Known for
Directing
Credits
142
Gender
Man
Birthday
20 May 1939
Day of death
13 Feb 2014 (74)
Place of birth
Batticaloa, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
Also known as
Balanathan Benjamin Mahendran
பாலு மகேந்திரா
Balu Mahendra
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.
Known for
Acting roles
| Year | Movie / TV show / Other | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Thalaimuraigal | Grandfather |
Credits
| Year | Movie / TV show / Other | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Thalaimuraigal | Director |
| 2013 | Thalaimuraigal | Editor |
| 2013 | Thalaimuraigal | Director of Photography |
| 2013 | Thalaimuraigal | Story |
| 2013 | Thalaimuraigal | Screenplay |
| 2013 | Thalaimuraigal | Producer |
| 2005 | Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam | Director |
| 2005 | Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam | Screenplay |
| 2005 | Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam | Dialogue |
| 2005 | Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam | Editor |
| 2005 | Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam | Director of Photography |
| 2005 | Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam | Story |
| 2005 | Rama Shama Bhama | Original Story |
| 2003 | Julie Ganapathi | Director |
| 2003 | Julie Ganapathi | Screenplay |
| 2003 | Julie Ganapathi | Director of Photography |
| 2003 | Julie Ganapathi | Editor |
| 2001 | En Iniya Pon Nilavae | Director |
| 2001 | En Iniya Pon Nilavae | Screenplay |
| 2001 | En Iniya Pon Nilavae | Story |
| 2001 | En Iniya Pon Nilavae | Director of Photography |
| 2001 | En Iniya Pon Nilavae | Dialogue |
| 2000 | Kathai Neram | Director |
| 2000 | Kathai Neram | Creator |
| 1997 | Raman Abdullah | Director |
| 1997 | Raman Abdullah | Editor |
| 1997 | Raman Abdullah | Screenplay |
| 1997 | Raman Abdullah | Story |
| 1997 | Raman Abdullah | Director of Photography |
| 1996 | Aur Ek Prem Kahani | Editor |
| 1996 | Aur Ek Prem Kahani | Dialogue |
| 1996 | Aur Ek Prem Kahani | Director |
| 1996 | Aur Ek Prem Kahani | Screenplay |
| 1996 | Aur Ek Prem Kahani | Director of Photography |
| 1996 | Aur Ek Prem Kahani | Story |
| 1995 | Sathi Leelavathi | Editor |
| 1995 | Sathi Leelavathi | Screenplay |
| 1995 | Sathi Leelavathi | Director |
| 1995 | Sathi Leelavathi | Director of Photography |
| 1993 | Marupadiyum | Director |
| 1993 | Marupadiyum | Editor |
| 1993 | Marupadiyum | Director of Photography |
| 1992 | Vanna Vanna Pookkal | Director |
| 1992 | Vanna Vanna Pookkal | Editor |
| 1992 | Chakravyuham | Story |
| 1992 | Chakravyuham | Director |
| 1992 | Chakravyuham | Screenplay |
| 1992 | Chakravyuham | Editor |
| 1992 | Vanna Vanna Pookkal | Story |
| 1992 | Vanna Vanna Pookkal | Screenplay |
| 1992 | Vanna Vanna Pookkal | Director of Photography |
| 1992 | Chakravyuham | Director of Photography |
| 1991 | Poonthenaruvi Chuvannu | Director |
| 1991 | Lambadolla Ramadasu | Director of Photography |
| 1989 | Sandhya Raagam | Editor |
| 1989 | Sandhya Raagam | Director |
| 1989 | Sandhya Raagam | Screenplay |
| 1989 | Sandhya Raagam | Producer |
| 1989 | Sandhya Raagam | Dialogue |
| 1989 | Sandhya Raagam | Director of Photography |
| 1988 | Veedu | Director |
| 1988 | Veedu | Editor |
| 1988 | Veedu | Dialogue |
| 1988 | Veedu | Screenplay |
| 1988 | Veedu | Director of Photography |
