S. A. Chandrasekhar
Indian film director and actor (born 1945)
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Senapathy Albert Chandrasekaran (born 2 July 1945) is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and actor who primarily works in Tamil cinema along with some Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his directorial debut with Aval Oru Pachai Kuzhanthai (1978) and 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] He is the father of the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Vijay.
2 July 1945
S. A. Chandrasekhar | |
|---|---|
Chandrasekaran at Kanithan audio launch | |
| Born | Senapathy Albert Chandrasekaran 2 July 1945 |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse | Shoba Chandrasekhar |
| Children | 2[a] including Vijay |
| Relatives | Vikranth (nephew) S. N. Surendar (brother-in-law) Sankgeetha Vijay (daughter-in-law) |
Personal life
Senapathy Albert Chandrasekaran was born on 2 July 1945 in Thangachimadam, Madras Province, British Raj, into a Tamil family adhering to the Catholic Church.[3][4][5] His son is Vijay, who is one of the leading actors in Tamil cinema and became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10 2026. Chandrasekaran also had a daughter named Vidya, who died at the age of two.[6] His brother-in-law S. N. Surendar is a playback singer and voice artist. His nephew Vikranth is also an actor.[7]
Film career
Directing
Chandrasekaran has directed over 70 movies in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. Directors S. Shankar, Senthilnathan, C. Ranganathan, Pavithran, Majith, K. R. Jaya, M. Rajesh, Ponram, T. Shivraj, and Vicky had worked with him as assistants.[8][9]
Some of his hit 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), Senthoorapandi (1993), Rasigan (1994), Deva (1995), Once More (1997), and Nenjirukkum Varai (2006).
He introduced his son Vijay and directed several films in his formative years such as Naalaiya Theerpu (1992), Senthoorapandi (1993), Rasigan (1994), Deva (1995), and Vishnu (1995). Most of his movies are with Vijayakanth or Vijay.
He also directed Telugu movies such as Chattaniki Kallu Levu (1981) and Palletoori Monagadu (1983) with Chiranjeevi. In 2019, he directed his 70th film, Capmaari.[10]
Acting
Chandrasekaran has appeared in supporting roles in movies such as Kudumbam (1984), Pudhu Yugam (1985), Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985), Neethiyin Marupakkam (1985), Enakku Nane Needipathi (1986), Nilave Malare (1986), Vasantha Raagam (1986), Neethikku Thandanai (1987), Sattam Oru Vilayaattu (1987), Innisai Mazhai (1992), Deva (1995), Priyamudan (1998), Sukran (2005) and Kodi (2016).[11]
Chandrasekaran played the lead role in the film Touring Talkies (2015). He acted in Traffic Ramasamy (2018), a biopic about the eponymous activist, and played the title role.[12]
Other work
In the early 2000s, Chandrasekaran 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.[13]
Controversies
In 2018, Chandrasekaran spoke at the music launch of the movie Visiri 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".[14] He also said that "success can be achieved only by studying."[15] Virugambakkam police registered a FIR against Chandrasekaran on charges of hurting religious beliefs after a complaint filed by Hindu Munnani over his statements.[16][17]
Filmography
As a director
- Note: he is mostly credited as S. A. Chandrasekaran. For many of his older films, his name was absent from the film credits and only present on promotional media
As a producer
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Veetuku Oru Kannagi | |
| 1999 | Nenjinile | |
| 2005 | Sukran | |
| 2006 | Aathi | |
| 2010 | Veluthu Kattu | |
| 2011 | Sattapadi Kutram | |
| 2016 | Nayyapudai | Also assistant director |
| 2018 | Traffic Ramasamy | |
As a screenwriter
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Innisai Mazhai | Uncredited |
| 2002 | Thamizhan | |
| 2025 | Kooran | Also dialogue writer |
As an actor
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Olimayamana Ethirkalam | ||
| 1981 | Sattam Oru Iruttarai | Hitchhiker | |
| 1984 | Kudumbam | Sekhar | |
| 1985 | Pudhu Yugam | ||
| Naan Sigappu Manithan | Hospital Ward Boy | ||
| 1986 | Enakku Nane Needipathi | Advocate Chandrasekhar | |
| Vasantha Raagam | Chandrasekhar | ||
| 1987 | Sattam Oru Vilayaattu | Peter | |
| 1992 | Innisai Mazhai | Police officer | |
| 1993 | Senthoorapandi | Guest appearance in song "Aadada Aadada" | |
| 1994 | Rasigan | Guest appearance in song "Thambi Konjam" | |
| 1995 | Deva | Marimuthu | |
| 1998 | Priyamudan | CBI officer Gopal | |
| 2005 | Sukran | Himself | Guest appearance |
| 2015 | Touring Talkies | Anthony | Anthology film; segment Love @ 75 |
| 2016 | Nayyapudai | Vellaichamy | |
| Kodi | Thalaivar | ||
| 2018 | Traffic Ramasamy | Traffic Ramasamy | |
| Aaruthra | Shiva's father | ||
| 2019 | Capmaari | Police Inspector | |
| 2021 | Maanaadu | Arivazhagan | |
| 2023 | Tamil Kudimagan | Chinnasamy's advocate | |
| Naan Kadavul Illai | |||
| Karumegangal Kalaigindrana | |||
| 2025 | Kooran | Dharmaraj |
Television
| Year | Title | Channel | Role | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–2024 | Kizhakku Vaasal | Star Vijay | Swamiappan | Tamil |
Notes
- One is deceased.