{"id":63416,"date":"2019-04-01T23:17:15","date_gmt":"2019-04-02T03:17:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=63416"},"modified":"2019-04-02T08:16:45","modified_gmt":"2019-04-02T12:16:45","slug":"veteran-tamil-film-director-j-mahendran-of-mullum-malarum-nenjathaik-killaathae-uthirip-pookal-and-pootaatha-poottukkal-fame-passes-away-in-chennai-at-the-age-of-79","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=63416","title":{"rendered":"Veteran Tamil Film Director J.Mahendran of “Mullum Malarum”, “Nenjathaik Killaathae”, “Uthirip Pookal” and “Pootaatha Poottukkal” fame Passes Away in Chennai at the age of 79."},"content":{"rendered":"


\nBy<\/p>\n

Anjana Shekar<\/strong><\/p>\n

Veteran director J Mahendran, who has given Tamil cinema several important films including Aadu Puli Attam (story, dialogues) Mullum Malarum (debut as director), Uthiripookkal and Nenjathai Killadhe passed away at his residence in Chennai early on April 2.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Public homage for the director will be held from 10.00 am and his last rites will be performed at 5.00 pm on Tuesday. <\/p>\n

The director had been critically ill for the past few days and was undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital in Chennai but was taken home on Monday night. The director was 79.<\/p>\n

The news of his demise was shared by his son John Mahendran, also a director.<\/p>\n

Born in 1939, Mahendran began writing stories for filmmakers way back in 1966.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The film Naam Moovar by director Jambulingam starring Jaishankar, Ravichandran and Nagesh was based on Mahendran\u2019s story and this was his very first attempt in cinema. His other notable stories include the female-centric Panakkara Pillai starring Jayalalithaa in the lead and Sivaji\u2019s acclaimed Thanga Pathakkam.<\/p>\n

Often, people have attributed his first tryst with cinema to the incident that took place during his college days, when a young Mahendran impressed MGR with his witty speech at a college event, the 100-day celebrations of MGR\u2019s Naadodi Mannan at Alagappa College in Madurai.<\/p>\n

In an interview with The Hindu he said, \u201cI got an opportunity to criticise Tamil cinema in front of MGR. Later, he spotted me at a press meet, took me home and presented me with the volumes of Ponniyin Selvan. This was the starting point of my journey as a screenplay writer.\u201d<\/p>\n

The director, however, also described his entry into cinema as forced. \u201cIt is my anger towards Tamil films that motivated me to make films that are real, where people smiled and spoke normally. I made films for pleasure and not for commercial success,\u201d he was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n

Mahendran made his directorial debut with Mullum Malarum, a critically acclaimed drama starring Rajinikanth, Sarath Babu, Fatafat Jayalaxmi and Shoba, in 1978. The film was a turning point in Rajinikanth\u2019s career, and the director is credited with moulding the Superstar as we know him today.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would not have made the film if Rajinikanth had not been in it. I had a producer who never turned up on the sets; but I had Rajinikanth, Ilaiyaraaja for the background score and Balu Mahendra for the camera. Naturally, the film was a success,” he once said in an interview.<\/p>\n

In 2018, when the director was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at News 18\u2019s Magudam Awards by DMK leader Stalin, he dedicated it to his \u201csuper friend Rajini\u201d, giving us a glimpse of their relationship.<\/p>\n

Some of his other notable works with Rajini include Kaali and Johnny. He had also written the story and dialogues for Rajini-Kamal\u2019s milestone film Aadu Puli Attam in 1977.<\/p>\n

His Nenjathai Killadhe starring Suhasini, Sarath Babu, Mohan and Pratap K Pothen ran for a year and received the National Award for Best Regional Film in 1981. The director had said that the story took shape in a flash when he saw a woman jogging from his hotel window. \u201cHer concern was just fitness. Would it be the same once she gets married? I wondered. That is how the screenplay took shape,\u201d he had said.<\/p>\n

Sasanam in 2006 was his last film as a director.<\/p>\n

Cinemavum Naanum, an autobiography by the filmmaker was published in 2013. In recent times, the director has appeared in a few notable films playing memorable roles. Mahendran played the villain in Vijay\u2019s Theri, a role that fetched him the Best Villain award at IIFA Utsavam in 2017. In Balaji Tharaneetharan\u2019s Seethakaathi, even his brief appearance as the high court judge was not missed by his fans.<\/p>\n

The director played a small but an important role in Rajinikanth\u2019s Petta where he was seen breathing life to a complex character – an influential, caste-obsessed man who is willing to let go of his caste pride for his daughter\u2019s happiness. His other film appearances include Kamaraj, Nimir, Mr Chandramouli and Boomerang (his most recent).<\/p>\n

Several renowned filmmakers like Mani Ratnam and Shankar have been inspired by Mahendran\u2019s filmmaking style. Before the release of Rajinikanth\u2019s Kabali, director Pa Ranjith, in an interview, had said that his Kabali was closest to Mahendran\u2019s Kali.<\/p>\n

Responding to this, the director had appreciated Ranjith for not making a usual Rajini film. \u201cToday\u2019s generation don’t really seem to know how talented an actor Rajinikanth is. They seem to know only about his stylishness,\u201d he had said. Calling Rajini a character artiste, he had said, \u201cOnly I know how easily he pulled off Kali\u2019s character. Easy-a panniduvaaru. He\u2019s an outstanding character artiste.\u201d<\/p>\n

Courtesy:The News Minute<\/em><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Anjana Shekar Veteran director J Mahendran, who has given Tamil cinema several important films including Aadu Puli Attam (story, dialogues) Mullum Malarum (debut as director), Uthiripookkal and Nenjathai Killadhe passed away at his residence in Chennai early on April 2. Public homage for the director will be held from 10.00 am and his last …<\/p>\n

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