Y. G. Mahendran

Y. G. Mahendran was born on 9 January 1950{{Cite web |url=http://www.nilacharal.com/enter/celeb/ygm.html |title=Profile of Y. Gee. Mahendran at Nilacharal.com |access-date=15 December 2007 |archive-date=19 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219221851/http://www.nilacharal.com/enter/celeb/ygm.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ygeem.com/biography.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509143035/http://www.ygeem.com/biography.htm|url-status=dead|title=A short autobiography of Y Gee M on his official website|archivedate=9 May 2008}} to Y. G. Parthasarathy and Y. G. Rajalakshmi. Y. G. P. founded the United Amateur Artists (UAA), one of the first drama companies in Madras city, in the year 1952.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ygeem.com/uaa.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509130418/http://www.ygeem.com/uaa.htm|url-status=dead|title=History of UAA|archivedate=9 May 2008}} His drama company was a success and he emerged as one of the foremost dramatists of his era. Mahendran'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, Mahendran 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 Egmore, he studied Chemical Engineering at A. C. College of Technology, Guindy and MBA.{{Cite web |url=https://ygeem.com/biography/ |title=His educational qualifications at ygeem.com |access-date=5 October 2023 |archive-date=9 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009152613/https://ygeem.com/biography/ |url-status=live}} 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. Mahendran's name had become one of the prominent names in the city. Eventually, he had to choose between acting and his career and he chose the former.

Y.G. Mahendran's daughter Madhuvanti is married to V. Arunkumar, who is the grandson of actors Gemini Ganesan and Savitri.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/superstar-rajinikanth-mohan-lal-bollywood-actress-rekha-relatives-tamil-news-257722|title =Rajini, Mohan Lal, Dhanush and Rekha are relatives - Lockdown timepass trivia}}

In 1970, Mahendran was cast by veteran director K. Balachander in the latter's film Navagraham. The film was an average grosser. Mahendran was discovered to have a nasal voice which made him sound 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 1960s and 1970s. He shared screen space with many legendary actors including Sivaji Ganesan, Jaishankar, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. He thanked K. Balachander, Kalakendra Govindrajan and actor Srikanth for introducing him in the industry, and said that he wouldn't have attained this height without fans. He had also been part of many television series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/y-gee-mahendra-completes-50-years-in-cinema-thanks-to-the-great-k-balachander-for-introducing-me-1718861-2020-09-05|title =Y Gee Mahendra completes 50 years in cinema: Thanks to the great K Balachander for introducing me}}

Mahendran made reference to the ongoing Citizenship Amendment Act protests across India and the involvement of the student community and said the students go to the protests because they can get a leave on the day and they can cause ruckus and to check out the women standing in the crowd. His statements were criticized by different sections on social media.{{Cite news |title=Actor's comments on CAA protests invites ire |language=en |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/actors-comments-on-caa-protests-invites-ire/article30375108.ece|access-date=10 August 2020|archive-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112064248/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/actors-comments-on-caa-protests-invites-ire/article30375108.ece|url-status=live}} Singer Chinmayi criticised his comments and said, "Comments from men such as Y. G. Mahendran has to be brushed aside, because it's a waste of time speaking about them.{{Cite web |last=Subramanian |first=Anupama |date=25 December 2019 |title=Y Gee Mahendran trolled for comments on CAA protests |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/251219/y-gee-mahendran-trolled-for-comments-on-caa-protests.html|access-date=10 August 2020 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128062608/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/251219/y-gee-mahendran-trolled-for-comments-on-caa-protests.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=மாணவர்கள் போராட்டம் குறித்து ஒய்.ஜி. மகேந்திரன் கருத்து! {{!}} Actor YG Mahendran Controversial speech about Students protest {{!}} News7 Tamil|url=https://ns7.tv/ta/jy6zt5|access-date=10 August 2020|website=ns7.tv|language=ta}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Mahendran, thanks to his brother in law, also began a parallel career in industrial ceramics and had a flourishing company established in 1982.

He sold his ceramics business in 2001 for a whopping sum and has made a comeback into production and acting.

• Venkata 3
• Vietnam Veedu
• Sudesi Iyer
• Thanthramukhi
• Kaadhalikka Neramundu
• Antha 7 Aatkal
• Ragasiyam Parama Ragasiyam
• Irandam Ragasiyam
• Soppana Vazhvil
• Kasedhan Kadavulada
• Nadagam

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://www.ygeem.com/ Y. Gee. Mahendra's Official Website]
• {{IMDb name|1559594}}

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Category:1950 births

Category:Living people

Category:Tamil comedians

Category:Tamil dramatists and playwrights

Category:Indian male film actors

Category:Don Bosco schools alumni

Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights

Category:Indian male comedians

Category:Male actors from Chennai

Category:Screenwriters from Chennai

Category:20th-century Indian male actors

Category:21st-century Indian male actors

Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights

Category:20th-century Indian male writers

Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award