Senapathy Albert Chandrasekaran, (born 2 July 1945), popularly known as S. A. Chandrasekhar, is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and actor who primarily works in Tamil cinema along with some Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his directorial debut with Aval Oru Pachai Kuzhanthai (1978) and got his breakthrough with Sattam Oru Iruttarai (1981). He has directed over 70 movies in all south Indian languages and is known for directing films focusing on social issues. He is the father of the ninth and incumbent Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C. Joseph Vijay.
Personal life Chandrasekar was born in Thangachimadam, Tamil Nadu into a Catholic Christian family as S. A. Chandrasekaran. His son is Joseph Vijay, who is a former actor and politician and currently serves as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Chandrasekhar also had a daughter named Vidya, who died at the age of two. His brother-in-law S. N. Surendar is a playback singer and voice artist. His nephew Vikranth is also an actor, and his grandson Jason Sanjay is a director who made his debut with Sigma (2026).
Film career Directing Chandrasekar has directed over 70 movies in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. Directors S. Shankar, Senthilnathan, C. Ranganathan, Pavithran, Majith, K. R. Jaya, M. Rajesh, Ponram, T. Shivraj, and Vicky had worked with him as assistants.
Some of his hit movies include Sattam Oru Iruttarai (1981), Chattaniki Kallu Levu (1981), Nyaya Ellide (1982), Palletoori Monagadu (1983), Saatchi (1983), Vetri (1984), Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985), Sattam Oru Vilayaattu (1987), Senthoorapandi (1993), Rasigan (1994), Deva (1995), Once More (1997), and Nenjirukkum Varai (2006).
He introduced his son Vijay and directed several films in his formative years such as Naalaiya Theerpu (1992), Senthoorapandi (1993), Rasigan (1994), Deva (1995), and Vishnu (1995). Most of his movies are with Vijayakanth or Vijay.
He also directed Telugu movies such as Chattaniki Kallu Levu (1981) and Palletoori Monagadu (1983) with Chiranjeevi. In 2019, he directed his 70th film, Capmaari.
Acting Chandrasekhar has appeared in supporting roles in movies such as Kudumbam (1984), Pudhu Yugam (1985), Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985), Neethiyin Marupakkam (1985), Enakku Nane Needipathi (1986), Nilave Malare (1986), Vasantha Raagam (1986), Neethikku Thandanai (1987), Sattam Oru Vilayaattu (1987), Innisai Mazhai (1992), Deva (1995), Priyamudan (1998), Sukran (2005) and Kodi (2016).. Ibnlive.in.com (2012-06-07). Retrieved on 2015-10-16.
Chandrasekhar played the lead role in the film Touring Talkies (2015). He acted in Traffic Ramasamy (2018), a biopic about the eponymous activist, and played the title role.
Chandrashekhar acted in Kooran (2025) as his last film.
Other work In the early 2000s, Chandrasekhar slowed down his work as a director and focused on business interests, including on the construction of a three star hotel for his son. In 2000, he began pre-production work on a film titled Dhoosi with Sarathkumar but the project was later shelved.
Controversies In 2018, Chandrasekhar spoke at the music launch of the movie Visiri at Vadapalani Prasad Lab, Chennai. He allegedly said "offering at Tirupati Hundiyal was like a bribe to the deity and one cannot pass the exam by simply making offering to a deity. If the offering to deity can help you pass the exams, you don't need to write the exams and sit at home". He also said that "success can be achieved only by studying." Virugambakkam police registered a FIR against Chandrasekhar on charges of hurting religious beliefs after a complaint filed by Hindu Munnani over his statements.
Filmography As a director Note: he is mostly credited as S. A. Chandrasekaran. For many of his older films, his name was absent from the film credits and only present on promotional media Year Film Language Notes1978Aval Oru Pachai Kuzhandhai Tamil1981Sattam Oru IruttaraiNenjile ThunivirunthalChattaniki Kallu Levu Telugu Remake of Sattam Oru IruttaraiNeedhi Pizhaithadhu Tamil1982Idhayam PesugirathuPattanathu RajakkalOm ShaktiNyaya Ellide Kannada Remake of Sattam Oru Iruttarai1983Balidaanam TeluguSamsaram Enbathu Veenai TamilPalletoori Monagadu Telugu Remake of Nenjile ThunivirunthalGedda Maga Kannada Remake of Moondru MugamGeluvu NannadeSaatchi TamilHasida Hebbuli Kannada Remake of Nenjile ThunivirunthalSimha Gharjane Kannada1984Dopidi Dongalu TeluguVetri Tamil Remakes of Kannada film Geluvu NannadeDevanthakudu TeluguVeetuku Oru Kannagi TamilKudumbam1985Pudhu YugamIntiko Rudramma TeluguNaan Sigappu Manithan TamilBalidaan HindiNeethiyin Marupakkam Tamil1986En SabathamNilave MalareEnakku Nane NeedipathiVasantha RaagamSigappu Malargal1987Neethikku ThandanaiSattam Oru VilayaattuKudrat Ka Kanoon Hindi Remake of Neethikku Thandanai1988Sudhanthira Naattin Adimaigal TamilPoovum PuyalumIthu Engal Neethi 1989Rajanadai1990Azaad Desh Ke GulamHindi Remake of Sudhanthira Naattin AdimaigalSeetha Tamil1992Insaaf Ki Devi HindiMera Dil Tere LiyeNaalaiya Theerpu Tamil1993Jeevan Ki Shatranj Hindi Remake of RajanadaiRajadurai TamilSenthoorapandi 1994Rasigan1995DevaVishnu 1996Maanbumigu Maanavan 1997Once More1999PeriannaNenjinile 2001Dosth2002Mutham Spoke poems in the song "Oru Murai Nee" 2005Sukran 2006Nenjirukkum Varai 2008Pandhayam 2011Sattapadi Kutram 2015Touring Talkies 2019Capmaari 2023Naan Kadavul Illai Also singer for song "Kanne Kanmaniye"
As a producer Year Title Notes1984Veetuku Oru Kannagi1999Nenjinile2005Sukran 2006Aathi2010Veluthu Kattu2011Sattapadi Kutram 2016Nayyapudai Also assistant director2018Traffic Ramasamy
As a screenwriter Year Film Notes 1992Innisai Mazhai Uncredited2002Thamizhan 2025Kooran Also dialogue writer
As an actor Year Film Role Notes 1977 Olimayamana Ethirkalam First film 1981Sattam Oru Iruttarai Hitchhiker 1984Kudumbam Sekhar1985Pudhu YugamNaan Sigappu Manithan Hospital Ward Boy1986Enakku Nane Needipathi Advocate ChandrasekharVasantha Raagam Chandrasekhar 1987Sattam Oru Vilayaattu Peter 1992 Innisai Mazhai Police officer 1993 Senthoorapandi Guest appearance in song "Aadada Aadada" 1994 RasiganGuest appearance in song "Thambi Konjam" 1995Deva Marimuthu 1998PriyamudanCBI officer Gopal 2005Sukran Himself Guest appearance 2015Touring Talkies Anthony Anthology film; segment Love @ 752016Nayyapudai Vellaichamy Kodi Thalaivar 2018Traffic Ramasamy Traffic RamasamyAaruthra Shiva's father 2019Capmaari Police Inspector2021 Maanaadu Arivazhagan2023 Tamil Kudimagan Chinnasamy's advocateNaan Kadavul Illai Karumegangal Kalaigindrana Ramanathan's friend 2025 Kooran Dharmaraj Final film
Television YearTitleRoleChannelLanguage2023–2024Kizhakku VaasalSwamiappanStar VijayTamil
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