Once a decorated adman, R Balki decided to quit the advertising industry and try his hand at filmmaking instead. After making a mark with the critically acclaimed rom-com Cheeni Kum, Balki has had a tumultuous career that has included hits like Paa and Pad Man and critically praised but commercially unsuccessful credits like Shamitabh and Ghoomer.
Even with misfires like his 2023 short in the Netflix anthology Lust Stories 2, the ad guru-turned-director remains as one of contemporary Bollywood’s freshest voices.
Collaborations with Amitabh Bachchan
The Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has been a lucky charm for R Balki, joining forces with him first for his directorial debut Cheeni Kum. Paired alongside Tabu, Bachchan played an aging chef who falls for a younger woman and must face the approval of her shocked father-in-law, who is yet again younger to the protagonist.
Their second pairing Paa was even more successful with Bachchan starring as a young boy with the rare genetic condition of progeria. The bittersweet comedy on his relationship with his protective mother and estranged father, ends on a tear jerking finale that offered one of Bachchan’s most moving performances in recent times. Interestingly, his real-life son Abhishek Bachchan played his on-screen father.
Bachchan and Balki’s third outing together Shamitabh was an experimental love letter to the art of acting but failed to make a mark at the box-office. The movie is still worth revisiting for a memorable dialogue-less lead performance by Tamil star Dhanush while Bachchan also gives his all as an alcoholic mentor figure.
Unconventional Romances
From the age gap romance of Cheeni Kum to a businesswoman and house husband’s pairing in the romantic comedy Ki & Ka, R Balki loves playing around different shades of romance. The former addressed finding love at an old age while the latter was a warm-hearted take on subverted gender relations. His short for Lust Stories 2 similarly touched upon a widowed grandmother urging a young couple to explore their sexually liberated side.
Underdog Stories
An underdog fighting against all odds. This norm has been a recurring motif in Balki’s filmography. This can be seen from Dhanush’s Shamitabh protagonist struggling to make his mark as a mainstream actor even if he has a speech disability. Similarly, Akshay Kumar’s Laxmikant Chauhan in Pad Man becomes a local entrepreneur after making low-cost sanitary pads, helping the women in his village in the same process.
Be it in the West or back home, the underdog formula works the best in the sports genre. And Balki has tried his hand here too with Ghoomer, a cricket comedy starring Saiyami Kher as a batting prodigy who loses her right arm in an accident. And still with her moral strength and some mentorship by an unconventional coach grittily played by Abhishek Bachchan, she excels as a bowler instead.
Why is Paa R Balki’s best movie?
Paa can be hailed as R Balki’s best work for its unique narrative and compelling performances. The film explores a rare genetic disorder where a child (played by Amitabh Bachchan) ages rapidly. Balki's sensitive storytelling, coupled with Amitabh Bachchan's transformative portrayal, captivates audiences. The film's emotional depth, unconventional plot, and powerful performances contribute to its distinction as R. Balki's standout cinematic achievement.
Where can you stream R Balki’s filmography?
ZEE5, Netflix, Jio Cinema, Prime Video, Voot and Eros Now.
