Shankar–Ganesh


Shankar–Ganesh is an Indian music director duo who has worked on Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Telugu movies for around 50 years. They also directed one movie Jagathalaprathapan in 1990

Personal life

Shankar was the younger brother of music director C. R. Subbaraman while Ganesh was the son-in-law of G. N. Velumani who produced films like Bhaagapirivinai and Paalum Pazhamum.

Career

They started as assistants to Tamil music composers M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy in 1964 and later the duo assisted M.S.Viswanathan alone from 1965 till 1967. When Shankar Ganesh were composing for a stage play titled "Paadi Parandha Kuyil", Kannadhasan started his own film titled "Nagarathil Thirudargal" in which he introduced Shankar Ganesh as music directors. However that film was stopped, so Kannadhasan took them to Chinnappa Devar and requested him to give them a chance thus making their debut with Magaraasi. After Kannadhasan's death, Shankar Ganesh had their titles changed to " Kavinger vazhangiya thevarin" Shankar Ganesh.
Kaveri Thanda Kalaiselvi was a Natya Nadagam wherein Jayalalitha was main lead and rehearsals used to happen at her house with all artistes and musicians coming to her house and doing practice. Shankaraman, musician duo Shankar and Ganesh used to come to play music. Sandhya used to make food and give all artistes breakfast and lunch. This went on for 28 days before the first show happened in 1965. After Jayalalitha became a huge star she recommended Devar Films to give musician duo Shankar Ganesh their debut film as a music director in the film Maharasi starring Ravinchandran with Jayalalitha.
Their first independent release was Magaraasi in 1967. Aattukara Alamelu was a turning point in their career.
Musician duo Shankar Ganesh composed music for 2 films of Jayalalitha – Maharasi in 1967 produced by Devar Films and Vandhale Maharasi in 1973 directed by K.S.Gopalakrishnan. Their best known composition were in Naan Yen Pirenden and Idhaya Veenai.

Bomb blast

On 17 November 1986, Ganesh received an anonymous parcel by post. It contained a tape recorder with a note from the sender saying that the parcel contained a cassette with some ‘new’ music and if Ganesh liked it, he should give the sender a "break" into films. As Ganesh pressed the play button, the tape recorder exploded in his face, injuring his hands and eyes. Plastic surgery restored his hands and allowed him to play the keyboard, but he lost his vision in his right eye and had blurred vision in the left. On 1 June 2014, his vision was restored by a "glued intra ocular lens" technique.
He was also performing on the stage 50 meters away at the Congress rally in Sriperumbudur on 21 May 1991, when a human bomb killed Rajiv Gandhi.

Personal life

Shankar from the duo died prematurely, while Ganesh continued take the band forward with the name Shankar–Ganesh, and has often been credited simply as Shankar Ganesh himself. Shankar's son Balasubramaniam "Bobby" Shankar made his debut as a music composer through Chinni Jayanth's romantic drama film, Unakkaga Mattum. Ganesh's son Shreekumar, became an actor, and later married actress Shamitha, who starred in Pandavar Bhoomi.

Discography

Their works include music for the following movies:

