Mahendran Pillay was born in Kampung Chetti, Melaka, in 1976. His parents are both Chetti Melaka, and like them, he is a Hindu. He met his soulmate in Kampung Chetti and married her in a traditional Melaka Chetti wedding. The couple is blessed with two children. He spends his free time helping the Chetti Melaka management with community work. He has also helped hundreds of university students (both local and overseas) with their theses and fieldwork. He loves writing pantun during his free time.