| 1987 | Rettai Vaal Kuruvi | Director |
| 1987 | Rettai Vaal Kuruvi | Director of Photography |
| 1987 | Rettai Vaal Kuruvi | Editor |
| 1987 | Rettai Vaal Kuruvi | Screenplay |
| 1985 | Yathra | Director |
| 1985 | Yathra | Screenplay |
| 1985 | Yathra | Director of Photography |
| 1985 | Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal | Director |
| 1985 | Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal | Screenplay |
| 1985 | Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal | Director of Photography |
| 1985 | Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal | Dialogue |
| 1984 | Neengal Kettavai | Director |
| 1984 | Neengal Kettavai | Screenplay |
| 1984 | Neengal Kettavai | Dialogue |
| 1984 | Neengal Kettavai | Director of Photography |
| 1983 | Sadma | Director |
| 1983 | Sadma | Screenplay |
| 1983 | Sadma | Story |
| 1983 | Sadma | Director of Photography |
| 1983 | Oomakkuyil | Director |
| 1983 | Vasanthame Varuga | Screenplay |
| 1983 | Vasanthame Varuga | Story |
| 1983 | Vasanthame Varuga | Editor |
| 1983 | Vasanthame Varuga | Director |
| 1983 | Oomakkuyil | Screenplay |
| 1983 | Oomakkuyil | Dialogue |
| 1983 | Oomakkuyil | Director of Photography |
| 1983 | Urangatha Ninaivugal | Director of Photography |
| 1983 | Vasanthame Varuga | Director of Photography |
| 1983 | Oomakkuyil | Story |
| 1983 | Pallavi Anu Pallavi | Director of Photography |
| 1982 | Moondram Pirai | Director |
| 1982 | Moondram Pirai | Screenplay |
| 1982 | Moondram Pirai | Director of Photography |
| 1982 | Moondram Pirai | Story |
| 1982 | Moondram Pirai | Dialogue |
| 1982 | Olangal | Director |
| 1982 | Olangal | Screenplay |
| 1982 | Olangal | Dialogue |
| 1982 | Olangal | Director of Photography |
| 1982 | Nireekshana | Director |
| 1982 | Nireekshana | Director of Photography |
| 1982 | Nireekshana | Editor |
| 1982 | Nireekshana | Screenplay |
| 1980 | Sankarabharanam | Director of Photography |
| 1980 | மூடுபனி | Director |
| 1980 | மூடுபனி | Screenplay |
| 1980 | மூடுபனி | Director of Photography |
| 1979 | Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi | Director of Photography |
| 1979 | Azhiyatha Kolangal | Director |
| 1979 | Azhiyatha Kolangal | Screenplay |
| 1979 | Azhiyatha Kolangal | Story |
| 1979 | Azhiyatha Kolangal | Director of Photography |
| 1979 | Ulkadal | Director of Photography |
| 1978 | Mullum Malarum | Director of Photography |
| 1978 | Panthulamma | Director of Photography |
| 1978 | Manavoori Pandavulu | Director of Photography |
| 1977 | Kokila | Director |
| 1977 | Kokila | Screenplay |
| 1977 | Kokila | Story |
| 1977 | Kokila | Director of Photography |
| 1976 | America Ammayi | Director of Photography |
| 1976 | Ponni | Director of Photography |
| 1975 | Prayanam | Director of Photography |
| 1975 | Chuvanna Sandhyakal | Story |
| 1975 | Chuvanna Sandhyakal | Director of Photography |
| 1975 | Tourist Bungalow | Director of Photography |
| 1975 | Raagam | Director of Photography |
| 1975 | Tourist Bungalow | Story |
| 1974 | Chattakkari | Director of Photography |
| 1974 | Jeevikkan Marannupoya Sthree | Cinematography |
| 1974 | Nellu | Director of Photography |
| 1973 | Kaliyugam | Cinematography |
| 1973 | Chukku | Director of Photography |
| 1973 | Sasthram Jayichu Manushyan Thottu | Director of Photography |
| 1972 | Maaya | Director of Photography |