MGR's first film 'Sati Leelavati' was directed by an American. Name him.

Ellis R. Duncan. IMDB says he also directed movies like Manthiri Kumari, Meera, Valmiki, Daasi Penn, Kalamegham, Shakuntala, Ambikapathy & Iru Sahodarargal. Here's a nice article on the man by S. Muthiah.