Vikram appeared in a film directed by Bala.
Bala ( born Bala Pazhanisaamy ) is an Indian film director , screenwriter , and producer , working in Tamil cinema . Vikram (actor) . However , the success of Bala 's tragedy film Sethu ( 1999 ) , in which Vikram appeared as a rogue turned lover , started Vikram 's successful career as an actor . In 2003 , Vikram 's performance as a gravedigger with autism spectrum disorders in Bala 's Pithamagan saw him win the National Film Award for Best Actor , with his character only speaking a couple of lines of dialogue in the entire film .