S. S. Balan
S. Balasubramanian, better known as S. S. Balan, was an Indian journalist, filmmaker, political analyst, and media executive. He was also involved in aviculture and agriculture.
Balan had a six-decade-long career in Indian media as the editor of the Tamil-language magazine, Ananda Vikatan, based in Chennai, India, and as managing director of Gemini Studios, starting in 1956. He later served as chairman emeritus of the Vikatan Group, after retiring from active involvement.
Balan died on 19 December 2014 in Chennai, India.
Category:Indian media executives
Early life and education
Balan was born on 28 December 1935 in Madras to S. S. Vasan and Pattammal Vasan. He was the second child and only son, with an elder sister named Lakshmi Narayani. The family resided in their ancestral Edward Elliots Road home. The house was later converted into an office building.Balan studied at St. Ann's [Presentation Convent High School, Rawalpindi|Presentation Convent], Church Park, and P. S. High School, and went on to earn a B.Com. degree from Loyola College, Madras.
Magazine career
Ananda Vikatan, the flagship weekly magazine of Vikatan Publications, was founded in 1926 and acquired by Balan's father, S. S. Vasan in 1928. It is one of the longest-running Tamil-language publications. Under family ownership, Vikatan grew in readership and influence within Tamil media, literature, and the arts.Balan joined Ananda Vikatan as joint managing director and chief editor on 26 August 1956 at 19. He became managing director on 26 August 1969, following the death of his father, Vasan. His concurrent leadership of Ananda Vikatan and Gemini Studios led to his being colloquially referred to as "M.D." in Chennai media circles during the 1970s.
In 1987, Balan was involved in a freedom of the press controversy when the Privileges Committee of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly sentenced him to three months in prison over a cartoon satire published on the cover of Ananda Vikatan. Following public backlash, he was released after two days. In 1994, the Madras High Court ruled in his favor, awarding him ₹1,000 in compensation, which he reportedly framed and displayed in his office.
Balan introduced a mentorship program for student journalists, contributing to the development of many Tamil media professionals. He supported the careers of several editors, journalists and writers. He was credited for helping Cho Ramaswamy launch Thuglak magazine.
Writers who credited Balan with mentorship include Manian, Sujatha, Balakumaran, Crazy Mohan, Madhan, and Rajesh Kumar. Vikatan expanded its operations to include the publication of multiple Tamil magazines and books. It was among the early Indian publishers to adopt computerized typesetting and launch digital platforms. One of its noted projects was publishing a Tamil edition of the Concise Encyclopædia Britannica. After Balan stepped down from his editorial role at age 70, changes in editorial direction drew criticism from some readers.