Writing

J. Mahendran

Born July 25, 1939 · Ilaiyangudi, Madras Presidency, British India

Died April 2, 2019 · aged 79

J. Alexander, known professionally as Mahendran, was an Indian film director, screenwriter and actor, known for his work in the Tamil film industry. Mahendran is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of Tamil cinema and has influenced numerous filmmakers, writers and actors after him. After entering the film industry as a screenwriter, writing scripts for nearly 26 films, including the widely…

Known For

Theri

MovieActionCrime

When an honest cop, Vijay Kumar's family is ruthlessly slaughtered by a politician and his aides, he decides to change his identity and commits his life to bring his daughter up in a serene atmosphere. But some freak events end up compromising his identity and what he does to save his daughter and avenge the death of his family unfurls as Theri.

Mr. Chandramouli

Mr. Chandramouli · 2018

Mr. Chandramouli

MovieRomanceAction

Raghav, a professional boxer, finds himself in a fix when an unexpected turn of events gets him tangled in a battle between his passion, family and the love of his life.

Kallazhagar

Kallazhagar · 1999

MovieActionDrama

Kallazhagar is a 1999 Tamil film directed by Bharathi featuring Vijaykanth and Laila in the lead roles.

Petta

A hostel warden becomes the target of a dreaded politician and his gangster son, but little do they realise that it is they who should fear him.

Johnny

MovieDramaAction

Johnny loves Archana, a popular singer, but their lives are disrupted when Johnny's lookalike kills his lover and tries to pin the blame on Johnny.

Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara

Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara · 1988

Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara

MovieActionDrama

Three friends grow up to be successful professionals. Although they do not stay in touch over the years, they eventually reunite for a common cause.

Nimir

MovieComedyThriller

An amiable photographer in a small-town, who is nursing a breakup, unwittingly becomes embroiled in a street brawl that turns him into a man obsessed with revenge.

Mullum Malarum

Mullum Malarum · 1978

A young man, Kaali and his sister, Valli, who were orphaned as children, share a close bond. However, their relationship gets strained as Kaali butts heads with a newly appointed engineer from the city.

Filmography

Sort

Theri

MovieActionCrime

When an honest cop, Vijay Kumar's family is ruthlessly slaughtered by a politician and his aides, he decides to change his identity and commits his life to bring his daughter up in a serene atmosphere. But some freak events end up compromising his identity and what he does to save his daughter and avenge the death of his family unfurls as Theri.

Minister Vanamamalai

Mr. Chandramouli

Mr. Chandramouli · 2018

Mr. Chandramouli

MovieRomanceAction

Raghav, a professional boxer, finds himself in a fix when an unexpected turn of events gets him tangled in a battle between his passion, family and the love of his life.

Azhagar

Kallazhagar

Kallazhagar · 1999

MovieActionDrama

Kallazhagar is a 1999 Tamil film directed by Bharathi featuring Vijaykanth and Laila in the lead roles.

Dialogue

Petta

A hostel warden becomes the target of a dreaded politician and his gangster son, but little do they realise that it is they who should fear him.

Rajapandi

Johnny

MovieDramaAction

Johnny loves Archana, a popular singer, but their lives are disrupted when Johnny's lookalike kills his lover and tries to pin the blame on Johnny.

Screenplay

Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara

Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara · 1988

Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara

MovieActionDrama

Three friends grow up to be successful professionals. Although they do not stay in touch over the years, they eventually reunite for a common cause.

Story

Nimir

MovieComedyThriller

An amiable photographer in a small-town, who is nursing a breakup, unwittingly becomes embroiled in a street brawl that turns him into a man obsessed with revenge.

National Shanmugam

Mullum Malarum

Mullum Malarum · 1978

A young man, Kaali and his sister, Valli, who were orphaned as children, share a close bond. However, their relationship gets strained as Kaali butts heads with a newly appointed engineer from the city.

Director

Katamarayudu

Katamarayudu · 2017

MovieActionFamily

A violent man Rayudu tries to redeem himself to impress the love of his life, until he gets pushed into a situation that forces him to act.

