Balu Mahendra
Sri Lankan born Indian film director (1939-2014) · India · On the map · Directors · Died at 74
Balanathan Benjamin Mahendran, commonly known as Balu Mahendra, was a Sri Lankan Tamil cinematographer, director, screenwriter, actor and film editor who worked in various Indian film industries, primarily in Tamil and Malayalam cinema.
Balu Mahendra is read about 496 times a day, in 15 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 11 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 113 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
Julie GanapathiFilm, Director, Writer2001
En Iniya Pon NilavaeFilm, Director, Writer2000Kathai NeramSeries, Director, Creator1996
Aur Ek Prem KahaniFilm, Director, Writer1995
Sathi LeelavathiFilm, Director, Writer1992ChakravyuhamFilm, Director, Writer1989
Sandhya RaagamFilm, Director, Writer1988
VeeduFilm, Director, Writer1986
NireekshanaFilm, Director, Writer1984
Neengal KettavaiFilm, Director, Writer1983National Film Award for Best CinematographyAward
OomakkuyilFilm, 1983Director, Writer1980
MoodupaniFilm, Director, Writer1979
Azhiyatha KolangalFilm, Director, Writer1978National Film Award for Best CinematographyAward1975
Chuvanna SandhyakalFilm, Writer1939Born19 May 1939People around Balu
Ilaiyaraaja Balu directed Sadma and Sathi Leelavathi
Y. G. Mahendra Balu directed Oomakkuyil (1983)
Sridevi Balu directed Moondram Pirai and Sadma
Kamal Haasan Balu directed Moondram Pirai and Sadma
Revathi Balu directed Marupadiyum and Aur Ek Prem Kahani- Silk Smitha Balu directed Moondram Pirai and Sadma
Mohan Balu directed Rettai Vaal Kuruvi (1987)
Heera Rajagopal Balu directed Sathi Leelavathi (1995)
Ramesh Aravind Balu directed Sathi Leelavathi (1995)
Bhanu Chander Also in Moodupani and Neengal Kettavai
Madhavi Balu directed Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal (1985)
Prathap K. Pothan Balu directed Azhiyadha Kolangal (1979)
Rajinikanth Balu directed Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal (1985)
Shobana Balu directed Yathra (1985)- Kalpana Balu directed Sathi Leelavathi (1995)
Gulshan Grover Balu directed Sadma (1983)
Raadhika Sarathkumar Balu directed Rettai Vaal Kuruvi (1987)
Saritha Balu directed Julie Ganapathi (2003)
Poornima Bhagyaraj Also in Olangal and Neengal Kettavai
Allu Rama Lingaiah Balu directed Nireekshana (1982)- Adoor Bhasi Balu directed Yathra (1985)
P. L. Narayana Balu directed Nireekshana (1982)
A. B. Raj Directed Tourist Bungalow (1975)
Vinodhini Vaidyanathan Balu directed Thalaimuraigal (2013)
Balu MahendraPartners
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Filmography 28
156 credits on file
Television 1
Media & music
Awards
About this person
Born in Sri Lanka, Mahendran developed a passion for photography and literature at a young age, after witnessing the shoot of David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) during a school trip in Sri Lanka, he was drawn towards filmmaking. After graduation he joined as an Aerial photographer in the Sri Lankan Government. In 1966, he moved to India and gained admission to the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) to pursue a course in motion picture photography. Upon completion of his diploma, he started working in Malayalam cinema as a cinematographer in the early 1970s.
