Biography

S. A. Chandrasekar (born 2 July 1945) is an Indian film director, producer, writer, and actor who primarily works within Kollywood. He made his directorial debut with Aval Oru Pachai Kuzhanthai (1978), He got his breakthrough with Sattam Oru Iruttarai (1981). He has directed over 70 movies in all south Indian languages, and is known for directing films focusing on social issues.^[1][2]

Film career[edit]

Chandrasekar has directed over 70 movies in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. Directors S. Shankar, M. Rajesh, Ponram had worked with him as assistants.^[5][6]

Some of his movies include Sattam Oru Iruttarai (1981), Chattaniki Kallu Levu (1981), Nyaya Ellide (1982), Palletoori Monagadu (1983), Saatchi (1983), Vetri (1984), Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985), Sattam Oru Vilayaattu (1987), Sendhoorapandi (1993), Rasigan (1994), Deva (1995), Once More (1997) and Nenjirukkum Varai (2006).

He introduced Vijay and directed several films in his formative years such as Naalaiya Theerpu (1992), Sendhoorapandi (1993), Rasigan (1994), Deva (1995) and Vishnu (1995). Most of his movies are with Vijayakanth (19 films) and Vijay (9 films).

He also directed Telugu movies such as Chattaniki Kallu Levu (1981) and Palletoori Monagadu (1983) with Chiranjeevi.

He has appeared in supporting roles in some movies such as Kudumbam (1984), Pudhu Yugam (1985), Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985), Neethiyin Marupakkam (1985), Enakku Nane Needipathi (1986), Vasantha Raagam (1986), Nilave Malare (1986), Neethikku Thandanai (1987), Sattam Oru Vilayaattu (1987), Innisai Mazhai (1992), Deva (1995), Priyamudan (1998), Sukran (2005) and Kodi (2016).^[7]

In the early 2000s, Chandrasekhar slowed down his work as a director and focused on business interests, including on the construction of a three star hotel for his son. In 2000, he began pre-production work on a film titled Dhoosi with Sarathkumar but the project was later shelved.^[8]

He turned as the lead actor at the age of 70 in Touring Talkies (2015) which is also his last directorial venture. S. A. Chandrasekhar returned after a break with a biopic on social activist Traffic Ramasamy (2018).^[9] In 2019, he directed his 70th film titled Capmaari.^[10]

Chandrasekhar spoke at the music launch of the movie Visiri held on November 22, 2018, at Vadapalani Prasad Lab, Chennai. He allegedly said "offering at Tirupati Hundiyal was like a bribe to the deity and one cannot pass the exam by simply making offering to a deity. If the offering to deity can help you pass the exams, you don't need to write the exams and sit at home".^[11] He also said that "success can be achieved only by studying."^[12] Virugambakkam police registered a FIR against Chandrasekhar on charges of hurting religious beliefs after a complaint filed by Hindu Munnani over his statements.^[13][14]

Filmography[edit]

