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 (Kala) 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 Ilaiyaraaja 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 Ilaiyaraaja, Gangai Amaran started his career as a composer and composed for many successful films such as Mouna Geethangal and Vazhvey Maayam (1983). Apart from composing, Amaran made his directorial debut with Kozhi Koovuthu (1982) and went on to direct many films including the highly successful Karagattakaran (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Amaran also took a plunge in politics by joining BJP and also contested in RK Nagar constituency in April 2017 later withdrawn it.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.
Filmography
Director YearFilmNotes 1982 Kozhi Koovuthu Directorial Debut 1983 Kokkarakko 1984 Pozhuthu Vidinchachu Devi Sridevi Vellai Pura Ondru 1987 Enga Ooru Pattukaran 1988 Sakkarai Panthal Shenbagamae Shenbagamae Koil Mani Osai 1989 Karakattakkaran Annanukku Jai 1990 Ooru Vittu Ooru Vanthu 1991 Kumbakarai Thangaiah 1992 Villu Pattukaran Chinnavar Ponnuketha Purushan 1993 Koyil Kaalai 1994 Atha Maga Rathiname 1997 Themmangu Paattukaaran
Discography
Music Director
YearFilmLanguageNotes1979Karai Kadantha Kurathi TamilKuzhanthaiyai ThediOru Vidukadhai Oru ThodarkadhaiSuvarillatha Chithirangal1980Ramaye Vayasukku VanthuttaEnga Ooru RasathiTharayil Pootha Malar1981Mouna GeethangalSankarlalOne song composed by Ilaiyaraaja 1982Kanavugal KarpanaigalVazhvey MaayamDubbed Malayalam as Premaabhishekam 1983En PriyameImaigalHello Madras GirlMalayalamJeevithamNeethibathiTamilSattamDubbed Malayalam as Sneha bandham Justice RajaMalayalam1984Irumbu KaigaiTamilKudumbamNalellam PournamiNichayamNyayam KetkiraenUngal Veetu PillaiAlakadalinakkareMalayalam1985Mannukketha PonnuTamilAagaya Thamaraigal25th filmHello Yaar PesurathuCo-composed with IlaiyaraajaPuthiya SagapthamNaan Ungal Rasigan1986Kanna Thorakkanum SaamiCo-composed with Ilaiyaraaja Namma Ooru Nalla OoruAyyappa Bhakthiganangal Vol. 6Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada Ayyappa devotional songs album from Tharangini. Released in all four south Indian languages.1987ChellakuttiTamilChinna Thambi Periya ThambiEttikki Potti Ondru Engal JaathiyeOorkuruviIthu Oru Thodarkathaiwrote all lyrics for this filmMizhiyorangalilMalayalam1988AnuragiJeevaTamilEn Thangachi PadichavaKabaliKoil Mani OsaiRaththa DhanamThappu Kanakku1989PillaikkagaRudraKannadaDubbed in Tamil as Kushboo KushboothanSwarakalpanaTeluguPolice Report1990Pachai KodiTamil1991Pondatti Pondattithan50th filmAdhikariRudhra1993Aadhityan1994Atha Maga Rathiname2009Ragavan2010Pugaippadam
Singer YearFilmSongsComposerNotes1985Neethaana Andha Kuyil"Poojaiketha Poovidhu"Ilaiyaraaja1985Oru Kaidhiyin Diary"Ithu Rosa Poovu"1988Pillaikkaga"Mazhalaiyin"Himself1990Nila Pennae"Kichang Kichang"Vidyasagar 1992Solaiyamma"Rasa Ilayarasa","Manja Thanni"Deva1993Aadhityan"Uchimalai"Himself2006Thimiru"Goppurane"Yuvan Shankar Raja2009Ragavan"Vaazhvai"Himself2013Arya Surya"Mama", "Kala Kala", "Asaaru Usaaru"Srikanth Deva 2017 Andava Kaanom "Oh Annan Maare" Ashwamitra2026Happy Raj"Thuru Thuru"Justin Prabhakaran
