Filmmaker-actor Mahendran, who is known for his directorials like Uthiri Pookal and Mullum Malarum, has been reportedly admitted to a hospital in Chennai in a critical condition. 

John Mahendran, son of the Nenjathai Killathey director, put out a tweet saying, "Pray for Appa". Wishes and prayers started pouring in from Twitterati, with celebrities like producer Dhananjayan Govind also tweeting out their shock at the news, and praying for his rapid recovery. 

The legendary director's sojourn as an actor in films like Theri, Nimir and Petta was received warmly. He was recently seen in the Atharvaa-starrer Boomerang.