Rajinikanth's Petta co-star and veteran filmmaker J Mahendran passes away at 79

J Mahendran had worked with stars like Thalapathy Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi

By Ganesh Aaglave
Published: April 2, 2019 9:16 AM IST

Veteran filmmaker J Mahendran, who is known for making blockbusters like Mullum Malarum, Johnny and Nenjathai Killadhey has passed away today morning following a brief hospitalisation. His son confirmed the news on social media. The filmmaker and actor was 79. He was admitted to Apollo Hospital on March 27 and after he fall sick after a dialysis session. The reports say that he was on a ventilator after that. Also Read - Pushpa 2 star Allu Arjun to Mahesh Babu: South Indian celebs and their heartwarming pictures with family

DIRECTOR MAHENDRAN PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING. pic.twitter.com/usCPXX7Qsr

— Dir.JohnMahendran (@johnroshan) April 2, 2019

It is deeply saddening to hear the demise of one of the pioneer filmmaker #Mahendran sir. You and your films live forever in our hearts sir. Rest in peace.

— A.R.Murugadoss (@ARMurugadoss) April 2, 2019

#Mahendran
He spoke less and his films spoke more.
To me his films were of great inspiration
How can I forget the sleepless night I had after watching "uthripookal"
May his soul rest on peace.

— pcsreeram (@pcsreeram) April 2, 2019

In his glorious filmmaking career, Mahendran had worked with stars like Rajinikanth, Thalapathy Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi. He was the co-star of Thalaiva in Petta and was also seen in films like Vijay Sethupathi's Seethakathi and the recently released Boomerang, which featured Atharvaa Murali in a lead role. Many celebs from the south expressed their grief on the demise of this great filmmaker. Also Read - Post Jawan success, Atlee to become the highest-paid Kollywood director by charging THIS whopping amount for film with Allu Arjun?

Earlier in an interview with The Hindu, Mahendran had shared his experience of how he started his career as screen writer, where he said, “I got an opportunity to criticise Tamil cinema in front of MGR. Later, he spotted me at a press meet, took me home and presented me with the volumes of Ponniyin Selvan. This was the starting point of my journey as a screenplay writer. It is my anger towards Tamil films that motivated me to make films that are real, where people smiled and spoke normally. I made films for pleasure and not for commercial success." The filmmaker's first director was Mullum Malarum, which proved to be a turning point in Rajinikanth's career and made him a superstar and a massy entertainer. Also Read - Pushpa 2 star Allu Arjun and more South Indian actors’ adorable moments with their kids

The public homage for the director will be held at 10 am at his residence in Chennai, where everyone will pay their last respects and later on, the last rites will be performed at 5 in the evening.

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ByGanesh Aaglave
Published: April 2, 2019 9:16 AM IST