Gangai Amaran

Amaran worked across film director, composer and songwriter. This article rests on 20 catalogued compositions, 1 published texts, 4 issued recordings and 1 scholarly references drawn from named institutional registers. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.

• Name — Gangai Amaran • Born — 8 December 1947 • Birthplace — Pannaipuram, Theni, Tamil Nadu • Occupation — Film director, Screenwriter, Composer, Lyricist, Playback singer, Actor, Conductor, Instrumentalist, Voice actor • Years Active — 1977–present • Spouse — Manimegalai • Children — Venkat Prabhu Premgi Amaren Preethi • Relatives — * Pavalar Varadharajan (brother) • Ilaiyaraaja (brother) • Karthik Raja (nephew) • Yuvan Shankar Raja (nephew) • Bhavatharini (niece) • Vasuki Bhaskar (niece)

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.

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Amaran also took a plunge in politics by joining BJP and also contested in RK Nagar constituency in April 2017 later withdrawn it.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.

• Year — Film — Notes • 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

• Year — Film — Language — Notes • 1979 — Karai Kadantha Kurathi — Tamil • Kuzhanthaiyai Thedi • Oru Vidukadhai Oru Thodarkadhai • Suvarillatha Chithirangal • 1980 — Ramaye Vayasukku Vanthutta • Enga Ooru Rasathi • Tharayil Pootha Malar • 1981 — Mouna Geethangal • Sankarlal — One song composed by Ilaiyaraaja • 1982 — Kanavugal Karpanaigal • Vazhvey Maayam — Dubbed Malayalam as Premaabhishekam • 1983 — En Priyame • Imaigal • Hello Madras Girl — Malayalam • Jeevitham • Neethibathi — Tamil • Sattam — Dubbed Malayalam as Sneha bandham • Justice Raja — Malayalam • 1984 — Irumbu Kaigai — Tamil • Kudumbam • Nalellam Pournami • Nichayam • Nyayam Ketkiraen • Ungal Veetu Pillai • Alakadalinakkare — Malayalam • 1985 — Mannukketha Ponnu — Tamil • Aagaya Thamaraigal — 25th film • Hello Yaar Pesurathu — Co-composed with Ilaiyaraaja • Puthiya Sagaptham • Naan Ungal Rasigan • 1986 — Kanna Thorakkanum Saami — Co-composed with Ilaiyaraaja • Namma Ooru Nalla Ooru • Ayyappa Bhakthiganangal Vol. 6 — Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada — Ayyappa devotional songs album from Tharangini. Released in all four south Indian languages. • 1987 — Chellakutti — Tamil • Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi • Ettikki Potti • Ondru Engal Jaathiye • Oorkuruvi • Ithu Oru Thodarkathai — wrote all lyrics for this film • Mizhiyorangalil — Malayalam • 1988 — Anuragi • Jeeva — Tamil • En Thangachi Padichava • Kabali • Koil Mani Osai • Raththa Dhanam • Thappu Kanakku • 1989 — Pillaikkaga • Rudra — Kannada — Dubbed in Tamil as Kushboo Kushboothan • Swarakalpana — Telugu • Police Report • 1990 — Pachai Kodi — Tamil • 1991 — Pondatti Pondattithan — 50th film • Adhikari • Rudhra • 1993 — Aadhityan • 1994 — Atha Maga Rathiname • 2009 — Ragavan • 2010 — Pugaippadam

• Year — Film — Songs — Composer — Notes • 1985 — Neethaana Andha Kuyil — "Poojaiketha Poovidhu" — Ilaiyaraaja • 1985 — Oru Kaidhiyin Diary — "Ithu Rosa Poovu" • 1988 — Pillaikkaga — "Mazhalaiyin" — Himself • 1990 — Nila Pennae — "Kichang Kichang" — Vidyasagar • 1992 — Solaiyamma — "Rasa Ilayarasa", "Manja Thanni" — Deva • 1993 — Aadhityan — "Uchimalai" — Himself • 2006 — Thimiru — "Goppurane" — Yuvan Shankar Raja • 2009 — Ragavan — "Vaazhvai" — Himself • 2013 — Arya Surya — "Mama", "Kala Kala", "Asaaru Usaaru" — Srikanth Deva • 2017 — Andava Kaanom — "Oh Annan Maare" — Ashwamitra • 2026 — Happy Raj — "Thuru Thuru" — Justin Prabhakaran

• K. Bhagyaraj - Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979), Bhama Rukmani (1980)

• 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)