# Mahendran (actor)

Mahendran is an Indian actor who works in Tamil and Telugu language films. He started acting at the age of 3 and has appeared in over 100 films in six languages as a child actor, a record in India. He is a recipient of two Nandi Awards and two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.
In 2013 he played the lead in Vizha, which was his breakthrough as an adult actor.

## Career

Mahendran made his debut with K. S. Ravikumar's Nattamai (1994). He twice won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Child Artist, for Thaikulame Thaikulame (1995) and Kumbakonam Gopalu (1998). He also twice won the Nandi Award for Best Child Actor, for Devi (1999) and Little Hearts (2001). He also appeared on the Sun TV dance show Masthana Masthana as a participant in 2009.
The actor made his breakthrough as a hero when he starred alongside Malavika Menon in Vizha (2013), directed by Barathi Balakumaran.
The film is based on the award-winning short film Uthiri, and portrays the love story of Mahendran's character Sundaram, who plays the thappu instrument at funerals, and Rakkamma (Malavika), an oppari singer. The film opened to positive reviews in December 2013. His first Telugu film, First Love opposite Amrita Rao released on the same day, with a low key release.

## Filmography

* Note: all films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.

### Child artist

List of Mahendran child artist film credits :
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | Nattamai | Boy at panchayat | Uncredited |
| 1995 | Pedarayudu | Boy at panchayat | Telugu film |
| 1995 | Thaikulame Thaikulame | Pandiyan's biological son and Janaki's adopted son | Won—Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Child Artist |
| 1995 | Muthu | Tribal | Uncredited |
| 1996 | Mahaprabhu | | |
| 1996 | Parambarai | Young Paramasivan | |
| 1996 | Coimbatore Mappillai | Sumithra's neighbor | |
| 1996 | Senathipathi | | |
| 1997 | Vaimaye Vellum | Raja | |
| 1997 | Mappillai Gounder | Young Subramani | |
| 1997 | Pelli Chesukundam | | Telugu film |
| 1997 | Aahaa..! | Ajay | |
| 1998 | Kondattam | Mahendran | |
| 1998 | Thulli Thirintha Kaalam | Market worker | |
| 1998 | Kaathala Kaathala | Orphan child | |
| 1998 | Natpukkaga | Young Chinnaiyya | |
| 1998 | En Uyir Nee Thaane | Rajasekhar's son | |
| 1998 | Aahaa..! | Ajay | Telugu film |
| 1998 | Kumbakonam Gopalu | | Won—Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Child Artist |
| 1998 | Sivappu Nila | Muthu Manikkam | |
| 1999 | Suriya Paarvai | Vijay | |
| 1999 | Devi | Young Dantra | Telugu film |
| 1999 | Devi | Young Dantra | Won—Nandi Award for Best Child Actor |
| 1999 | Padayappa | guest at Anitha's wedding | Uncredited |
| 1999 | Poomagal Oorvalam | Saravanan | |
| 1999 | Nee Varuvai Ena | | |
| 1999 | Minsara Kanna | Vetri | |
| 1999 | Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa | Udayappa | |
| 1999 | Paattali | Young Shanmugam | |
| 2000 | Sudhandhiram | | |
| 2000 | Maayi | Young Maiyaandi | |
| 2000 | Mugavaree | A child on the beach | |
| 2001 | Ammayi Kosam | Tea supplier boy | Telugu film |
| 2001 | Mohanayanangal | The Young Evil Monk | Malayalam film |
| 2001 | Simharasi | Young Narasimharaju | Telugu film |
| 2001 | Viswanathan Ramamoorthy | Mahendran | |
| 2001 | Asokavanam | Rahul | |
| 2001 | Little Hearts | Deva | Telugu film |
| 2001 | Little Hearts | Deva | Won—Nandi Award for Best Child Actor |
| 2002 | Nee Sneham | | Telugu film |
| 2003 | Magic Magic 3D | Indrajeet's friend | |
| 2003 | Simhadri | Young Simhadri | Telugu film |
| 2003 | Aalukkoru Aasai | Saravanan | |
| 2006 | Nenjirukkum Varai | | |

### Adult actor

Key :
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
List of Mahendran adult film credits :
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | Jaggubhai | Mohan | |
| 2010 | Mudhal Kadhal Mazhai | Aanjaneyar Kumar | |
| 2013 | Vizha | Sundaram | |
| 2014 | First Love | | Telugu film |
| 2014 | Endrume Anandham | Subbu | |
| 2015 | Vindhai | Karthi | |
| 2015 | Viraivil Isai | Susi | |
| 2017 | Thittivasal | Muthu | |
| 2018 | Naadodi Kanavu | Marudhu | |
| 2020 | Asalu Em Jarigindhante | Vaasu | Telugu film |
| 2021 | Master | Young Bhavani | |
| 2021 | Chidambaram Railway Gate | Velu | |
| 2021 | Namma Oorukku Ennadhan Achu | Nalla Thambi | |
| 2022 | Maaran | Police officer | |
| 2023 | Ripupbury | Sathyaraj | |
| 2023 | Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam | Young Kaluvan | |
| 2024 | Amigo Garage | Rudra | |
| TBA | Musasi † | TBA | |
| TBA | Coolie † | TBA | |
| TBA | Pulse † | TBA | |

### Television

List of Mahendran television credits :
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | Mayavi Marichan | Manikandan | Sun TV |
| 2023 | Label | Veerasekar | Disney+ Hotstar |