Prem Kumar Gangai “Premji” Amaren (born 26 February 1979; ) is an Indian singer, composer, songwriter, actor and comedian. The son of composer and director Gangai Amaran, he often composes rap songs in Tamil cinema and is known for his comical performances in his elder brother Venkat Prabhu's films.
He is also best known for his catchphrases "Enna koduma sir idhu?" () and "Evvalavo pannitom, itha panna mattoma?" (), the former being a modified version of a famous dialogue used by Prabhu in Chandramukhi (2005).
Career In 1997, Premgi planned to enter the film industry as a director with a project titled Wanted starring his elder brother and S. P. B. Charan. The film, which had his younger cousin as music composer and his father and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam as comedians, did not complete shoot.
In 2005, he became an independent music director with Gnabagam Varuthe, starring his brother.
Primarily interested in composing music, Premgi then started his career as an assistant and additional music programmer to his cousin and film music composer Yuvan Shankar Raja, turning a playback singer, singing mostly the rap portions in Yuvan Shankar Raja's compositions, before working with other music composers as well. Working with Yuvan Shankar Raja, he also remixed some of his compositions for the soundtrack albums, the first being "Loosu Penne" from the film Vallavan (2006).
In 2006, however, he made his acting debut in Silambarasan's Vallavan as the heroine's friend, following which he starred in his brother Venkat Prabhu's directorial debut Chennai 600028 (2007), in which he played Seenu. The movie went on to become the year's biggest summer blockbuster, establishing Premgi as a comedy actor.
After that, he composed for Agathiyan's Nenjathai Killathe (2008) and for Thozha (2008), in which he played one of the leading roles as well. Apart from film music, he composed music for an episode titled Planet Galatta II – Adra Sakkae on Singapore's satellite channel, "Mediacorp Vasantham". He joined with his brother for his next film Saroja (2008), which fetched him accolades for his performance as Ganesh Kumar.
He appeared as a lead character in his elder brother's Goa (2010), before going on to make further appearances in Mankatha (2011) and Settai (2013). He made his Malayalam debut in North 24 Kaatham (2013). In the upcoming Maanga, he plays the lead character and also works as the music composer. He has acted in Chennai 600028 II (2016) which is a sequel of the super-hit movie Chennai 600028.
Amaren composed a song with singer Suresh Peters called "The One Anthem", and it was made as a tribute to the legend Michael Jackson.
Personal life Premgi is the son of musician Gangai Amaran, and the younger brother of film director and actor Venkat Prabhu. Film composer Ilaiyaraaja is his uncle, while Yuvan Shankar Raja, Karthik Raja and Bhavatharini are his cousins. He married Indu on 9 June 2024 at Thiruthani Murugan Temple. They have a daughter who was born on 19 November 2025.
His stage name, Premgi, is actually a spelling error, as it is meant to be "Prem G.", the G standing for his father.
Filmography
As actor Films + List of Premgi Amaren film acting credits Year Title Role Notes 1982 Payanangal Mudivathillai Himself Uncredited appearance in the song "Thogai Ilamayil"2003 Punnagai Poove Himself Special appearanceWhistle Uncredited 2005 Kanda Naal Mudhal Himself Special appearance 2006 Vallavan Swapna's friend 2007 Chennai 600028 Seenu Satham Podathey Ravichandran's friend 2008 Thozha Arivazhagan Santosh Subramaniam Sekhar Sathyam Bora Saroja Ganesh Kumar —Vijay Award for Best Comedian Silambattam Himself Special appearance 2010 Goa Saamikannu (Sam) 2011 Mankatha Prem —Edison Award for Best Comedian —ITFA Best Supporting Actor Award 2012 Podaa Podi Himself Special appearance 2013 Onbadhule Guru Charles Settai Cheenu North 24 Kaatham Vyomkesh Malayalam film Biriyani Parasuram 2014 