency Raja	Chinni Charan		Tamil dubbed version of Vasool Raja starring Navdeep and Sri Hari
2015	"Vandha Kada"	Vai Raja Vai	Yuvan Shankar Raja
2015	"Sonu papadi"	Soan Papdi	Dhanraj Manickam	Sivani
2015	"Paatha Oru Lookula"	Inimey Ippadithaan	Santhosh Kumar Dayanidhi
2015	"Dakalti"	Trisha Illana Nayanthara	G. V. Prakash Kumar
2015	"Chinna Vayasula"	Charles Shafiq Karthiga	Sidhartha Mohan
2016	"Ulagam Oruvanukka", "Veera Thurandhara"	Kabali	Santhosh Narayanan
2016	"Naan Kaaylankada"	Azhahendra Sollukku Amudha	Rajin Mahadev
2016	"Rotora Padhayile"	Ammani	K
2018	"Kaattu Vaasi"	Kilambitangayya Kilambitangayya	Sreekanth
2018	"Maadila Nikkura Maankutty"	Vada Chennai	Santhosh Narayanan	Dhee
2018	"Kurukupettai"	Vaandu	A R Neshan
2018	"Kudure Kudure"	Aadi Purana	Vikram Vasisht, Chandana Vasisht		Kannada film
2019	"Paathikapatta Nenjamellam"	Butler Balu	Ganesh Raghavendra
2021	"What A Life"	Trip	Siddhu Kumar
2021	"Aao Ji Aao"	Oh Manapenne	Vishal Chandrashekhar
2022	"Kadamaiyai Sei"	Kadamaiyai Sei	Arunraj
2022	"Suthura Boomi"	Varalaru Mukkiyam	Shaan Rahman		Lyrics by Santhosh Rajan
2024	"Dangerunga Danger"	Vaagai	Sree Sai Dev

• The films are listed in order that the film released, regardless of the dates the music released.

Television

Year	Song(s)	Serials	Composer	Co-Singer(s)	Channels
2013	"Uruvaakum Karuvil"	Vamsam			Sun TV
2016	"Darling Da Da"	Darling Darling	Vishal Chandrasekhar		Zee Tamil

As lyricist

Year	Song(s)	Film	Composer
2012	"Nadukadalula Kappala"	Attakathi	Santhosh Narayanan
2013	"Love Letter" "Pottiyunnu Vanthuputta"	Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya	S. Thaman
2013	"Edhathaan Kanduttey Nee Pudhusa"	Settai	S. Thaman
2013	"Ora Kannala"	Udhayam NH4	G. V. Prakash Kumar
2013	"Kaasu Panam"	Soodhu Kavvum	Santhosh Narayanan
2013	"Sandhegam"	Arya Surya	Srikanth Deva
2013	"Hey Baby"	Raja Rani	G. V. Prakash Kumar
2013	"Vaazhka Oru"	Naveena Saraswathi Sabatham	Prem Kumar
2014	"Sokkathaan Aadu"	Kalavaram	F.S. Faisal
2014	"Aaru Adi Veedu" "All Your Beauty"	Goli Soda	S. N. Arunagiri
2014	"Don't Worry Be Happy"	Nimirndhu Nil	G. V. Prakash Kumar
2014	"Enda Mapla"	Cuckoo	Santhosh Narayanan
2014	"Vaazhkai Thaan"	Marumunai	Sathya Dev
2014	"Open the Tasmac"	Maan Karate	Anirudh Ravichander
2014	"Bachelor Enakke"	Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavaanikalum	Natarajan Sankaran
2014	"Avalai Nambithan"	Salim	Vijay Antony[65]
2014	"Porappu Erappu"	Poriyaalan	M.S. Jones
2014	"Scenu Scenu"	Sigaram Thodu	D. Imman
2014	"Kaakidha Kappal" "Irandhidava"	Madras	Santhosh Narayanan
2014	"Nadukadulula"	Vaaliba Raja	Radhan
2014	"20-20"	Cricket Scandal	Deepan
2014	"Jinji Nakka"	Nee Yen Uyire	Vijay Manthra
2014	"Santhayila Bajarula"	Saravanan Engira Surya	Dhanraj Manickam
2014	"Jallikattu Kaalai"	Manam Nilluna Nikkadhadi	R.G. Allen
2014		Velachery	Tajnoor
2014		Kadavan	Srikanth Deva
2014		Yevan	A.K. Sasidharan
2014		Aaaah
2014		Love Pannunga Life Nallarukkum
2015	"Vandha Kadha"	Vai Raja Vai	Yuvan Shankar Raja
2015	"Partha Oru Lookla"	Inimey Ippadithan	Santhosh Dhayanidhi

As actor

Year	Film	Role	Notes
2007	Piragu	Mechanic	Also Appearance in the song 'Pathinoru Peru'
2008	Vedha	Himself	Special Appearance in the song 'Chikku Bukku'[66]
2013	Udhayam NH4	Himself	Special Appearance in the song 'Ora Kannala'
2013	Soodhu Kavvum	Himself	Special Appearance in the song 'Kaasu Panam'
2013	Raja Rani	Himself	Special Appearance in the song 'Hey Baby'
2014	Kalavaram		Special Appearance in the song 'Sokkathaan Aadu'
2014	Nimirndhu Nil		Special Appearance in the song 'Don't Worry Be Happy'
2014	Marumunai		Special Appearance in the song 'Vaazhkai Thaan'[67]
2014	Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavaanikalum	Himself	Special Appearance in promo song 'Bachelor Enakke'[68]
2014	Aindhaam Thalaimurai Sidha Vaidhiya Sigamani		Special Appearance in the song 'The Elarai'
2014	Kaadhal 2014		Special Appearance in the song 'Oh Jinglee'
2014	Kadhalai Thavira Verondrum Illai	Himself	Special Appearance in the song 'Nokia Ponnu Samsung Paiyan'
2014	Madras		Special Appearance in the song 'Irandhidava'
2014	Jaihind 2	Himself	Special Appearance in the song 'Ayya Padichavare'
2014	Aaaah		Special Appearance in the song 'Kannaadithanda'
2015	Rombha Nallavan Da Nee
2015	Vaaraayo Vennilaave		Special Appearance in the song 'Ambaani Ponnu'[4]
2015	Mozhivathu Yathenil		Special Appearance in the song 'Atta Kathi Mokka Peesu'
2016	Nanaiyatha Mazhaiye		Special Appearance in the song "Manasu Sari Illai"
2016	Andaman		Special Appearance in the song "Kaalai Maalai"
2019	Butler Balu		Special Appearance in the song "Paathikapatta Nenjamellam"
2021	Sarpatta Parambarai		Uncredited Role
2023	Yevan
2024	Vaagai		Special appearance in song "Dangerunga Danger"

Television Appearance

Year	Programme / Show	Role	Channel	Language	Notes
2023	Bigg Boss Tamil 7	Contestant	Vijay TV	Tamil	Wildcard (Entered Day 28) Evicted Day 49

Awards

Kalaimamani Honour by Tamil Nadu Government

• 2015 - Contribution to Playback singing^[69]

Year	Film	Award Ceremony	Category	Song(s)	Result
2013	Attakathi	Vikatan Awards 2012	Best Playback Singer (Male)	Nadukadalula Kappala Aadi Pona Aavani	Won
		7th Annual Vijay Awards	Best Male Playback Singer Best Lyricist	Nadukadalula Kappala	Nominated
		Chennai Times Film Awards 2012[70][71][72]	Best Singer (Male)	Nadukadalula Kappala	Nominated