Yecha Gunja Mahendran (born 9 January 1950), also known as Y. G. Mahendra, is an Indian actor, dramatist, singer, playwright and comedian from the state of Tamil Nadu. He has acted in a number of plays and films. He is the son of Y. G. Parthasarathy, one of the pioneers of modern Tamil drama and Rajalakshmi Parthasarathy, founder and dean of Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan group of schools, and nephew of veteran Tamil filmmaker K. Balaji. Mahendran is also the cousin of actress Vyjayanthimala and the co-brother of Rajinikanth and Mohanlal.
Early life and family Y. G. Mahendran was born on 9 January 1950 to Y. G. Parthasarathy and Y. G. Rajalakshmi. Y. G. P. founded the United Amateur Artists (UAA), one of the first drama companies in Madras city, in the year 1952. His drama company was a success and he emerged as one of the foremost dramatists of his era. Mahendran's mother Mrs. Rajalakshmi (also called Mrs. Y.G.P.) was the founder of the Padma Seshadri Group of Schools. Starting from modest beginnings in a thatched shed in the terrace of the Y.G.P. home in 1959 with a batch of eleven students as an act of social service for the members of the Nungambakkam Recreation Club the school has since emerged as one of the best schools in India.
Hailing from a family of stage-lovers, Mahendran soon developed a liking for drama from his early days. He played the part of comedian in school plays and earned acclaim. On completion of his schooling from Don Bosco Egmore, he studied Chemical Engineering at A. C. College of Technology, Guindy and MBA. During his college days, he was touted as a prospective film actor. He was in his early teens when he joined his father's drama troupe, the United Amateur Artists (UAA). This gave him the desired break. His first few plays were huge successes attracting audiences by thousands. Mahendran's name had become one of the prominent names in the city. Eventually, he had to choose between acting and his career and he chose the former.
Y.G. Mahendran's daughter Madhuvanthi was married to V. Arunkumar, the grandson of actors Gemini Ganesan and Savitri.
Career In 1970, Mahendran was cast by veteran director K. Balachander in the latter's film Navagraham. The film was an average grosser. Mahendran was discovered to have a nasal voice which made him sound funny. He acted in a variety of roles in a number of movies – particularly as a dim witted fool of a cousin – generally eclipsing roles enjoyed by Cho Ramaswamy in the 1960s and 1970s. He shared screen space with many legendary actors including Sivaji Ganesan, Jaishankar, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. He thanked K. Balachander, Kalakendra Govindrajan and actor Srikanth for introducing him in the industry, and said that he wouldn't have attained this height without fans. He had also been part of many television series.
Political opinion
Speech on CAA
Mahendran made reference to the ongoing Citizenship Amendment Act protests across India and the involvement of the student community and said the students go to the protests because they can get a leave on the day and they can cause ruckus and to check out the women standing in the crowd. His statements were criticized by different sections on social media. Singer Chinmayi criticised his comments and said, "Comments from men such as Y. G. Mahendran has to be brushed aside, because it's a waste of time speaking about them.
Business Mahendran, thanks to his brother in law, also began a parallel career in industrial ceramics and had a flourishing company established in 1982. He sold his ceramics business in 2001 for a whopping sum and has made a comeback into production and acting.