Yelasari Bhanu's Father

Pon Manickavel

Pon Manickavel · 2021

MovieActionThriller

A cop tasked with investigating the murder of a judge finds out that a businessman might be the key to cracking the case.

Aadu Puli Attam

Aadu Puli Attam · 1977

Aadu Puli Attam

MovieActionDrama

Madan dreams of joining the police force but falls into bad company with Rajni. Eventually, he realises that his associates need to be caught, so he joins the police force to nab them.

Story

Sasanam

Sasanam · 2006

MovieDramaFamily

Muthiah and his wife Visalakshi are a loving couple, and they come across Saroji who with no one to go for, takes refuge in Muthiah's house. Muthiah and Saroji develop soft corner towards each other. The rest is what transpires between the trio, exploring the nuances of an extra-marital affair.

Director

Kai Kodukkum Kai

Kai Kodukkum Kai · 1984

Kai Kodukkum Kai

Veer marries a blind girl and is disowned by his brother. He rents a room and takes care of his wife. He decides to share the room with a handicapped youth who has a secret agenda of his own.

Director

Farz Aur Kanoon

Farz Aur Kanoon · 1982

Farz Aur Kanoon

MovieActionDrama

Ranjit Kumar, a police officer, spends his entire life protecting and upholding the law honestly. His only son, however, indulges in unlawful activities.

Original Story

Kamaraj

Kamaraj · 2004

The film is a biographical sketch of the former Chief Minister of the then Madras State and the All-India Congress Committee secretary and a respected national figure. The film starts with the young age of Kamaraj and ends with the funeral procession of the leader.

K. Rajaram

Seethakathi

Seethakathi · 2018

MovieComedyDrama

A veteran theatre artist who lives for his art 'enters' the world of films. Can the film industry hold on to his inimitable artistry?

Judge

Mogam Muppadhu Varusham

Mogam Muppadhu Varusham · 1976

Mogam Muppadhu Varusham

MovieDramaRomance

A young man, Ramesh (Kamal Haasan), returns from overseas. He arranges a marriage with Kasthuri (Sumithra), and marries her. In a sub-plot, Ramesh's secretary Menaka (Fatafat Jayalakshmi) marries Ravisankar (Vijayakumar), an artist, at nearly the same time. The spouses in each pairing are very different from each other, and have great problems understanding each other. This movie explores whether either pair can make a good marriage together.

Screenplay

Kaali

MovieDramaAction

After being released from jail, Kaali is in search of Raja Rao, a rich businessman who is responsible for the death of his family members.

Screenplay

Kombu Vatcha Singamda

Kombu Vatcha Singamda · 2022

Kombu Vatcha Singamda

MovieDramaAction

Six friends, who follow Periyaar's ideologies, fall prey to the local caste politics that happens in their hometown. Who is the reason behind this and what happens after?

Deivendran

Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu

Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu · 1986

Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu

Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu is a 1986 Tamil-language Indian feature film directed by J. Mahendran, starring Bhanumathi and Sujatha in lead roles.

Screenplay

Nenjathai Killathe

Nenjathai Killathe · 1980

Nenjathai Killathe

Lovers Viji and Ram are separated when Viji is forced to marry her relative, Pratap. As she constantly ignores Pratap, he decides to leave her. Her life takes a turn when she meets Ram again.

Director

Oor Panchayathu

Oor Panchayathu · 1992

Oor Panchayathu

Siva is the foster son of a respectable village elder. The village elder wishes to get his granddaughter married to Siva. But Siva incurs the wrath of the village elder's son-in-law when the villagers unanimously elect him head of the village panchayat. The anger turns into suspicion when Siva gives shelter to a woman named Thamarai and her new-born baby. Siva's kindness is misinterpreted, and even his lover shuns him.

Story

Uthiripookkal

Uthiripookkal · 1979

Sundaravadivelu is a wealthy, sadistic and authoritative man who disregards and manipulates everyone within his reach. Through his ruthless deeds, he makes life miserable for everyone in his village, including his ailing wife and two children.

Dialogue

Thangappathakkam

Thangappathakkam · 1974

Thangappathakkam

MovieFamilyDrama

S. P. Choudhry, a respected police officer, arrests his son after he becomes rebellious and indulges in unethical activities creating nuisance in the society.

Story