Skip to content
balasaur
Balu Mahendra

Balu Mahendra

Director · 1939–2014 · Batticaloa, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka

IMDb

Biography

Balanathan Benjamin Mahendran or commonly known as Balu Mahendra, was an Indian cinematographer, director, screenwriter and film editor. Born into a Sri Lankan Tamil household, Mahendra developed a passion towards photography and literature at a tender age. He was drawn towards film-making after witnessing the shoot of David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai in Sri Lanka. He started his career as a literary editor before gaining an admission to the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) to pursue a course in cinematography. Mahendra entered films as a cinematographer in the early 1970s and gradually rose to becoming a film-maker by the end of the decade.

Directed 22

2000s

  1. 2005

    Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam

    Director

  2. 2003

    Julie Ganapathi

    Director

  3. 2001

    En Iniya Pon Nilavae

    Director

1990s

  1. 1997

    Raman Abdullah

    Director

  2. 1996

    Aur Ek Prem Kahani

    Director

  3. 1995

    Sathi Leelavathi

    Director

    79
  4. 1993

    Marupadiyum

    Director

  5. 1992

    Vanna Vanna Pookkal

    Director

1980s

  1. 1989

    Sandhya Raagam

    Director

  2. 1988

    Veedu

    Director

  3. 1987

    Rettai Vaal Kuruvi

    Director

  4. 1986

    Nireekshana

    Director

  5. 1985

    Yathra

    Director

  6. Un Kannil Neer Vazhinthal...

    Director

  7. 1984

    Neengal Kettavai

    Director

  8. 1983

    Oomakkuyil

    Director

  9. Sadma

    Director

  10. 1982

    Moondram Pirai

    Director

  11. Olangal

    Director

  12. 1980

    Moodupani

    Director

1970s

  1. 1979

    Azhiyatha Kolangal

    Director

  2. 1977

    Kokila

    Director

Camera 44

2000s

  1. 2005

    Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam

    Director of Photography

  2. 2003

    Julie Ganapathi

    Director of Photography

  3. 2001

    En Iniya Pon Nilavae

    Director of Photography

1990s

  1. 1997

    Raman Abdullah

    Director of Photography

  2. 1996

    Aur Ek Prem Kahani

    Director of Photography

  3. 1995

    Sathi Leelavathi

    Director of Photography

    79
  4. 1993

    Marupadiyum

    Director of Photography

  5. 1992

    Vanna Vanna Pookkal

    Director of Photography

1980s

  1. 1989

    Sandhya Raagam

    Director of Photography

  2. 1988

    Veedu

    Director of Photography

  3. 1987

    Rettai Vaal Kuruvi

    Director of Photography

  4. 1986

    Nireekshana

    Director of Photography

  5. 1985

    Yathra

    Director of Photography

  6. Un Kannil Neer Vazhinthal...

    Director of Photography

  7. 1984

    Neengal Kettavai

    Director of Photography

  8. 1983

    Oomakkuyil

    Director of Photography

  9. Sadma

    Director of Photography

  10. Pallavi Anu Pallavi

    Director of Photography

  11. 1982

    Moondram Pirai

    Director of Photography

  12. Olangal

    Director of Photography

  13. 1980

    Moodupani

    Director of Photography

  14. Sankarabharanam

    Director of Photography

1970s

  1. 1979

    Azhiyatha Kolangal

    Director of Photography

  2. Ulkadal

    Director of Photography

  3. Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi

    Director of Photography

  4. 1978

    Manavoori Pandavulu

    Director of Photography

  5. Mullum Malarum

    Director of Photography

  6. 1977

    Kokila

    Director of Photography

  7. 1976

    America Ammayi

    Director of Photography

  8. Ponni

    Director of Photography

  9. Missi

    Director of Photography

  10. 1975

    Cheenavala

    Director of Photography

  11. Raagam

    Director of Photography

  12. Prayanam

    Director of Photography

  13. Anuragalu

    Director of Photography

  14. Chuvanna Sandhyakal

    Director of Photography

  15. 1974

    Chattakkari

    Director of Photography

  16. Jeevikkan Marannupoya Sthree

    Director of Photography

  17. Nellu

    Director of Photography

  18. 1973

    Sasthram Jayichu Manushyan Thottu

    Director of Photography

  19. Kaliyugam

    Director of Photography

  20. Chukku

    Director of Photography

  21. 1972

    Maaya

    Director of Photography

  22. Nrithasala

    Director of Photography

Wrote 23

2000s

  1. 2005

    Rama Shama Bhama

    Original Story

  2. Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam

    Screenplay, Dialogue, Story

  3. 2003

    Julie Ganapathi

    Screenplay

  4. 2001

    En Iniya Pon Nilavae

    Story, Screenplay, Dialogue

1990s

  1. 1997

    Raman Abdullah

    Story, Screenplay

  2. 1996

    Aur Ek Prem Kahani

    Dialogue, Screenplay, Story

  3. 1995

    Sathi Leelavathi

    Screenplay

    79
  4. 1992

    Vanna Vanna Pookkal

    Story, Screenplay

1980s

  1. 1989

    Sandhya Raagam

    Screenplay, Dialogue

  2. 1988

    Veedu

    Screenplay, Dialogue

  3. 1987

    Rettai Vaal Kuruvi

    Screenplay

  4. 1986

    Nireekshana

    Screenplay

  5. 1985

    Yathra

    Screenplay

  6. Un Kannil Neer Vazhinthal...

    Screenplay, Dialogue

  7. 1984

    Neengal Kettavai

    Screenplay, Dialogue

  8. 1983

    Oomakkuyil

    Screenplay, Dialogue, Story

  9. Sadma

    Story, Screenplay

  10. 1982

    Moondram Pirai

    Story, Screenplay, Dialogue

  11. Olangal

    Screenplay, Dialogue

  12. 1980

    Moodupani

    Screenplay, Dialogue

1970s

  1. 1979

    Azhiyatha Kolangal

    Screenplay, Story

  2. 1977

    Kokila

    Screenplay, Story

  3. 1975

    Chuvanna Sandhyakal

    Story

Edited 11

2000s

  1. 2005

    Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam

    Editor

  2. 2003

    Julie Ganapathi

    Editor

1990s

  1. 1997

    Raman Abdullah

    Editor

  2. 1996

    Aur Ek Prem Kahani

    Editor

  3. 1995

    Sathi Leelavathi

    Editor

    79
  4. 1993

    Marupadiyum

    Editor

  5. 1992

    Vanna Vanna Pookkal

    Editor

1980s

  1. 1989

    Sandhya Raagam

    Editor

  2. 1988

    Veedu

    Editor

  3. 1987

    Rettai Vaal Kuruvi

    Editor

  4. 1986

    Nireekshana

    Editor

Produced 1

1980s

  1. 1989

    Sandhya Raagam

    Producer