T. V. Chandran (born 23 November 1950) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and actor, predominantly working in Malayalam cinema.

Born in a Malayali family in Thalassery, Chandran worked as a Reserve Bank of India employee before entering the film industry.

He also acted the lead role in Backer's highly acclaimed political drama Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol (1975).

He made his directorial debut with the unreleased feature Krishnan Kutty (1981), and followed this with the Tamil film Hemavin Kadhalargal (1985).

Chandran came into prominence after Alicinte Anveshanam (1989), which was nominated for the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival.

[4] In his college days, Chandran was sympathetic to naxalite ideology and was closely associated with the Communist Party.

According to Chandran, it was his association with director V. K. Pavithran (who also produced Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol),[10] that caused his transformation into the "condemned status" of a filmmaker.

Though Hemavin Kadhalargal was a commercial success and garnered favourable reviews, Chandran got his much needed break only with his third venture Alicinte Anveshanam (1989).

It was the official entry from India for the Locarno International Film Festival, and got a nomination for the Golden Leopard.

He cast two of India's greatest method actors, Mammootty and Nasiruddin Shah, in the film that focused on the feudal era.

[4] Chandran's next venture Ormakal Undayirikkanam (1995) starred Bharath Gopi, Mammootty, Master Nitin, Nedumudi Venu and Sreenivasan.

[17] Chandran originally cast noted dancer Mallika Sarabhai in this role, but she opted out citing her busy schedule.

[5][18][19][20] Chandrans following project, Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam (2003), dealt with child marriage and polygamy prevailing in traditional Muslim communities of Kerala.

[26][27] With Boomi Malayalam (2009), another film focusing on themes of feminism, he associated with Suresh Gopi for the first time.

Most of Chandran's films were average performers at the box office even though they received strong positive reviews from critics and garnered awards at state, national and international levels.

He forayed into mainstream cinema with his next venture – Sankaranum Mohananum (2011) – a comedy fantasy starring Jayasurya, Meera Nandan and Rima Kallingal.

[28] Chandran concluded his trilogy on 2002 Gujarat riots with the film Bhoomiyude Avakashikal (2012), a drama starring Kailash and Sreenivasan.

The film started production in June 2012 and had its title adapted from the famous short story "Bhoomiyude Avakashikal" by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.

[29][30] The film's protagonist is driven away from Ahmedabad following the riots and eventually lands up in a secluded house in Kerala, in the company of insects and animals with whom he shares his thoughts, concerns, doubts and frustrations.

In 2016, Chandran directed Mohavalayam which narrates the life of Malayalis who reach Bahrain from Saudi Arabia, crossing the King Fahd Causeway.