R.Mahendran

Biography

Mahendran is a prominent and distinguished Indian filmmaker, widely respected for his visionary approach and deep understanding of contemporary cinema. A passionate film aficionado turned successful producer and media professional, he is the driving force behind Turmeric Media, known for its commitment to innovative, commercially viable, and state-of-the-art filmmaking.

Early Career and Industry Experience

Before founding Turmeric Media, Mahendran built an illustrious career spanning over three decades in the media and entertainment industry. He served as Vice President at Star Vijay Television, where he played a pivotal role in content acquisition for films and led several key initiatives. Among his most significant contributions was his involvement in establishing the Fox Star Studios venture in South India, helping shape the region’s modern studio-driven production ecosystem.

Entrepreneurial Leap and Production Ventures

Driven by his entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen, and passion for quality cinema, Mahendran took a leap of faith to establish Turmeric Media and Next Big Film (NBF). Under the NBF banner, he produced multiple critically and commercially successful films, including Raja Rani, Cuckoo, and Engeyum Eppothum, all of which emerged as box-office hits and won popular awards for entertainment excellence.

Creative Producer and Box-Office Success

Mahendran’s role as Creative Producer has been instrumental in delivering some of Tamil cinema’s biggest blockbusters. His work on Mersal proved to be a turning point, as the film became the highest-grossing release of the year. This success followed earlier consecutive blockbusters such as Theri and Thuppakki, further cementing his reputation as a creative force behind commercially successful cinema.

Turmeric Media’s filmography reflects a balance between scale and substance. On one hand, the banner has backed small- and medium-budget films that went on to become major box-office successes, including Myna, Kumki, and Mookuthi Amman. On the other, it has co-produced acclaimed films such as Cuckoo and Engeyum Eppothum under the Next Big Film label.

Championing New Talent

One of Mahendran’s defining contributions to the industry is his commitment to nurturing new talent. He has consistently provided an open platform for debutant directors and filmmakers to showcase original ideas and fresh storytelling approaches. This inclusive and accessible philosophy has resulted in the emergence of several top directors, most notably Atlee, who was mentored and shaped under Mahendran’s leadership during the Fox Star Studios initiatives that went on to produce blockbuster films.

Recent and Upcoming Projects

Mahendran has continued to collaborate with leading production houses and filmmakers. He partnered with Raaj Kamal Films International (RKFI) on the Kamal Haasan–starrer Vikram, as well as Amaran, featuring Sivakarthikeyan. His upcoming release, Thug Life, stars Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan and is directed by Mani Ratnam. Additionally, pre-production is underway for KH237, starring Kamal Haasan and directed by Anbariv Masters.