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Gopalan Iyer Ramanathan was an Indian music composer for Tamil movies. He is also known as Isai Methai (Genius of Music) or Sangeetha Chakravarthy (Emperor of Music) and is considered to be one of the influential Tamil music composers to take Carnatic music to the masses. Notable for his association with M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. G. Ramanathan also composed for films of Salem Modern Theatres and Coimbatore Central Studios. His career lasted until his death in 1963. During the 1950s G.Ramanathan's music dominated most of the box office hits of the then leading Tamil movie stars Shivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran.

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. (July 2010)

G. Ramanathan
Background information
Also known as	GR
Born	Bikshandarkoil, Trichinopoly District, Madras Presidency, British India
Died	20 November 1963 Chennai, Madras State, India
Occupation(s)	Composer, music director
Instrument(s)	Vocals (playback singing), keyboard/harmonium/piano
Years active	1940–1963
Labels	Isai Methai, Sangeetha Chakravarthy

Early life

G. Ramanathan (GR) was born in Bikshandarkoil, Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India. GR's biographer Vamanan indicates that his birth year could have been 1910. GR's father was Gopalsamy Iyer who worked as sub-inspector in the Indian Railways. He lost his parents while being young, and was taken care by his elder brother Sundara Bhagawathar. GR could have schooling only until standard 5. He married Jeyalakshmi in 1942 and had two daughters - Sai and Lakshmi. His grandchildren are Ranjan Balachandra and Bhavani Balachandra who are Lakshmi's son and daughter respectively and Prabhu and Uma Shekhar who are Sai's son and daughter.

He joined the Baratha Gana Saba, a drama troupe and played harmonium at the age of 18. Then he joined the V. A. Chellappa Drama company, and sang playback and played harmonium. In 1932, he first played musical instrument for a Tamil film called Galavarishi which was produced in Bombay.

In 1938 M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar produced Sathyaseelan in Bombay and GR became the music director for that film which followed by the Vipranarayana (old). The first film to be produced in Madras with GR as the music director was Bookailash, followed by Parasuraman and Bhoologa Rambai (old). GR was a resident music director for the Modern Theatres since the beginning except a few which were done by K. V. Mahadevan.

He had acted in Aayiram Thalai Vaangi Apoorva Chinthamani (1947) in the role Sanyasi.

Style

GR never had proper training in carnatic music. It was all Kelvi Gnanam (learning by listening). He had a passion and liking towards carnatic music and went all out in composing. GR became the music director when stage dramas were equally popular in the 1940s. He had to balance up between the cinema and the stage dramas.

It was conditional that the cinema songs of those days had to be composed to the basic carnatic tune and it used to be thought that cinema music would never equal the pure form of carnatic music. GR had proved otherwise when he had composed music for the song "Manmatha Leelaiyai Vendrar Undo" in Haridas sung by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. He is a staunch believer that only music that had the carnatic base could endure where most of his songs were "semi classic".

He has a liking for the voices of G. N. Balasubramaniam, M. L. Vasanthakumari, Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer, and the Hindi film music director Naushad and his favourite singers in his compositions were S. Varalakshmi, P. Susheela and Jikki. Of all the voices, he is a great lover of M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. GR believes that only MKT could deliver what was expected of any singer. GR was also an excellent singer and had sung in his own compositions in Ponmudi and also under K. V. Mahadevan's composition for Alli Petra Pillai.

He worked with singers like T. M. Soundararajan, A. M. Rajah, K.J. Yesudas, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Thiruchi Loganathan, Ghantasala, C. S. Jayaraman, V. N. Sundharam, T. A. Mothi, P. B. Sreenivas, P. Leela, T. V. Rathnam, R. Balasaraswathi Devi, A. P. Komala, Radha Jayalakshmi, M. S. Rajeswari, T. S. Bagavathi, K. Jamuna Rani, P. Suseela, A. G. Rathnamala, N. L. Ganasaraswathi, K. Rani, K. V. Janaki, Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, S. Janaki and L. R. Eswari. V. T. Rajagopalan, G. Ramanathan's good friend and assistant, sang few songs for him.

The singing actors M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, P. U. Chinnappa, M. M. Dandapani Desikar, Kothamangalam Cheenu, M. S. Subbulakshmi, D. K. Pattammal, C. Honnappa Bhagavathar, U. R. Jeevarathinam, N. C. Vasanthakokilam, T. R. Mahalingam, T. R. Rajakumari, K. R. Ramasamy, Chittor V. Nagayya, P. Bhanumathi, N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Madhuram, T. S. Durairaj and J. P. Chandrababu also sang memorable songs under his compositions.

