Gangai Amaran


Gangai Amaran is an Indian composer, playback singer, lyricist, actor, film director and a screenwriter in Tamil films.

Personal life

Gangai Amaran was born in Pannaipuram in Theni district, Tamil Nadu in December 1947, as the youngest son of Ramaswamy and Chinnathayi. He is the younger brother of noted music director Ilaiyaraaja and father of director and actor Venkat Prabhu and actor, composer and singer Premji Amaren. He had two more elder brothers, R. D. Bhaskar and Pavalar Varadharajan, both who died long back. Composers Karthik Raja, Yuvan Shankar Raja, singer Bhavatharini and costume designer Vasuki Bhaskar are his relations. His wife Manimegalai died on 9 May 2021.
Regarding his name, Gangai was taken from a magazine of the same name which he read during his childhood, while Amaran is derived from a pseudonym Amar Singh, which he wanted to adopt for himself when he aimed to be a lyricist. He has had his personal differences with his elder brother Ilayaraja where he mentioned about many controversial issues with him in his career.

Career

Films

Amaran revealed that his debut film as a composer for Malargalile Oru Malligai starring Malaysia Vasudevan remained unreleased despite the soundtrack being released. Hence, Oru Vidukathai Oru Thodarkathai became his first film as composer to be released. Along with his brother Ilaiyaraja, Gangai Amaran started his career as a composer and composed for many successful films such as Mouna Geethangal and Vazhvey Maayam. Apart from composing, Amaran made his directorial debut with Kozhi Koovuthu and went on to direct many films including the highly successful Karagattakaran. 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.

Politics

Gangai Amaran also took a plunge in politics by joining BJP and also contested in RK Nagar constituency in April 2017 later withdrawn it. Apart from that, he also served as a member of Central Board of Film Certification.

Discography

Music Director

YearFilmLanguageNotes
1979Karai Kadantha KurathiTamil
1979Kuzhanthaiyai ThediTamil
1979Oru Vidukadhai Oru ThodarkadhaiTamil
1979Suvarillatha ChithirangalTamil
1980Ramaye Vayasukku VanthuttaTamil
1980Enga Ooru RasathiTamil
1980Tharayil Pootha MalarTamil
1981Mouna GeethangalTamil
1981SankarlalTamilCo-composed with Ilaiyaraaja
1982Kanavugal KarpanaigalTamil
1982Vazhvey MaayamTamilDubbed Malayalam as Premaabhishekam
1983En PriyameTamil
1983ImaigalTamil
1983Hello Madras GirlMalayalam
1983JeevithamMalayalam
1983NeethibathiTamil
1983SattamTamilDubbed Malayalam as Sneha bandham
1983Justice RajaMalayalam
1984Irumbu KaigaiTamil
1984KudumbamTamil
1984Nalellam PournamiTamil
1984NichayamTamil
1984Nyayam KetkiraenTamil
1984Ungal Veetu PillaiTamil
1984AlakadalinakkareMalayalam
1985Mannukketha PonnuTamil
1985Aagaya ThamaraigalTamil25th film
1985Hello Yaar PesurathuTamilCo-composed with Ilaiyaraaja
1985Puthiya SagapthamTamil
1985Naan Ungal RasiganTamil
1986Kanna Thorakkanum SaamiTamilCo-composed with Ilaiyaraaja
1986Namma Ooru Nalla OoruTamil
1986Ayyappa Bhakthiganangal Vol. 6Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, KannadaAyyappa devotional songs album from Tharangini. Released in all four south Indian languages.
1987ChellakuttiTamil
1987Chinna Thambi Periya ThambiTamil
1987Ettikki PottiTamil
1987Ondru Engal JaathiyeTamil
1987OorkuruviTamil
1987Ithu Oru ThodarkathaiTamilwrote all lyrics for this film
1987MizhiyorangalilMalayalam
1988AnuragiMalayalam
1988JeevaTamil
1988En Thangachi PadichavaTamil
1988KabaliTamil
1988Koil Mani OsaiTamil
1988Raththa DhanamTamil
1988Thappu KanakkuTamil
1989PillaikkagaTamil
1989RudraKannagaDubbed in Tamil as Kushboo Kushboothan
1989SwarakalpanaTelugu
1989Police ReportTamil
1990Pachai KodiTamil
1991Pondatti PondattithanTamil50th film
1991AdhikariTamil
1991RudhraTamil
1993AadhityanTamil
1994Atha Maga RathinameTamil
2009RagavanTamil
2010PugaippadamTamil

Dubbing artist

Onscreen appearances