Lyricist (partial discography) YearFilmSongsComposerNotes197716 Vayathinile"Sendhoora Poove"Ilaiyaraaja"Cholam Vethakkaiyile"1978Kizhakke Pogum Rail"Poovarasam Poothachu"Mullum Malarum"Nitham Nitham Nellu soru""Raamane Aandaalum"Aval Appadithan"Uravygal Thodarkatha""Panneer Pushpangale"1979Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu"Oram Po""Unakkenathanae"Agal Vilakku"Etho Ninaivukal""Ellorum Porandhome"Puthiya Vaarpugal"Thamthananam Thana Thaalam"Rosappu Ravikkaikari"Vethala""Maaman Oru Naal""Yennullil Yengo"Uthiripookkal"Yae Intha Poongathu"1980Aayiram Vaasal Idhayam"Hey En Aasa"Nizhalgal"Poongathavae thaal thiravai"Ellam Un Kairasi"Cherikku Sevai seiyum"Gramathu Athiyayam"Aatthu Mettuley" "Vaadaatha Rosapoo""Ootha Kaathu""Poovae Ithu"Guru"Maamanukku Paramakudi"Moodu Pani"Yen Iniya""Paruva Kaalangalin""Aasai Raja"Johnny"Kaatril Enthan""Aasaiya Kaathula""Sinorita""Oru Iniya manathu"Kallukkul Eeram"Siruponmani""Ennathil""Kothamalli""Enthan kairasi"Nenjathai Killathe"Hey Thendralae""Uravenum""Mummy Peru"1981Raja Paarvai"Vizhi Oraththu Kanavum"Sankarlal"Thedinen Puthiya sugam" Enakkaga Kaathiru"Oh Nenjame""Ooty Malai""Pani Mazhai"Indru Poi Naalai Vaa"Mathana Mohana""Mere Pyari"Kadal Meengal"Madhani Madhani" Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo"Yerupudichavare""Kalyanraman"Panneer Pushpangal"Kodaikaala Kaatre""Aanandha Raagam""Poonthalir Aada""Vengaya Sambarum"Alaigal Oivathillai"Putham Pudhu Kaalai" "Vaadi En Kappa Kelange"1982Pokkiri Raja"Pokkirikku Pokkiri Raja""Vaada En Machigala"Rani Theni"Samy Sambo Saranam"Kozhi Koovuthu"Aayarpadi Kannanane"1983Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate"Samba Pudhu""Sevvarali Thottathula"Inimai Idho Idho"Aathoram Koovuthu""Kizhakke Vara"Thudikkum Karangal"Thottu Kitta""Ullaththil""Valibam Vaadatha"1984Naanayam Illatha Naanayam"Nottu"Vijay AnandKai Kodukkum Kai"Paattha Padichapulle"IlaiyaraajaNallavanukku Nallavan "Vechukava" Naan Paadum Paadal"Seer Kondu Vaa" Mudivalla Arambam"Then Eduka Ponan"1985Naan Sigappu Manithan"Kungumathu Meni"Andha Oru Nimidam"Pachondiyye Kelada""Kaathiruppadhu Pathiruppadhu"Un Kannil Neer Vazhinthal..."Ilamai Itho""Nethu Varai"1986Amman Kovil KizhakaleAll songsVikram''En Jodi Manja Kuruvi''Kadalora Kavithaigal "Podinadaya Poravare" Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu"Ooru Sanam Thonkidichu""Kuzhaloodum Kannanukku""Sakkara Kattikku"Maaveeran"Hey Maina""Sokku Podi""Nee Koduththatha"Thazhuvatha Kaigal"Thottu Paaru""Vizhiye"1988En Thangachi PadichavaAll songs"Soora Samhaaram"Aadum Neram Ithuthaan""Neela Kuyile Solai Kuyile""Naan Enbadhu Nee Allavo"1989KaragattakaranAll songs except Paattaalae BuddhiVettri Vizhaa''Seevi Sinukkeduthu''1990Keladi Kanmani"Enna paduvathu" "Mannil intha"Mallu Vetti Minor"Kaathiruntha Malli Malli''"Manasukkulle""Unna Paartha"1992ChinnavarAll songsVillu PattukaranAll songsPandithuraiEnna Marantha2004Udhaya"Thiruvellikeni Rani"A R Rahman2007Chennai 600028"Jalsa"Yuvan Shankar Raja"Saroja Saamanikkalo"Malaikottai"Yeh Aatha"Mani Sharma2008Saroja"Aaja Meri"Yuvan Shankar Raja"Kodaana Kodi""Nimirnthu Nil"2010Goa"Ezhezhu""Idhu Varai""Vaaliba Vaa"2011Mankatha"Vilaiyaadu Mankatha""Ballelakka"2014Ennamo Nadakkudhu"Va Idhu Nethiyadi"Premgi AmarenMegha"Puthum Pudhu Kaalai''IlaiyaraajaVanavarayan Vallavarayan"Tharaimelae Irunthae Naan"Yuvan Shankar Raja2013Biriyani"Biriyani""Edhirthu Nil"2015Massu Engira Masilamani"Poochandi"2018Aruvadai''Vannam kulanthuch''Ravi Vijay AnandhJarugandi''Seyiradha Senju Mudi''Bobo Shashi2023Custody"Ettu Thesa" Ilaiyaraaja2024The Greatest of All Time"Spark"Yuvan Shankar RajaMr Zoo Keeper''Kuttipuli''"Santhosha Saaral Mazhai''Kozhipannai Chelladurai"Kathirundhen"N. R. Raghunanthan
Dubbing artist
K. Bhagyaraj - Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979), Bhama Rukmani (1980)
Onscreen appearances Payanangal Mudivathillai (1982) (in the song "Thogai Ilamayil") Karagattakaran (1989) Ooru Vittu Ooru Vandhu (1990) Idhayam (1991) Chinnavar (1992) Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen (1998) Jodi (1999) Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000) Ullam Kollai Poguthey (2001) Thunichal (2010) Chennai 600028 II: Second Innings (2016) Arya Surya (2013) Yaanai (2022) Lenin Pandiyan (2026)
References
External links