Film director CV Rajendran died at a hospital in Chennai on Sunday after a prolonged illness, The News Minute reported. The 81-year-old had worked in the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi film industries for nearly three decades.

Rajendran directed some popular Tamil films such as Raja (1972), En Magan (1974) and Ullassa Paravaigal (1980). His films Raja and Galatta Kalyanam were known for popular actors Sivaji Ganesan and J Jayalalithaa being cast together in lead roles. Rajendran also worked with actors such as Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.

Rajendran began working as an associate director with his brother CV Sridhar in 1963. His first directorial venture was the Tamil film Anubavam Pudhumai in 1967. He went on to direct nearly 60 films in several languages.

He directed his last film in 1989. Later, he produced Vietnam Colony in 1994 and Once More in 1997.