Y. Gee. Mahendra

Y. G. Mahendran
Born Y. Gee. Mahendran
9 January 1950 (1950-01-09) (age 62)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation Dramatist, actor, singer playwright

Yechan Gunja Mahendran (born 9 January 1950), popularly known as Y. G. Mahendran or Y. Gee. Mahendra, is an Indian dramatist, actor, 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, regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Tamil drama and Rajalakshmi Parthasarathy, founder and dean of Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan group of schools. He is also the cousin of one of the biggest Bollywood actress Vyjayanthimala[1] and Latha Rajinikanth. He regards Kamal Haasan and Rajnikanth as his close friends, with whom he maintains a strong relationship from his childhood.He has also co-starred with both of them in a number of movies.

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Early life

Y. G. Mahendran was born on 9 January 1950 [2][3] to Mr.Y.G.Parthasarathy or Y.G.P. as he was affectionately known and Mrs. Rajalakshmi Parthasarathy. Y.G.P. founded the United Amateur Artists (UAA), one of the first drama companies in Madras city, in the year 1952.[4] His drama company was a success and he emerged as one of the foremost dramatists of his era. Mahendra'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, Mahendra 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 Matriculation School, Egmore, Chennai-600008, he studied Chemical Engineering at College of Engineering, Guindy and MBA.[5] 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. Mahendra's had become one of the prominent names in the city. Eventually, he had to choose between acting and his career and he choose the former.

Career

In 1971, Mahendra was cast by legendary director K. Balachander in his film Navagraham. The film was an average grosser. Mahendra was discovered to have a nasal accent which made him 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 60's and 70's.

Y.Gee thanks to his brother in law- also began a parallel career in Industrial Ceramics and had a flourishing company established in 1982- by which period his acting career thinned down and he became more preoccupied with his business. His career spans over four decades and involves 200 or so movies. He also acted in supporting roles with actors like Sivaji Ganesan, Jaishankar, Kamal Haasan and his co-brother, Rajinikanth. He acted with Rajnikanth in films like Pokkiri Raja, Paayum Puli, Shri Raghavendra, Veera, etc., and with Kamal Hassan in movies like Apoorva Raagangal, Neeya, Guru, etc.,

Y.Gee sold his ceramics business in 2001 for a whopping sum and has made a comeback into production and acting- his most recent role being in Kanthaswamy. He did an excellent performance in the movie Yudham Sei, directed by Myshkin.

Filmography

2011 - Puthran (Tamil) - filming

2011 - Venghai (Tamil)

2011 - Deiva Thirumagal (Tamil)

2011 - Yudham Sei (Tamil)

2011 - Ilaignan (Tamil)

2010 - Anandhapurathu Veedu (Tamil)

2010 - Pen Singam (Tamil)

2009 - Kanthaswamy (Tamil)

2009 - Indira Vizha ( Tamil )

2008 - Seval ( Tamil )

2008 - Pandhayam (Tamil)

2007 - Sringaram ( Tamil )

2006 - Kusthi (Tamil)

2006 - Jambhavan (Tamil)

1995 - Chinna Vathiyar ( Tamil )

1994 - Veera ( Tamil )

1994 - Sakthivel (Tamil)

1987 - Anand ( Tamil )

1987 - Anbulla Appa ( Tamil )

1986 - Marumagal ( Tamil )

1986 - Annai En Dheivam ( Tamil )

1985 - Naan Sigappu Manithan ( Tamil )

1985 - Needhiyin Nizhal ( Tamil )

1985 - Sri Raghavendra ( Tamil )

1985 - Aduthathu Albert ( Tamil )

1985 - Nalla Thambi ( Tamil )

1985 - Padikkadha Pannaiyar ( Tamil )

1984 - Tharaasu ( Tamil )

1984 - Nallavanuku Nallavan ( Tamil )

1984 - Vaazhkai ( Tamil )

1984 - Anbulla Rajinikanth ( Tamil )

1984 - Kudumbam ( Tamil )

1984 - Vamsa Vilakku ( Tamil )

1984 - Kai Kodukkum Kai ( Tamil )

1983 - Neethibathi ( Tamil )

1983 - Sumangali ( Tamil )

1983 - Uruvangal Maralam ( Tamil )

1983 - Sivappu Sooriyan ( Tamil )

1983 - Vellai Roja ( Tamil )

1983 - Miruthanga Chakravarthi ( Tamil )

1982 - Adhisaya Piravigal ( Tamil )

1982 - Sangili ( Tamil )

1982 - Sagalakala Vallavan ( Tamil )

1982 - Vaa Kanna Vaa ( Tamil )

1982 - Paritchaikku Neramaachu ( Tamil )

1982 - Rani Theni ( Tamil )

1982 - Thyagi ( Tamil )

1982 - Simla Special( Tamil )

1981 - Kazhugu ( Tamil )

1981 - Ellam Inbamayyam ( Tamil )

1981 - Raja Paarvai ( Tamil )

1980 - Murattu Kalai ( Tamil )

1979 - Annai Oru Alayam ( Tamil )

1978 - Shankar Salim Simon ( Tamil )

1976 - Manmadha Leelai (1976) ( Tamil )

1976 - Idaya Malar ( Tamil )

1975 - Uravukku Kayi Koduppam ( Tamil )

1971 - Navagraham

1971 - Nootrukku Nooru (1971 film)

Stage Plays

Dubbing Artist

References

External links