{
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  "@id": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/584297/balu-mahendra",
  "name": "Balu Mahendra",
  "url": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/584297/balu-mahendra",
  "knownForDepartment": "Directing",
  "description": "Balanathan Benjamin Mahendran or commonly known as Balu Mahendra, was an Indian cinematographer, director, screenwriter and film editor. Born into a Sri Lankan Tamil household, Mahendra developed a passion towards photography and literature at a tender age. He was drawn towards film-making after witnessing the shoot of David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai in Sri Lanka. He started his career as a literary editor before gaining an admission to the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) to pursue a course in cinematography. Mahendra entered films as a cinematographer in the early 1970s and gradually rose to becoming a film-maker by the end of the decade.",
  "birthDate": "1939-05-20",
  "deathDate": "2014-02-13",
  "birthPlace": "Batticaloa, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka",
  "alternateName": [
    " \tBalanathan Benjamin Mahendran",
    "பாலு மகேந்திரா"
  ],
  "image": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/94QIp3LVcWwaY3xH7r02G2qlSi6.jpg",
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  "lastVerified": "5 May 2026",
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      "title": "Sathi Leelavathi",
      "year": "1995",
      "role": "Editor",
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      "tmdbId": 257075,
      "title": "Julie Ganapathi",
      "year": "2003",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.333,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/gChw8ncSoUmUkbvNAyMlxPsMam7.jpg",
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      "tmdbId": 66389,
      "title": "Moondram Pirai",
      "year": "1982",
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      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/kDimtjGArqeW93Aa5tjS6kPrupB.jpg",
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      "tmdbId": 54357,
      "title": "Sadma",
      "year": "1983",
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      "voteAverage": 7.222,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/5XJpcUUM3uN2QyGJowL1awY4mTX.jpg",
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    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 518794,
      "title": "Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi",
      "year": "1979",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
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      "title": "Chukku",
      "year": "1973",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
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      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/3OlhiyvGUUPxbkXULfB8PYMRktg.jpg",
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    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
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      "title": "Raman Abdullah",
      "year": "1997",
      "role": "Director",
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      "voteAverage": 7,
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    {
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      "tmdbId": 1087643,
      "title": "America Ammayi",
      "year": "1976",
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    {
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      "title": "Mullum Malarum",
      "year": "1978",
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      "title": "Olangal",
      "year": "1982",
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      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/vM3Dhc8Q5I4KJVtPc3JyWcGmxFq.jpg",
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    {
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      "title": "Marupadiyum",
      "year": "1993",
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    {
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      "title": "Chattakkari",
      "year": "1974",
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    {
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      "title": "Sankarabharanam",
      "year": "1980",
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      "title": "Yathra",
      "year": "1985",
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    {
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      "tmdbId": 380847,
      "title": "Moodupani",
      "year": "1980",
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      "tmdbId": 331589,
      "title": "Veedu",
      "year": "1988",
      "role": "Director",
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      "voteAverage": 8.625,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/rWwVqlSfNJePZ2QmmFyredCMIJw.jpg",
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      "title": "Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam",
      "year": "2005",
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      "title": "Thalaimuraigal",
      "year": "2013",
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      "title": "Nellu",
      "year": "1974",
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      "title": "Aur Ek Prem Kahani",
      "year": "1996",
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    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 445305,
      "title": "Azhiyatha Kolangal",
      "year": "1979",
      "role": "Director",
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      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/iDCZ64n6OWO2xMQ8bhHpXTatGW0.jpg",
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      "mediaType": "movie",
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      "title": "Nireekshana",
      "year": "1982",
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      "tmdbId": 280260,
      "title": "Vanna Vanna Pookkal",
      "year": "1992",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
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    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 747377,
      "title": "Ponni",
      "year": "1976",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
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      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/q78i8yth0LYevkpXBljXn7XLtwb.jpg",
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}