Vadacurry Phone Seller Special appearance Salim Himself Special appearance Theriyama Unna Kadhalichitten Himself Special appearance 2015 MGR Sivaji Rajini Kamal Premgi Guest appearance Masss Jetli Maanga Shiva Yatchan Himself Guest appearance 2016 Narathan Narathan Ennama Katha Vudranunga Himself Cameo Chennai 600028 II Seenu 2017 Mupparimanam Himself Cameo2018 Tamizh Padam 2 Himself Special appearance2019 Simba Simba Zombie Himself Cameo2020 RK Nagar Himself Released on NetflixGuest appearance2021 Kasada Thapara Bala Released on SonyLIVSegment : Kavasam Maanaadu Eeswara Moorthy Tamil Rockers Jeeva 2022 Manmadha Leelai Veer Guest appearance also music composerPrince Bhoopathy 2023 Custody Prem Sathiya Sothanai Pradeep 2024 The Greatest of All Time Seenu 2025 Dinasari Prem Vallamai Saravanan 2026 Happy Raj Priest Cameo appearance
Web series + List of Premgi Amaren web series acting credits Year Title Role Notes 2021 Live Telecast Bigil Sathya 2023 Badep Malaysia Tamil language TV series
Discography As music director Note: all films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted. Year Film Notes 2005 Gnabagam Varuthe 2006 Thunichal 2007 Chennai 600028 Background score only 2008 Nenjathai Killadhe Thozha Nannusire Kannada film2009 Adhe Neram Adhe Idam Kasko Telugu film2010 Goa Additional background score only 2014 Ennamo Nadakkudhu 2015 Maanga 2016 Achamindri 2018 Party Unreleased2019Zombie RK Nagarreleased on Netflix2021Kasada Thapara Streaming release; Composed one song "Vaa Un Neram"Tamil Rockers 2022 Manmadha Leelai
Playback singer Tamil songs Year Film Song Notes1996 Ullaasam "Valibam Vaazha Sollum" rap portions1998 Velai "Kaalathukku Etta Gana" Co-sung with Vijay and Nassar2001 12B "Anandam" 2005 Thirupaachi "Kannum Kannum" Remake of "Chitti Nadumune" from Gudumba Shankar Raam "Boom Boom" Arinthum Ariyamalum "Thee Pidikka" Kanda Naal Mudhal "Pushing It Hard" Co-sung with Yuvan Shankar Raja, Clinton Cerejo, lyrics by Thamarai2006 Manathodu Mazhaikalam "Panivizhum Kaalam" Azhagai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukkirathu "Orampo Naina" Vallavan "Loosu Penne" (Club Mix) Remixed by Premgi Amaren Pattiyal "Kannai Vittu Kann Imaigal" (Remix) Remixed by Premgi Amaren2007 Chennai 600028 "Saroja Saman Nikalo" "Jalsa" "Jalsa" (Remix) Remixed by Premgi Amaren2008 Thozha "Rendupakkam Singamda" "Oru Nayagan" Nenjathai Killadhe "Naanga Beeru Kudichaa" Sathyam "Ada Gada Gada" Saroja "Aaja Meri Soniye" Ennai Theriyuma? (D) "Yedho Yedho" 2010 Goa "Goa" (Club Mix) Remixed by Premgi Amaren2011 Mankatha "Machi Open The Bottle" "Vilayadu Mankatha" (Extended Dance Mix) Remixed by Premgi Amaren2012 Veyilodu Vilayadu "Kattukadanga Puyalena" 2013Onbadhula Guru "Theera Theera" Biriyani "Nahnh Na Nah" (Extended Dance Mix) Remixed by Premgi Amaren "Mississippi2015 Masss "Therikidhu Masss" (Gasa Gasa Mix) Remixed by Premgi Amaren2017"Friendship Anthem"Independent song2020Plan Panni Pannanum"Plan Panni"2021Kodiyil Oruvan"Slum Anthem"Kasada Tabara"Vaa Un Neram Vandhadhae"Co-sung with Sakthi Amaran; Streaming release2023Badep"But Andha Dealing Enakku Pudichirukku"Malaysian Tamil SeriesCustody"Ammani Rukkumani"2024The Greatest of All Time"Whistle Podu Theatrical"Soodhu Kavvum 2"Mandaikku Sooru Eruthey"Co-sung with Karnan Kanapathy, Stephen Zechariah
Telugu songs Year Film Song Notes 2002 Vasu "Naa Prema O Cheliya (Montages Music Bit)" Uncredited2004 Arya "You Rock My World" Gudumba Shankar "Chitti Nadumune" Vidyardhi "Andhra Khiladi Vidyardhi" chorus/rap portions 2007 Raju Bhai "Evvare Nuvvu" Remixed by Premgi Amaren2008 Salute "Ada Gada Gada" Nenu Meeku Telusa? "Yenno Yenno" 2009 Kasko "Whistle Kottu" 2013 Biriyani (D) "Bay Of Bengal" (Extended Dance Mix) Remixed by Premgi Amaren "Mississippi 2023 Custody "Ammo Nee Rukkumini"
Kannada song Year Film Song Notes 2008 Nannusire "Sanje Beachinalli"
Awards International Tamil Film Awards Best Supporting Actor – Mankatha
References
External links