Senthilkumar worked as an assistant director to Vetrimaaran, before making his directorial debut with Ethir Neechal (2013), starring Sivakarthikeyan, Priya Anand, and Nandita.
His next venture was Kaaki Sattai (2015), again starring Sivakarthikeyan and featuring music composed by Anirudh, alongside Sri Divya, Vijay Raaz, Prabhu.
The story revolves around an honest police constable who wants to prove himself as a true, powerful cop by finding ways to solve issues of corruption in the law and order system in the department of police, and in the process thwarts an illegal organ donation scam.
Senthilkumar's next project was the 2016 film Kodi, starring Dhanush, Trisha and Anupama Parameswaran.
The film, based on two twin brothers, one a brash politician and the other, a pacifistic, straight thinking teacher who is forced to enter politics following his twin brother's murder to avenge his killer, features music by Santhosh Narayanan.