When Tamil Cinema was trapped in the stranglehold of melodrama and hero worship, Mahendran entered the arena with a new brand of realistic cinema that made him stand apart in a league of his own. Starting as a screenplay writer, he has Thangapadhakkam` and Aadupuli Attam among many others to his credit. His directorial debut was Mullum Malarum` which showcased Rajinikanth`s prowess as an intense actor and is till today considered his best film.

Mahendran`s Uthirupookal` is considered to be one of the best films in Tamil cinema history. He has inspired many younger generation directors, including Shankar. His acting debut alongside Vijay in Theri` has garnered much praise and, one hopes the septuagenarian will write and direct a new film for the current movie lovers to cherish. Happy 76th Birthday Mahendran sir, and we wish you many more glorious years to follow.