Quick Facts
Biography
Gangai Amaran is an Indian music composer, singer, lyricist, writer, film director and actor in Tamil films.
Personal life
Gangai Amaran was born in Pannaipuram in Theni district, Tamil Nadu in December 1947, as the youngest son of Daniel Ramaswamy and Chinnathayi. He is the younger brother of noted music director Ilayaraaja 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.
Regarding his name, Gangai was taken from a magazine of same name which he read during childhood while Amaran is derived from a pseudonym Amar Singh which he wanted to adopt himself when he aimed to be a lyricist.
Career
Along with his brother Ilaiyaraja, 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 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 for restoring the glory of Coimbatore film industry
Political career
Gangai Amaran also took plunge in politics by joining BJP and also contested in RK Nagar constitution. Apart from that, he also served as a member of Central Board of Film Certification.