Year	Film	Credited as					Language	Role	Notes
		Director	Producer	Screenplay	Story	Actor
2022	Naan Kadavul Illai						Tamil		also singer for song "Kanne Kanmaniye"[15]
2021	Maanaadu						Tamil	Arivazhagan
2019	Capmaari						Tamil	Police Inspector
2018	Aaruthra						Tamil	Shiva's father
2018	Traffic Ramasamy						Tamil	Traffic Ramasamy
2016	Kodi						Tamil	Thalaivar
2016	Nayyapudai						Tamil	Vellaichamy
2015	Touring Talkies						Tamil	Anthony
2011	Sattapadi Kutram						Tamil
2010	Veluthu Kattu						Tamil
2008	Pandhayam						Tamil
2007	Nenjirukkum Varai						Tamil
2006	Aathi						Tamil
2005	Sukran						Tamil	Himself
2002	Mutham						Tamil		spoke poems in the song "Oru Murai Nee"
2002	Thamizhan						Tamil
2001	Dosth						Tamil
1999	Periyanna						Tamil
1999	Nenjinile						Tamil
1998	Priyamudan						Tamil	CBI officer Gopal
1997	Once More						Tamil
1996	Maanbumigu Maanavan						Tamil
1995	Vishnu						Tamil
1995	Deva						Tamil	Marimuthu
1994	Rasigan						Tamil
1993	Sendhoorapandi						Tamil
1993	Jeevan Ki Shatranj						Hindi
1993	Rajadurai						Tamil
1992	Innisai Mazhai						Tamil
1992	Naalaiya Theerpu						Tamil
1992	Mera Dil Tere Liye						Hindi
1992	Insaaf Ki Devi						Hindi
1991	Nanbargal						Tamil
1990	Azaad Desh Ke Gulam						Hindi
1990	Jai Shiv Shankar						Hindi
1990	Seetha						Tamil
1989	Rajanadai						Tamil
1988	Ithu Engal Neethi						Tamil
1988	Sudhanthira Naattin Adimaigal						Tamil
1988	Poovum Puyalum						Tamil
1987	Kudrat Ka Kanoon						Hindi
1987	Sattam Oru Vilayaattu						Tamil	Peter
1987	Neethikku Thandanai						Tamil
1986	Sigappu Malargal						Tamil
1986	Nilave Malare						Tamil
1986	Vasantha Raagam						Tamil	Chandrasekhar
1986	Enakku Nane Needipathi						Tamil
1986	En Sabatham						Tamil
1985	Intiko Rudramma						Telugu
1985	Neethiyin Marupakkam						Tamil
1985	Naan Sigappu Manithan						Tamil	Hospital Ward Boy
1985	Balidaan						Hindi
1985	Pudhu Yugam						Tamil
1984	Kudumbam						Tamil	Sekar
1984	Dopidi Dongalu						Telugu
1984	Veetuku Oru Kannagi						Tamil
1984	Devanthakudu						Telugu
1984	Vetri						Tamil
1983	Simha Gharjane						Kannada
1983	Hasida Hebbuli						Kannada
1983	Saatchi						Tamil
1983	Samsaram Enbathu Veenai						Tamil
1983	Gedda Maga						Kannada
1983	Geluvu Nannade						Kannada
1983	Palletoori Monagadu						Telugu
1983	Balidaanam						Telugu
1982	Idhayam Pesugirathu						Tamil
1982	Nyaya Ellide						Kannada
1982	Om Shakti						Tamil
1982	Pattanathu Rajakkal						Tamil
1981	Needhi Pizhaithadhu						Tamil
1981	Chattaniki Kallu Levu						Telugu
1981	Nenjile Thunivirunthal						Tamil
1981	Sattam Oru Iruttarai						Tamil	HitchHiker
1978	Aval Oru Pachai Kuzhandhai						Tamil Film career[edit] Chandrasekar has directed over 70 movies in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. Directors S. Shankar, M. Rajesh, Ponram had worked with him as assistants.[5][6] Some of his movies include Sattam Oru Iruttarai (1981), Chattaniki Kallu Levu (1981), Nyaya Ellide (1982), Palletoori Monagadu (1983), Saatchi (1983), Vetri (1984), Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985), Sattam Oru Vilayaattu (1987), Sendhoorapandi (1993), Rasigan (1994), Deva (1995), Once More (1997) and Nenjirukkum Varai (2006). He introduced Vijay and directed several films in his formative years such as Naalaiya Theerpu (1992), Sendhoorapandi (1993), Rasigan (1994), Deva (1995) and Vishnu (1995). Most of his movies are with Vijayakanth (19 films) and Vijay (9 films). He also directed Telugu movies such as Chattaniki Kallu Levu (1981) and Palletoori Monagadu (1983) with Chiranjeevi. He has appeared in supporting roles in some movies such as Kudumbam (1984), Pudhu Yugam (1985), Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985), Neethiyin Marupakkam (1985), Enakku Nane Needipathi (1986), Vasantha Raagam (1986), Nilave Malare (1986), Neethikku Thandanai (1987), Sattam Oru Vilayaattu (1987), Innisai Mazhai (1992), Deva (1995), Priyamudan (1998), Sukran (2005) and Kodi (2016).[7] In the early 2000s, Chandrasekhar slowed down his work as a director and focused on business interests, including on the construction of a three star hotel for his son. In 2000, he began pre-production work on a film titled Dhoosi with Sarathkumar but the project was later shelved.[8] He turned as the lead actor at the age of 70 in Touring Talkies (2015) which is also his last directorial venture. S. A. Chandrasekhar returned after a break with a biopic on social activist Traffic Ramasamy (2018).[9] In 2019, he directed his 70th film titled Capmaari.[10] Chandrasekhar spoke at the music launch of the movie Visiri held on November 22, 2018, at Vadapalani Prasad Lab, Chennai. He allegedly said "offering at Tirupati Hundiyal was like a bribe to the deity and one cannot pass the exam by simply making offering to a deity. If the offering to deity can help you pass the exams, you don't need to write the exams and sit at home".[11] He also said that "success can be achieved only by studying."[12] Virugambakkam police registered a FIR against Chandrasekhar on charges of hurting religious beliefs after a complaint filed by Hindu Munnani over his statements.[13][14] Filmography[edit]