Filmography
Tamil films + List of Y. G. Mahendran Tamil film credits Year Title Role Notes1970 Navagraham Anumanthu1971 Nootrukku Nooru Mahesh1973 Gauravam Kannan's driver1974 Dheerga Sumangali Sikhamani Penn Ondru Kanden Dikkatra Parvathi 1975 Anbe Aaruyire Lawrence1976 Manmadha Leelai Petition Kodhandam Paalooti Valartha Kili Uravadum Nenjam Ilaya Thalaimurai Balbeer Singh1977 Dheepam Thani Kudithanam Narayanan Penn Jenmam Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri Muthu1978 Andaman Kadhali Madhan's friend Kaatrinile Varum Geetham Flight passenger Shankar Salim Simon Mahesh Oru Nadigai Natakam Parkiral Dhamu En Kelvikku Enna Bathil Servant of SivaramanIdhu Eppadi Irukku Anand1979 Neeya? Martin Thaayillamal Naan Illai Drama artist Dharma Yuddham Guest appearance Imayam Mangala Vaathiyam Annai Oru Aalayam Adukku Malli 1980 Bhama Rukmani MounaguruGuest appearance Rishi Moolam Yamanukku Yaman Guru Mahesh Murattu Kalai Kaalaiyan's first brother1981 Kazhugu Gopi Savaal Johny Raja Paarvai Seenu Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum Ellam Inbamayyam Pazhani1982 Pokkiri Raja Chandran Vaa Kanna Vaa Krishnamoorthy Moondram Pirai Srinivas's friend Iniyavale Vaa Thanikattu Raja Ravi Simla Special Vasu Sangili Sakalakala Vallavan Poonai Thyagi Rani Theni Guest appearance Theerpugal Thiruththapadalam Kamal Nadodi Raja Paritchaikku Neramaachu Varadhukutty and Anand Pagadai Panirendu Vishnu Adhisaya Piravigal Kathamuthu Nenjangal 1983 Paayum Puli Mahi Neethibathi Anthony Uruvangal Maralam Ramalingam Urangatha Ninaivugal Raghavan Thudikkum Karangal Babu Soorapuli Sattam M. L. Anandharaman Sivappu Sooriyan Vidhyasagar Sumangali Gopal Miruthanga Chakravarthi Vellai Roja Constable Perumal Naidu Kodugal Illatha Kolam Villiyanur Matha Gopal 1984 Thiruppam Vetri Appusami Tharaasu Vaazhkai Anwar Nenjathai Allitha Sattathai Thiruthungal Kai Kodukkum Kai Narayana Neengal Kettavai James Veetuku Oru Kannagi Criminal Lawyer Mahendran Alaya Deepam Pudhumai Penn Anbulla Rajinikanth Pillaiyar Nallavanuku Nallavan Thakkali Vamsa Vilakku Peter Vai Pandal Diwakar's friend Kudumbam Guest appearance Puthiya Sangamam Ambigai Neril Vanthaal 1985 Nalla Thambi Anthasthu Pudhu Yugam Vellai Manasu Padikkadha Pannaiyar Poi Mugangal Naan Sigappu Manithan Harichandran Needhiyin Nizhal Unni Un Kannil Neer Vazhinthal... Babu Nermai Govindan Andha Oru Nimidam Balu Aduthathu Albert Baasha Viswanathan Velai Venum Uyarndha Ullam Jambu Sri Raghavendrar Guru Sri Sudeendrar's disciple Raja Rishi Agni Deva1986 Marumagal Jagadish Poi Mugangal Vasanth Vasantha Raagam Iravu Pookkal Annai En Deivam Appu Engal Thaikulame Varuga Dharma Devathai 1987 Sankar Guru Dharmaraj Anbulla Appa Anand Kathai Kathaiyam Karanamam VittenAlso directorKavalan Avan KovalanHimselfGuest appearance Thalidhanam 1988 Thaimel Aanai Punyakodi Illam 1989 Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil Vinodh Thalaippu Seithigal 1990 Mounam Sammadham Adv. J. Shekar1991 Thambikku Oru Pattu Paattondru Ketten 1993 Karpagam Vanthachu Sarathi 1994 Sakthivel Veera Kesavan1995 En Pondatti Nallava 1996 Minor Mappillai Movie director 2000 Hey Ram Yagyam2006 Jambhavan CBI officer Ganapathy Kusthi Vayram2007 Adavadi Bharath's father Sringaram Gurukkal2008 Pandhayam Dr. Pitchaimuthu Seval Panjami Iyer2009 Indira Vizha Advocate Kanthaswamy Ganganathan2010 Pen Singam Anandhapurathu Veedu Bala's father's friend Naane Ennul Illai 2011 Ilaignan Chettiar Yudham Sei Doctor Prushoththaman Deiva Thirumagal Ragunathan Venghai Professor2012 Marupadiyum Oru Kadhal Jeeva's father Vachathi 2013 Puthran Thalaivaa Lawyer Radhakrishnan 2014 Gramam Burma Ambi Swami Vallinam Venkatachalam Ramanujan S. Narayana Iyer Simultaneously shot in English Irukku Aana Illai Dr. Mathrubootham Megha Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe Subramaniyam 2015 Oru Kilo Taxi Swami Short Film 9 Thirudargal Yatchan Maindhan2016 Kanithan COE Chandrasekaran Aagam Acharya Meen Kuzhambum Mann Paanaiyum Guest appearance Saithan Dinesh's boss2017 Bairavaa Bank manager Venkatesan Saaya Kadamban Inayathalam I.G Sabapathy Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan "Current" Murugan Velaikkaran Narayanan 2018 Aaruthra Ramanujam2019 Petta College principal Goko Mako Natchatrian2020 Indha Nilai Maarum Lawyer Adhithyan Oh Andha Naatkal GKB2021 Rudra Thandavam Ramachandran Maanaadu Paranthaaman Ikk 2022 Jiivi 2 Psychiatrist Mugamariyaan 2023 Tamilarasan Arthanaari Theerkadarishi Dr. Iniyan Pichaikkaran 2 M. Krishna Iyer Custody Party President Appatha Azhagu Sundaram's manager Uncredited Kick MJ's father Mark Antony Gowri 2024 Singapore Saloon Vichu Rathnam Rathnam's grandfather The Greatest of All Time R.A.W. Officer Cameo appearance Jolly O Gymkhana Thangasamy 2025 Kooran Parthasarathy Red Flower 2026 Anantha Mahadevan Draupathi 2 Vengeance Nee Forever Ajay's grandfather Manithan Deivamagalam MLA Charukesi Charukesi
Telugu films + List of Y. G. Mahendran Telugu film credits Year Title Role Notes1979 Karthika Deepam Amma Evarikaina Amma Drunkard 1981 Amavasya Chandrudu Chanti 1983 Tarzan Sundari Sambo 1984 Jagan Mahendra 1985 Alaya Deepam Surya Chandra Kabir 1987 America Abbayi Pradeep's friend Attagaru Zindabad Chinnari Devatha Dharmaraj 1988 Veguchukka Pagatichukka Dubbed in Tamil as Edutha Sabatham Mudippen1989 Ajatha Satruvu Chanti Babu Krishna Gari Abbayi 1992Thummeda1993Jeevana Vedam2023 Custody Party president
Malayalam films + List of Y. G. Mahendran Malayalam film credits Year Title Role Notes1979 Maalika Paniyunnavar Krishnan Mesthiri Velicham Vitharunna Penkutty Swami 1983 Oomakkuyil Lead role 1990 Naale Ennundengil 1992 Ente Tution Teacher 1997 Kaduva Thomas Gajendran 2011 Doubles Piyari Sayip 2012 Namma Gramam Burma Ambi Swami 2020 Shyamaragam Ramanaadha Bhagavathar 2024 Varshangalkku Shesham Swaminathan
Hindi films + List of Y. G. Mahendran Hindi film credits Year Title Role Notes 1986 Naseeb Apna Apna Ram Prasad Special appearance 1993 Muqabla Police Constable Saajan
Television + List of Y. G. Mahendran television credits Year Title Role ChannelThuppariyum SambuSambuDoordarshan1998Mr. BrainDD Podhigai1999Vasool ChakravarthySun TV2001–2002Vazhkai2002Sherlock MaamiDD Podhigai2002–2004Rudhraveenai"Sakthi Upasakar" Narasimma BarathiSun TV2003–2004SahaanaJKBJaya TV2004–2005Chidambara RahasiyamDr. ThillairajanSun TV2007Thavam2012–2017Bhairavi Aavigalukku PriyamanavalNamboothiri2015Enga Veettu PennZee Tamil2020RojaSuresh ChakravarthySun TV2020–2021Anbe VaaColonel Ram 2024 Mahakavi Bharathi Kuvalai Kannan DD Tamizh 2025 Mega Sangamam - Annam, Kayal & Marumagal Sakthivel Kalingarayar Sun TV 2026 Samanthi Marudanayagam Zee Tamil
Web series + List of Y. G. Mahendran web series credits Year Title Role Platform Notes2019Karoline KamakshiChidhambharamZEE52021NavarasaKrishna Iyer Netflixepisode: Summer of '92 2024Thalaimai Seyalagam Advocate RangarajanZEE5 Aindham VedhamRudhrapathy
As director + Year Title Notes 1978 Uravukku Kai Koduppom 1987 Kathai Kathaiyam Karanamam
Stage plays Venkata 3 Vietnam Veedu Sudesi Iyer Thanthramukhi Kaadhalikka Neramundu Antha 7 Aatkal Ragasiyam Parama Ragasiyam Irandam Ragasiyam Soppana Vazhvil Kasedhan Kadavulada Nadagam
Dubbing artist
+ List of Y. G. Mahendran film dubbing credits Year Title Actor Character Notes1980 Iru Nilavugal Kamal Haasan 1990 Vaaliban Babu Mohan Vyjayanthi IPS Babu Mohan Idhuthanda Police Babu Mohan 1992 Pokkiri Ponnu Babu Mohan Aladdin Genie Asokan Jagathy Sreekumar 1994 The Lion King Timon Captain Costumes Krishna 1999 Devi Babu Mohan 2022 Sita RamamMurli Sharma
References
External links Y. Gee. Mahendra's Official Website