Mahendran is an Indian film actor who works in the Tamil film industry. He started acting as a child actor at the age of 3 years, having appeared in over 100 films in six languages, a record number for a child actor in India. His lead role performance in the Tamil film "Vizha", released in 2013, garnered him popularity amongst the audience and is considered as his breakthrough as an adult actor. His films have been made in six languages, including Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.
Career of Mahendran
Born on January 23, 1991 in Hyderabad, India, Mahendran appeared in over 100 films as a child. His first film as a child artist was Tamil movie "Nattamai", released in the year 1994. During this phase, he won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Child Artist twice, first for his performance in the Tamil film "Thaikulame Thaikulame" (1995) and the second time for "Kumbakonam Gopalu" (1998). He had also won the Nandi Award for Best Child Actor twice, for Telugu films "Devi" (1999) and "Little Hearts" (2001). In the year 2009, he appeared on the Sun TV dance show "Masthana Masthana", as a participant, before making his on-screen debut as an adult actor with the Tamil film "Mudhal Kadhal Mazhai", which went unnoticed. He next appeared in the Tamil films "Jaggubhai", "Endrume Anandham", "Vindhai", "Aaki" and "Porida Pazhagu", while also making his debut in Telugu cinema with "First Love" in 2013, opposite Amitha Rao, which had a low key release.
The actor"s breakthrough performance as an adult actor is considered his performance in the film "Vizha", which released in 2013, where he was seen alongside Malavika Menon. The film, directed by Barathi Balakumaran, is based on the award-winning short film "Uthiri", and portrays the love story of Mahendran`s character Sundaram, who plays the Thappu instrument at funerals and Rakkamma played by Malavika, an Oppari singer. The film opened to positive reviews in December 2013, with critics praising Mahendran`s lively portrayal that also garnered him public popularity.
Filmography of Mahendran
Mahendran has appeared in the following selected films as a child artist and the films thus far as an adult actor, highlighted along with their years of release.
| Year | Film |
| 1994 | Nattamai |
| 1995 | Pedarayudu (Telugu) |
| Thaikulame Thaikulame | |
| 1996 | Mahaprabhu |
| Parambarai | |
| 1997 | Vaimaye Vellum |
| Aahaa | |
| Pellichesukundam (Telugu) | |
| 1998 | Kumbakonam Gopalu |
| Aahaa...! (Telugu) | |
| En Uyir Nee Thaane | |
| Mohanayanangal (Malayalam) | |
| 1999 | Suriya Paarvai |
| Minsara Kanna | |
| Devi (Telugu) | |
| Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa | |
| Paattali | |
| Nee Varuvai Ena | |
| Padayappa | |
| 2000 | Sudhandhiram |
| Maayi | |
| Mugavaree | |
| 2001 | Little Hearts (Telugu) |
| Asokavanam | |
| Viswanathan Ramamoorthy | |
| 2003 | Simhadri (Telugu) |
| Magic Magic 3D | |
| Aalukkoru Aasai | |
| 2010 | Mudhal Kadhal Mazhai |
| Jaggubhai | |
| 2013 | First Love (Telugu) |
| Vizha | |
| 2014 | Endrume Anandham |
| 2015 | Vindhai |
| Aaki | |
| Porida Pazhagu |
Related Articles:
Tamil Actors, Indian Cinema
Indian Movie Actors
Tamil Cinema
Tamil Movie Directors
Tamil Actresses, Indian Cinema
Indian Movie Directors
Malayalam Cinema
Telugu Films
Short Films in India
