Gangai Amaran is an Indian music composer, singer, lyricist, writer, film director and actor in

Tamil films Tamil cinema, also known as Kollywood is a part of Indian Cinema; primarily engaged in production of motion pictures in the Tamil language. Based out of the Kodambakkam neighbourhood in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, it is popularly called ''Kollywo ...

Personal life

Gangai Amaran was born in

Pannaipuram Pannaipuram is a panchayat town in Theni district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located hill foot of "Western Ghats" sharing its border with Kerala State and has very good literacy. Pannaipuram Town panchayat includes 4 villages name ...

in Theni district,

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...

in December 1947, as the youngest son of Daniel Ramaswamy and Chinnathayi. He is the younger brother of noted music director Ilaiyaraaja and father of director and actor

Venkat Prabhu Venkat Kumar Gangai Amaren (born 7 November 1975), better known by his stage name Venkat Prabhu, is an Indian filmmaker, actor and playback singer in Tamil films. After completing his education, he began pursuing an acting career, with his firs ...

and actor, composer and singer

Premji Amaren Prem Kumar Gangai Amaren (born 26 February 1979), better known as Premgi, is an Indian playback singer, composer, songwriter, actor and comedian. The son of composer and director Gangai Amaran, he often composes rap songs in Tamil cinema and ...

. He had two more elder brothers, R. D. Bhaskar and Pavalar Varadharajan, both who died long back. Composers

Karthik Raja Karthik Raja is an India composer based in Chennai, India. He made his debut as film composer in the Tamil film ''Pandiyan'' (1992) and went on to score music for many critically and commercially acclaimed feature films. Personal life Karthik ...

Yuvan Shankar Raja Yuvan Shankar Raja or Abdul Haliq (born 31 August 1979) is an Indian film score and soundtrack composer and singer-songwriter. He mainly scores music for Tamil films. Considered a versatile composer, he is particularly known for his use of Wes ...

, singer

Bhavatharini Bhavatharani Raja is an Indian singer and music composer. She is the daughter of Ilaiyaraaja and her brothers are the noted film composers Karthik Raja and Yuvan Shankar Raja. She has mostly sung songs under the direction of her father and br ...

and costume designer

Vasuki Bhaskar Vasuki Bhaskar is an Indian fashion design, fashion and costume designer, working in the Tamil film industry. She is the daughter of film producer R.D. Bhaskar and Pavalar Creations is their own production house. Career Vasuki was born as the o ...

are his relations. Regarding his name, Gangai was taken from a magazine of same name which he read during childhood while Amaran is derived from a pseudonym Amar Singh which he wanted to adopt himself when he aimed to be a lyricist. His latest interview with Chithra Lakshmanan in Touring talkies YouTube channel he has shared his life experiences and about his career struggle and also about his personal differences with his elder brother Ilayaraja where he mentioned about many controversial issues with him in his career.

Career

Films

Along with his brother Ilaiyaraja, Gangai Amaran started his career as a composer and composed for many successful films such as ''

Mouna Geethangal ''Mouna Geethangal'' () is a 1981 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by K. Bhagyaraj. The film stars Bhagyaraj himself alongside Saritha, with S. Krishnamoorthy and Master Suresh in supporting roles. It revolves a ...

'' and ''

Vazhvey Maayam ''Vaazhvey Maayam'' () is a 1982 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed by R. Krishnamoorthy, starring Kamal Haasan, Sridevi and Sripriya. It is a remake of the 1981 Telugu film '' Premabhishekam''. The film was released on 26 Janua ...

'' (1983). Apart from composing, Amaran made his directorial debut with '' Kozhi Koovuthu'' (1982) and went on to direct many films including highly successful ''

Karagattakaran ''Karakattakkaran'' () is a 1989 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy dance film written and directed by Gangai Amaran. The film stars Ramarajan and debutant Kanaka, while Santhana Bharathi, Chandrasekhar, Goundamani, Senthil, Shanmugasundara ...

'' (1989). ''Themmangu Paattukaran'' was his last film as a director while ''Poonjolai'' which would have been the acting debut of his son Venkat Prabhu remains unreleased. Now he is working with Clusters media college.https://www.facebook.com/clustersmediazone/videos/292896508213436/

Politics

Gangai Amaran also took plunge in politics by joining BJP and also contested in RK Nagar constituency. Apart from that, he also served as a member of Central Board of Film Certification.

Filmography

Writer/Director

Music Director

Singer

Lyricist(Partial Filmography)

Dubbing artist

K. Bhagyaraj Krishnasaamy Bhagyaraj (born 7 January 1953) is an Indian director, actor, screenwriter, music director, producer and politician active mainly in Tamil films. He has also written and directed Hindi and Telugu films and TV serials. As an actor ...

Puthiya Vaarpugal ''Puthiya Vaarpugal'' () is a 1979 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film co-written, produced and directed by Bharathiraja. The film stars K. Bhagyaraj and Rati Agnihotri, with G. Srinivasan, Goundamani, K. K. Soundar and Usharani in suppo ...

(1979),

Bhama Rukmani ''Bhama Rukmani'' is a 1980 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by R. Bhaskaran. The film stars K. Bhagyaraj, Raadhika and Praveena. It was released on 12 June 1980. Plot Nandagopal (K. Bhagyaraj) has been in love with Rukmani (Praveena ...

(1980)

Onscreen appearances

*''

'' (1989) *''Ooru Vittu Ooru Vandhu'' (1990) *'' Idhayam'' (1991) *''

Chinnavar ''Chinnavar'' is a 1992 Tamil language drama film directed by Gangai Amaran. The film stars Prabhu, Chandrasekhar and Kasthuri. The film was released on 24 April 1992. Plot Muthu and Veerasamy are fishermen and they fish together in the sa ...

'' (1992) *''

Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen ''Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen'' () is a 1998 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by Vikraman. It stars Karthik and Roja, with Ajith Kumar in a guest appearance. Ramesh Khanna, Moulee, Sathyapriya, Fathima Babu, and M ...

'' (1998) *''

Jodi Jodi is a feminine given name which may refer to: People * Jodi Albert (born 1983), English actress * Jodi Anasta (born 1985), Australian actress and model * Jodi Anderson (born 1957), American heptathlete * Jodi Appelbaum-Steinbauer (born 1956) ...

'' (1999) *''

Kandukondain Kandukondain ''Kandukondain Kandukondain'' (also released internationally under the translated title ''I Have Found It'') is a 2000 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed and co-written by Rajiv Menon. Based on Jane Austen's 1811 novel '' Sense ...

'' (2000) *'' Ullam Kollai Poguthey'' (2001) *'' Chennai 600028 II: Second Innings''(2016) *'' Arya Surya'' (2013) *''

Yaanai ''Yaanai'' () is a 2022 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by Hari and produced by Vedikkaranpatti S. Sakthivel, under the banner of Drumsticks Productions. The film stars Arun Vijay and Priya Bhavani Shankar while R ...

'' (2022)

References

External links

*
Gangai Amaran as Music DirectorGangai Amaran as LyricistGangai Amaran as Singer
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amaran, Gangai Indian Tamil people Tamil musicians Tamil film score composers Kannada film score composers Living people Indian male songwriters Tamil film poets 1947 births Musicians from Tamil Nadu People from Theni district Film directors from Tamil Nadu Tamil film directors Indian lyricists 20th-century Indian film directors Male film score composers Tamil-language lyricists