Tamil films

YearFilmNotes
1967MagaraasiDebut Film
1967Naan Yaar Theriyuma
1968Siritha Mugam
1969Akka Thangai
1970Maanavan
1970Kalam Vellum
1970Kannan Varuvan
1971Deivam Pesuma
1971Kettikaran
1971Then Kinnam
1972Ganga
1972Thaikku Oru Pillai
1972Naan Yen Pirandhen
1972Kannamma
1972Savalukku Savaal
1972Varaverpu
1972Puguntha Veedu
1972Idhaya Veenai
1972Ponmagal Vandhal
1973Manjal Kungumam
1973Vandhaale Magaraasi
1973Amman Arul
1973Kasi Yathirai
1973Dheiva Vamsam
1973Iraivan Irukkindran25th Film
1973Komatha En Kulamatha
1973Veettukku Vandha Marumagal
1973Vakkuruthi
1973Nathaiyil Muthu
1974Kai Niraya Kaasu
1974Vellikizhamai Viratham
1974Doctoramma
1974Ore Satchi
1974Pathu Madha Bandham
1974Sorgathil Thirumanam
1974Devi Sri Karumari Amman
1974Pandhattam
1974Pudhiya Manidhan
1975Anbu Roja
1975Enga Pattan Sothu
1975Cinema Paithiyam
1975Pinju Manam
1975Panam Pathum Seyum
1975Thangathile Vairam
1975Pattikkaattu Raja
1975Oru Kudumbathin Kadhai
1977Aattukara Alamelu
1978Karunai Ullam50th Film
1978Ullathil Kuzhanthaiyadi
1978Chinna Chinna Veedu Katti
1978Thaai Meethu Sathiyam
1978Palabishegam
1978Uravugal Endrum Vazhga
1979Inikkum Ilamai-
1979Thaayillamal Naan Illai
1979Neeya?
1979Ennadi Meenakshi-
1979Kanni Paruvathile
1979Pasi
1979Othayadi Paathayilae
1980Kannil Theriyum Kathaikalcomposed one song "Naan Unna Nenachen"
1980Dhinamthorum Deepavali
1980Vandichakkaram
1980Kumari Pennin Ullathile75th Film
1980Natchathiram
1980Nijangal Nilaikkindrana
1980Ponnagaram
1980Maria My Darling
1981Veli Thaandiya Vellaadu
1981Anjatha Nenjangal
1981Aani Ver
1981Jadhikkoru Needhi
1981Chinna Mul Periya Mul
1981Kanneer Pookkal
1981Needhi Pizhaithathu
1981Sattam Oru Iruttarai
1981Palaivana Solai
1981Sivappu Malli
1982Darling, Darling, Darling
1982Pakkathu Veetu Roja
1982Nenjile Thunivirunthal
1982Amma
1982Nenjangal
1982Neram Vandhachu100th Film
1982Mamiyara Marumagala
1982Ilanjodigal
1982Adhisayappiravigal
1982Auto Raja
1982Ayiram Muthangal
1982Kalyana Kalam
1982Kanalukku Karaiyethu
1982Krodham
1982Nenjangal
1982Oorum Uravum
1982Moondru Mugam
1982Pattanathu Rajakkal
1982Poi Satchi
1982Theerpugal Thiruththapadalam
1982Thooku Medai
1982Thunai
1982Ranga
1983Alai Payum Nenjangal
1983En Aasai Unnoduthan
1983Anal Kaatru125th Film
1983Thai Veedu
1983Dhooram Adhighamillai
1983Nenjamellam Neeye
1984Vaanga Mappillai VaangaFilm unreleased
1984Ninaivugal
1984Nandri
1984Niraparaadhi
1984Osai
1984Madras Vathiyar
1984Vai Pandal
1984Vetri
1984Pournami Alaigal
1985Naagam
1985Chavi
1985Avan
1985Santhosha Kanavukal
1985Anthasthu
1985Bandham
1985Poi Mugangal
1985Chain Jayapal
1985Chidambara Rahasiyam
1985Engirunthalum Vazhga150th Film
1985Ilamai
1985Kutravaaligal
1985Needhiyin Nizhal
1985Uthami
1985Veli
1985Mangamma Sabatham
1986Aayiram Kannudayaal
1986Anandha Kanneer
1986Piranthaen Valarnthen
1986Kulirkaala Megangal
1986Paadum Vaanampadi
1986Panneer Nadhigal175th Film
1986Mounam Kalaikirathu
1986Kaalam
1986Samsaram Adhu Minsaram
1987Anbulla Appa
1987Anjatha Singam
1987Enga Chinna Rasa
1987Raja Mariyadhai
1987Oorkavalan
1987Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi
1987Veerapandiyan
1988Aalay Pathu Malai Mathu
1988Mappillai Sir
1988Makkal Aanaiyittal
1988Sahadevan Mahadevan
1988Anjatha Singam
1988Veedu Manaivi Makkal
1988Neruppu Nila
1988Vacha Kuri Thappathu
1988Sivapputhaali
1989En Rathathin Rathame
1989Manidhan Marivittan
1989Sattathin Thirappu Vizhaa
1989Sakalakala Sammandhi
1989Nyaya Tharasu
1989Manandhal Mahadevan
1989Thangamana Purushan200th Film
1989Thangamani Ramamani
1990Aarathi Edungadi
1990Amma Pillai
1990Sathan Sollai Thattathe
1990Durga
1990Sakthi Parasakthi
1990Aavathellam Pennale
1990Manaivi Oru Manickam
1990Sandhana Kaatru
1990Vedikkai En Vadikkai
1990Idhaya Thamarai
1990Varavu Nalla Uravu
1990Nalla Kaalam Porandaachu
1990Aadi Velli
1990Pattikaattaan225th Film
1990Vaazhkai Chakkaram
1990Vaaliba Vilaiyattu
1990Pengal Veettin Kangal
1990Jagathalaprathapanalso director
1991Nallathai Naadu Kekum
1991Sendhoora Devi
1991Vaakku Moolam
1991Eeswari
1991Aadi Viratham
1991Thai Poosam
1991Ayul Kaithi
1991Pudhusa Oru KalyanamMovie Not Released
1992Moondram Padi
1992Naane Varuven
1992Urimai Oonjaladugiradhu
1992Deiva Kuzhandhai
1992Chinna Poovai Killathey
1992Devar Veettu Ponnu
1992Sivasankari250th Film
1992Madha Komadha
1992Harihara Puthran
1992Purushan Enakku Arasan
1993Paarambariyam
1993Sivarathri
1993Karpagam Vanthachu
1994Vaanga Partner Vaanga
1995Mudhal Udhayam
2006Mazhaithuli Mazhaithuli
2006Theenda Theenda
2022Uzhaikkum Kaigal

Filmography

As an actor