GR would strive the singers to the excellence. T. M. Soundararajan said that if one could sing to the satisfaction and the tune of GR you could easily sing for the tune of any music director in any part of the world. GR would sing out the songs before recording to guide the singers. His greatest talent was that he was able to compose tunes suiting the storyline as well as the period of production of the films. He produced a film Pudhu Yugam under Sree Saai Gaanaamirudha Pictures in 1954.

GR's last film was Deivathin Deivam by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. He died of a heart attack in the midst of composing for the film Arunagirinathar. Then T. R. Pappa completed it.

Biography

Vamanan had published a biography entitled Sangeetha Chakravarthi G. Ramanathan (2006), which provides details of 85 Tamil movies in which GR had composed music from 1940 to 1969, 12 songs he had sung in Tamil movies and 4 movies in which he had appeared in minor roles.

Filmography

Music Director

Year	Film	Language	Director	Banner	Co-Music Directors
1936	Sathyaseelan	Tamil	B. Sampathkumar	Trichy Thyagaraja Films	Papanasam Sivan
1938	Vipra Narayana	Tamil	A. Narayanan	Sound City
1938	Bookailash or Mandodhari Parinayam	Tamil	Sundar Rao Nadkarni	Sundaram Sound Pictures
1940	Bhooloka Rambai	Tamil	B. N. Rao	Salem Shanmugha Films & Vijaya Maruthi Pictures
1940	Harihara Maya or Bhikshadanar	Tamil	C. V. Raman	Modern Theatres
1940	Parasuramar	Tamil	H. S. Mehtha
1940	Vikrama Oorvasi or Oorvasiytin Kaadhal	Tamil	T. R. Sundaram	Modern Theatres
1941	Aryamala	Tamil	S. M. Sriramulu Naidu	Pakshiraja Studios
1942	Aanandan or Agni Purana Mahimai	Tamil	S. D. S. Yogi	Mayura Films	T. A. Kalyanam
1942	Krishna Pidaran	Tamil	C. V. Raman	T. K. Productions
1942	Prithivirajan	Tamil	B. Sampathkumar	Central Studios and Haran Talkies
1943	Kubera Kuchela	Tamil	R. S. Mani	Jupiter Pictures	background music
1943	Sivakavi	Tamil	S. M. Sriramulu Naidu	Pakshiraja Studios	Papanasam Sivan
1944	Haridas	Tamil	Sundar Rao Nadkarni	Royal Talkies	Papanasam Sivan
1944	Jagathalaprathapan	Tamil	S. M. Sriramulu Naidu	Central Studios
1945	Bhakta Kalathi	Tamil	R. Padmanaban	Padma Pictures
1946	Aaravalli Sooravalli	Tamil	C. V. Raman	Modern Theatres
1947	Aayiram Thalai Vaangi Apoorva Chinthamani	Tamil	T. R. Sundaram	Modern Theatres
1947	Ekambavanan	Tamil	B. N. Rao & T. V. Krishnaswami	Saravanabhava Pictures
1947	Kadagam	Tamil	Acharya	Tamil Nadu Talkies
1947	Kundalakesi	Tamil	Boman D. Irani		S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
1947	Ponnaruvi	Tamil	C. V. Raman
1947	Rukmangadhan	Tamil	P. S. V. Iyer	National Studio & Iyer Productions
1948	Adhithan Kanavu	Tamil	T. R. Sundaram	Modern Theatres
1948	Bhojan	Tamil	T. R. Sundaram	Modern Theatres
1948	Lakshmi Vijayam	Tamil	Bomman D. Irani	Sri Meenakshi Films
1948	Sri Aandal	Tamil	Veluchamy Kavi	Salem Surya Films	Ranganathan
1949	Deva Manohari	Tamil	A. T. Krishnaswamy	Arkays Pictures
1949	Inbavalli	Tamil	S. Notani	Shyamala Pictures
1949	Mayavathi	Tamil	T. R. Sundaram	Ganapathi Pictures
1949	Mangayarkarasi	Tamil	Jiten Bannerjee	Bhagya Pictures	C. R. Subburaman & Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer
1949	Rathnakumar	Tamil	Krishnan–Panju	Murugan Talkies	C. R. Subburaman
1950	Ponmudi	Tamil	Ellis R. Dungan	Modern Theatres
1950	Manthiri Kumari	Tamil	Ellis R. Dungan	Modern Theatres
1950	Parijatham	Tamil	K. S. Gopala Krishnan	Lavanya Pictures	S. V. Venkatraman & C. R. Subburaman
1950	Thigambara Samiar	Tamil	T. R. Sundaram	Modern Theatres	S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
1951	Devaki	Tamil	R. S. Mani	Ganapathi Pictures
1951	Sudharshan	Tamil	Sundar Rao Nadkarni & A.S.A. Sami	Royal Talkies
1952	Amarakavi	Tamil	F. Nagoor	Nagoor Cine Productions	T. A. Kalyanam
1952	Kalyani	Tamil	Acharya & M. Masthan	Modern Theatres	S. Dakshinamurthy
1952	Atthainti Kaapuram	Telugu	Acharya & M. Masthan	Modern Theatres	S. Dakshinamurthy
1952	The Jungle	English	William Berke & Ellis R. Dungan	Modern Theatres & Lippert Pictures
1952	Zamindar	Tamil	P. V. Krishnan	Jupiter Pictures & Sangeetha Pictures
1952	Shyamala	Tamil	B. A. Subba Rao	Yuva Pictures	T. V. Raju & S. B. Thinakar Rao
1953	Gumastha	Tamil	R. M. Krishnaswami	Aruna Pictures	C. N. Pandurangan & V. Nagayya
1953	Vazha Pirandhaval	Tamil	T. R. Ramanna	R. R. Pictures	S. Rajeswara Rao
