V.K.Thanabalan was an Indian travel agent and media figure in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, who is popular by the name V.K.T.

V.K.T.Balan (Veerasangili Kannaiah Thanabalan) was born in Thiruchendur, Thoothukudi district, in the State of Tamil Nadu which is in southern India.

He made money by standing in the queue for people waiting at the American Embassy for visas, charging a few rupees a time to reserve a place for customers.

The then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi presented the shawl and gave him the "Thanga Pathakam" (Gold Award).

[1] He currently presents a television program Velichatin Marupakkam meaning "the other side of the light" on Podhigai TV Balan was born in a town called Thiruchendur, which is situated on the southern tip of Tamil Nadu seashore.

Under the government's primary education system Balan got an opportunity to study only up to 8th standard, in his life.

Balan also noticed that the Egmore Railway Station's pedestrian platform was the staying place for rickshaw pullers and other poor people.

Unbearable hunger, deep anxiety about his employment, tears in his eyes and worn out clothes, all, made him look like a beggar.

If the police are unable to meet the target, they book people like us, who are in fact innocent but are on streets due to our fates.

After running for few furlongs Balan stopped and looked back and found that the police man is no longer chasing him.

Balan excellently used this opportunity to fetch visas, flight tickets and other important documents for those traveling abroad.

Balan's general habits, his integrity in his professional life and his hard labour earned him a good name and many valuable contacts.

Moreover, today Balan is running his business at his own building, which is just opposite to Egmore railway station.

Further has membership in TAFI, IAAI, IATO, SIHRA, FHRAI, Indian Railway, IRCTC, India Tourism & also got tourism departments recognition including that of Government of India Tourism, and recognitions in states like Gujarat, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi, Orissa, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura, Andaman and Tamil Nadu.

Balan was instrumental in introducing 365 days and 24 hours travel services in Tamil Nadu.

The then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi presented the shawl and gave him the “Thanga Pathakam” (Golden Award).

It has the credit of training a physically challenged to get his IATA qualification & employing him as an assistant manager.

Balan had also started “madura welcome” a travel guide for those visiting Tamil Nadu.

This book is greatly helping foreign embassies, consulates, airline companies, hotels, travel agents and tourists.

In this channel Balan is conducting a program by name “Velichatin Marupakkam” meaning “the other side of the light”.

Balan has received thousands of congratulatory letters and people welcomed it as a wonderful program.

He leads life giving importance to Tourism & Human Values without any boundaries: caste, creed & Politics.

His wife is Susheela & have one daughter, Saranya, who is an educational psychologist and one son, Sriharan.