# S. Mahendar

S. Mahendar is an Indian film director working in Kannada cinema. He is also a politician with the BJP contesting from Kollegal constituency in Karnataka. He debuted into cinema with Pranayada Pakshigalu (1992) and went to direct for over 30 films. He also acted in Gattimela (2001) in the lead role under his own direction. His well-known movies include Thayi Illada Thavaru (1995), Karpoorada Gombe (1996), Snehaloka (1999), Asura (2001), Vaalee (2001), Ninagagi (2002), Gowdru (2004) and Thandege Thakka Maga (2006).

## Personal life

Mahendar was married to actress Shruti who had been cast in many of his films. They have a daughter named Gowri. In 2009, Shruti applied for divorce citing understanding differences. He later married a Mysore-based Economics student, Yashoda, in 2012.

## Filmography
### As director

| Year | Title | Starring | Note |
| 1992 | Pranayada Pakshigalu | Ramesh Aravind, Kavya, Anjali Sudhakar | Debut film |
| 1993 | Shrungara Kavya | Raghuveer, Sindhu | |
| 1995 | Thayi Illada Thavaru | Ramkumar, Shruti | |
| 1996 | Hetthavaru | Kalyan Kumar, Lakshmi | |
| 1996 | Mouna Raaga | Ambareesh, Srishanthi | |
| 1996 | Karpoorada Gombe | Ramesh Aravind, Shruti | |
| 1996 | Sthree | Sithara, Shruti | |
| 1997 | Ganga Yamuna | Shiva Rajkumar, Malashri | Remake of Telugu film Subhalagnam |
| 1997 | Kodagina Kaveri | Ramkumar, Shruti | |
| 1998 | Megha Banthu Megha | Ramesh Aravind, Shilpa | |
| 1998 | Suvvi Suvvalali | Ramesh Aravind, Shilpa | Remake of Hindi film Baseraa |
| 1998 | Kowrava | B. C. Patil, Prema | Remake of Tamil film Kadalora Kavithaigal |
| 1999 | Chandrodaya | Shiva Rajkumar, Ramesh Aravind, Prema | Remake of Tamil film Mouna Ragam |
| 1999 | Premachari | B. C. Patil, Shilpa | |
| 1999 | Snehaloka | Ramesh Aravind, Anu Prabhakar, Ramkumar | Remake of Tamil film Kannedhirey Thondrinal |
| 2001 | Gattimela | Himself, Shruti | also actor |
| 2001 | Asura | Shiva Rajkumar, Damini | Remake of Tamil film Amarkalam |
| 2001 | Vaalee | Sudeep, Poonam | Remake of Tamil film Vaali Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Director |
| 2002 | Ninagagi | Vijay Raghavendra, Radhika | Remake of Malayalam film Niram |
| 2002 | Balarama | Rockline Venkatesh, Prema | Remake of Telugu film Yerra Mandaram |
| 2003 | Kushalave Kshemave | Ramesh Aravind, Darshan | Remake of Tamil film Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga |
| 2003 | Jogula | B. C. Patil, Vijayalakshmi, Ruchita Prasad | |
| 2004 | Sakhi | Praveen Kumar, Poonam | |
| 2004 | Gowdru | Ambareesh, Shruti | Remake of Tamil film Kizhakku Cheemayile Won - Karnataka State Film Award for Third Best Film |
| 2006 | Thandege Thakka Maga | Ambareesh, Upendra, Laila Mehdin | Remake of Tamil film Thevar Magan |
| 2007 | Preethigaagi | Srimurali, Sridevi Vijayakumar | Remake of Malayalam film Aniyathipravu |
| 2007 | Gandana Mane | Shiva Rajkumar, Gowri Munjal | |
| 2008 | Akka Thangi | Shruti, Rashmi | |
| 2011 | Veerabahu | Duniya Vijay, Nidhi Subbaiah | |
| 2015 | Mahakali | Malashri | |
| 2017 | Once More Kaurava | Naresh Gowda, Anusha | |
| 2022 | Pampa Panchalli Parashivamurthy | Sangeetha Sringeri | |

### As singer

| Year | Title | Song | Note |
| 2001 | Kushalave Kshemave | "Kamakshi Meenakshi" | |