1953	Marumagal	Tamil	D. Yoganand	Krishna Pictures	C. R. Subburaman & Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
1953	Thirumbi Paar	Tamil	T. R. Sundaram	Modern Theatres
1953	Inspector	Tamil	R. S. Mani	Jupiter Pictures
1953	Inspector	Telugu	R. S. Mani	Jupiter Pictures
1953	Rohini	Tamil	Kamal Ghosh	Madras Arts Production	K. V. Mahadevan & D. C. Dutt
1953	Kangal	Tamil	Krishnan–Panju	Motion Pictures Team	S. V. Venkatraman
1954	Karkottai	Tamil	Kemparaj	Kemparaj Productions	S. V. Venkatraman
1954	Illara Jothi	Tamil	G. R. Rao	Modern Theatres
1954	Pudhu Yugam	Tamil	Gopu-Sundar	Sree Saai Gaanaamirudha Pictures
1954	Kanavu	Tamil	P. V. Krishnan	K. R. K. Productions	V. Dakshinamoorthy
1954	Thookku Thookki	Tamil	R. M. Krishnaswami	Aruna Films
1954	Nanban	Tamil	P. S. Srinivasa Rao	M. D. V. Productions
1954	Veerasundari	Tamil	Jikkade M. R. Ranganath	Sri Sundari Pictures	Rathinavel Mudaliar
1955	Kaveri	Tamil	D. Yoganand	Krishna Pictures	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
1955	Nalla Thangai	Tamil	S. A. Natarajan	Forward Art Films
1955	Kathanayaki	Tamil	K. Ramnath	Modern Theatres
1955	Vijaya Gauri	Telugu	D. Yoganand	Krishna Pictures	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
1955	Gomathiyin Kaadhalan	Tamil	P. Neelakantan	T. R. R. Productions
1955	Maheswari	Tamil	T. R. Raghunath	Modern Theatres
1955	Doctor Savithri	Tamil	R. M. Krishnaswamy	Aruna Films
1955	Nalla Thangal	Tamil	P. V. Krishnan Iyer	Madras Movietone
1956	Amara Deepam	Tamil	T. Prakash Rao	Venus Pictures	T. Chalapathi Rao
1956	Amara Deepam	Telugu	T. Prakash Rao	Venus Pictures	T. Chalapathi Rao
1956	Kokilavani	Kannada	S. A. Natarajan	Forward Arts Films
1956	Kokilavani	Tamil	S. A. Natarajan	Forward Arts Films
1956	Madurai Veeran	Tamil	D. Yoganand	Krishna Pictures
1956	Sahasaveerudu	Telugu	D. Yoganand	Krishna Pictures
1956	Naan Petra Selvam	Tamil	K. Somu	Paragon Pictures
1956	Sadhaaram	Tamil	V. C. Subburaman	Kasturi Films
1957	Aaravalli	Tamil	S. V. Krishna Rao	Modern Theatres
1957	Ambikapathy	Tamil	P. Neelakantan	ALS Productions
1957	Chakravarthi Thirumagal	Tamil	P. Neelakantan	Uma Pictures
1957	Karpukkarasi	Tamil	K. Ramnoth & A. S. A. Sami	Jupiter Pictures
1957	Uttama Illaalu	Telugu	K. Ramnoth & A. S. A. Sami	Jupiter Pictures
1957	Manamagan Thevai	Tamil	P. S. Ramakrishna Rao	Bharani Pictures
1957	Varudu Kavaali	Telugu	P. S. Ramakrishna Rao	Bharani Pictures
1957	Pudhumai Pithan	Tamil	T. R. Ramanna	RR Pictures
1957	Veera Khadgam	Telugu	T. R. Ramanna	RR Pictures
1957	Pudhu Vazhvu	Tamil	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar	Sarvodaya Pictures	C. N. Pandurangan
1957	Rani Lalithangi	Tamil	T. R. Raghunath	TNR Productions
1957	Samaya Sanjeevi	Tamil	V. S. Raghavan	Sri Nataraja Films
1957	Vanangamudi	Tamil	P. Pullaiah	Saravanabhava Pictures & Unity Pictures
1958	Kaathavaraayan	Tamil	T. R. Ramanna	RR Pictures
1958	Karthavarayuni Katha	Telugu	T. R. Ramanna	RR Pictures	G. Aswathama
1958	Mangalya Bhagyam	Tamil	T. R. Raghunath	Krishna Pictures
1958	Sarangadhara	Tamil	V. S. Raghavan	Minerva Pictures
1958	Sitamgar	Hindi	T. Prakash Rao	Venus Pictures
1958	Uthama Puthiran	Tamil	T. Prakash Rao	Venus Pictures
1958	Veera Prathap	Telugu	T. Prakash Rao	Venus Pictures
1959	Kalyanikku Kalyanam	Tamil	A. S. A. Sami	Manohar Pictures
1959	Manimekalai	Tamil	V. S. Raghavan	Shekhar Art Film
1959	Naan Sollum Ragasiyam	Tamil	P. Sridhar Rao	Kasthuri Films
1959	President Panchatcharam	Tamil	A. Bhim Singh	Savithri Pictures
1959	Veerapandiya Kattabomman	Tamil	B. R. Panthulu	Padmini Pictures
1959	Veerapandya Kattabrahmana	Telugu	B. R. Panthulu	Padmini Pictures
1960	Chavukkadi Chandrakantha	Tamil	M. Radhakrishnan	Aruna Films
1960	Kadavulin Kuzhandhai	Tamil	Dada Mirazi	Vetrivel Films
1960	Raja Desingu	Tamil	T. R. Raghunath	Krishna Films
1960	Thozhan	Tamil	K. Vembu	A. D. M. Productions
1961	Arasilangkumari	Tamil	M. Somasundaram	Jupiter Pictures
1961	Kappalottiya Thamizhan	Tamil	B. R. Panthulu	Padmini Pictures
1961	Sri Valli	Tamil	T. R. Ramanna	Narasu Studios
1962	Deivathin Deivam	Tamil	K. S. Gopalakrishnan	Chitra Productions
1962	Pattinathar	Tamil	T. R. Ramanna	J. R. Productions
1963	Chittoor Rani Padmini	Tamil	Ch. Narayana Murthy	Uma Pictures
1964	Arunagirinathar	Tamil	T. R. Ramanna	RR Pictures	T. R. Pappa
1969	Captain Ranjan	Tamil	T. P. Sundaram	Film Land Productions

