J. Mahendran (born: Alexander) is a film director in Tamil film industry, who is best known for his true narration of screenplay and making.

Mahendran made an immediate impact with his first film Mullum Malarum

Mullum Malarum

Mullum Malarum is a Tamil film directed by J. Mahendran. Starring Rajinikanth and Shoba in the lead, the film was filmed by Balu Mahendra and featured music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The screenplay for the movie is based on a novel with the same name Mullum Malarum authored by Umachandran...

(1978). His next film Udhiri Pookal

Uthiripookkal

Uthiri Pookkal is a Tamil film directed by J. Mahendran. The movie was based on Puthumaipithan's short story Chitrannai.The movie is considered as a break through in commercial Tamil cinema.Plot:...

(1979) was based on a short story written by Pudumaipithan and firmly established him as an important film maker. His work stands apart stylistically, with a penchant for realism and sincerity of approach. Director Mani Ratnam

Mani Ratnam

Mani Ratnam is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter and producer. He made his directorial debut with the Kannada film Pallavi Anu Pallavi starring Anil Kapoor in 1983...

 once famously remarked: "If I get anywhere near what Mahendran did in Udhiri Pookkal, I’ll be a happy man." He is regarded highly by contemporary Tamil Cinema directors. Mahendran has high regards for his cousin brother Eddy, who was a state football player and athlete at Alagappa Arts college, Karaikudi is 2 years his senior.

Filmography

Year	Movie	Cast	Notes
1978	Mullum Malarum Mullum Malarum Mullum Malarum is a Tamil film directed by J. Mahendran. Starring Rajinikanth and Shoba in the lead, the film was filmed by Balu Mahendra and featured music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The screenplay for the movie is based on a novel with the same name Mullum Malarum authored by Umachandran...	Rajni, Sarath Babu, Shobha
1979	Udhiri Pookal Uthiripookkal Uthiri Pookkal is a Tamil film directed by J. Mahendran. The movie was based on Puthumaipithan's short story Chitrannai.The movie is considered as a break through in commercial Tamil cinema.Plot:...	Vijayan, Aswini, Anju, Sharuhassan
1980	Pootatha Pootukkal	Jeyan
1980	Johnny Johnny (1980 film) Johnny is a Tamil film directed by Mahendran.Johnny is one of the finest movies of Mahendran. It had Rajinikant, Sridevi and Deepa in the main roles with Rajinikanth in dual role. Ilayaraja's music is a major highlight of the film...	Rajni, Sri Devi
1980	Nenjathai Killathe	Mohan, Suhasini, Sarathbabu ,Prathap pothan	Won 3 National Awards
1981	Nandu Nandu (film) Nandu is a Tamil feature film directed by J. Mahendran. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Ilayaraja. -Plot:Ram Kumar Sharma is a sickly person living in Lucknow in a large family. He suffers from asthma and does not like the behavior of his autocratic father but is deeply attached to...	Aswini
1982	Metti	Sarathbabu, Radhika, Vadivukarasi, Rajesh, Vijayakumari
1982	Azhagiya Kanney
1984	Kai Kodukkum Kai Kai Kodukkum Kai Kai Kodukkum Kai is a Tamil film is directed by Mahendran starring Rajinikanth and Revathi. Revathi plays the role of a blind girl who gets raped by the villain and Rajini, her husband forgives her for that and they continue to live together.-Soundtrack:...	Rajni, Revathy
1986	Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu
1992	Oor Panjayathu	Sarathkumar
2005	Sasanam Sasanam Sasanam is an Indian Tamil film released in 2006.Banner National Film Development AssociationProducer National Film Development AssociationScreenplay MahendranDialoguesStory WriterDirectorMusic Director Bala Bharathi...	Arvinthasamy, Gouthamy, Ranjitha

Trivia

• Mahendran changed his original name (Alexander) because of his respect towards his college senior and athlete Mahendran
• His son, John Roshan, has directed a few ventures, the most notable being the 2005 Vijay
  Joseph Vijay
  Vijay is an Indian film actor and playback singer, who is based in the cinema of Tamil Nadu. He is the son of film producer and director S. A. Chandrasekhar. After performing uncredited roles as a child actor in films produced by his father, he made his debut in a lead role in the 1992 film...
  
  -Genelia
  Genelia D'Souza
  Genelia D'Souza is an Indian actress, model, and host. She has appeared in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam language films. After gaining wide attention in a Parker Pen commercial with Amitabh Bachchan, D'Souza began her acting career with Tujhe Meri Kasam in 2003...
  
  -Bipasha Basu
  Bipasha Basu
  Bipasha Basu is an Indian actress who mainly appears in Bollywood films. A former model, she was the winner of the Ford's Godrej Cinthol Supermodel contest in 1996.-Early life:...
  
   starrer, Sachein
  Sachein
  Sachein is a 2005 Tamil romance film directed by John Mahendran, starring Vijay and Genelia D'Souza. It also features Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu, in her Tamil cinema debut, Vadivelu and Raghuvaran. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Devi Sri Prasad. The film released along with...
  
  
• Despite being totally away in movies of late for 15 years or so, he has high reputation among directors in the industry and applauds of public from his previous directed films, especially Udhiri Pookal
  Uthiripookkal
  Uthiri Pookkal is a Tamil film directed by J. Mahendran. The movie was based on Puthumaipithan's short story Chitrannai.The movie is considered as a break through in commercial Tamil cinema.Plot:...
  
  (1979).