Chandran's first film Aalicinte Anveshanam was the official Indian entry at the Locarno Film Festival. His films have always had strong characters. Mammootty won one of his National Awards for his performance in Chandran's Ponthen Mada, and Meera Jasmine won the best actress award for her role in Paatham Onnu Oru Vilapam.

When Chandran decided to make his latest film Aadum Koothu in Tamil because the story was set in Tamil Nadu, he could only think of Cheran in the lead role. The female lead was Navya Nair, who has two state awards in her kitty already. Aadum Koothu was selected for the Indian Panorama at IFFI, Goa and also at the IFFK, Thiruvananthapuram.