Gautham Menon studied mechanical engineering at Mookambigai College of Engineering and graduated in 1993; the time he spent there inspired him to make the protagonists of Minnale and Vaaranam Aayiram students of the same discipline. He claims he was influenced by films such as Dead Poets Society and Nayagan, and he expressed to his parents a desire to change career paths and become a director, after which he wrote his first film in his college hostel.

His mother insisted that he become a director of commercials, shooting various commercial spots, and he interned under director Rajiv Menon. He then worked as an assistant director on Minsaara Kanavu in 1997, where he also appeared in a cameo role.