Balanathan "Balu" Mahendran (Tamil: பாலநாதன் மகேந்திரா) (born 20 May 1946 in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka) is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, and cinematographer widely regarded as part of the first in a wave of directors and screenwriters from the Chennai film industry who revitalised Tamil cinema. He initially developed an early interest in photography.
A cinematography graduate and a gold medalist from the FTII in Pune. He started his film career as a cameraman for the Malayalam film Nellu in 1974, which earned him the best cinematographer award from the Government of Kerala. He has been chosen as the best cinematographer for as many as ten films. He pioneered innovative camera style for colour in South India. He has won five National Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards South.