Playback Singer

Year	Film	Language	Song	Co-Singer	Music
1947	1000 Thalaivangi Apoorva Chinthamani	Tamil	Nallathai Sollidaven		G. Ramanathan
1950	Ponmudi	Tamil	Neela Vanum Nilavum Pol	T. V. Rathnam	G. Ramanathan
			Van Mazhaiyindri Vadidum Payir Pola	T. V. Rathnam
			Nam Jeevaatharame Selvam Agume
			Aruyire Premai Amudha Variyil	T. V. Rathnam
			Dhesamenggum Nalvalam
			Meikadhal Arumbu Vazhvinile Poothathe Indre	T. V. Rathnam
			En Kaalamo Marana
1952	Amarakavi	Tamil	Onru Serndhu Paadupattal .. Sevai Seythaale	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar	G. Ramanathan
			Paadharasam Pole
1955	Nalla Thangai	Tamil	Kooli Miga Ketpaar ... Engirundo Vanthan		G. Ramanathan
1955	Nalla Thangal	Tamil	Ithanai Naalaaga Engedi Pone	K. Jamuna Rani	G. Ramanathan
1957	Aravalli	Tamil	Aaravalli Sooravalli		G. Ramanathan
1959	Alli Petra Pillai	Tamil	Ejaman Petra Selvame		K. V. Mahadevan
1959	Manimekalai	Tamil	Vandhaayaa Magale Vandhaayaa		G. Ramanathan

References

• Tamil Music Director G. Ramanathan’s Man Friday
• G.Ramanathan's 2006 Biography release by Vamannan
• MKT & G.Ramanathan
• The Founding Father of Tamil Film Music in My Movie Minutes

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