Genius Ramanathan (G.Ramanathan)

Another request from @chitralaya sriram anna Genius Ramanathan (G.Ramanathan) – The Musical Magician

Pioneer of the Trio (MSV-TKR, KVM) to bring in change in TFM (Tamil film music) what we call light music. G.Ramanathan this name was introduced to me by my dad. Dad used to say that by hearing the rhythm pattern and arrangements once could identify a Ramanathan song.. That was the identity he created for himself. Born near Srirangam, Ramanathan joined a drama troupe in his early days. He had passion to play harmonium and he quickly grasped it and became an expert. That made him play harmonioum for his brother’s hari kathas. Slowly he started to play harmonium for stage dramas and this was a gap filler in many stages which made Ramanathan more popular. Those were the days when First spoken cinema (kalidas ) was becoming famous. Calcutta’s Sagar Movietone company decided to film a Tamil stage drama live and release it as a movie. That was KAlavarishi and since Ramanthan was playing harmonium for the drama obviously he played in this film as well thus he made his entry into tinsel world. From then on many movies were started to be made and one such was vipranarayana. The music troupe had many musicians but Ramanathan had in him the leadership quality to bring in all of them together and lead them in a successful way and thus proving the ability of a music director. Also from Harikatha to stage , stage to films the transition was easy for Ramanathan. He went with the wave, learned all the new techniques which were needed and thus became successful. During that time a charming young chap who finished his studies in England started a company to make movies and his name was T.R.Sundaram. Impressed by Ramanathan’s skill he invited Ramanthan to be the music director for the film “Parasuramar” and thus Ramanthan started his innings as Music composer. Parasuramar did not do well in box office. Sundaram wanted to give huge success in his next venture and he was in that thought process while P.U.Chinnappa who also wanted to become a shining star was in a lean phase and thus Modern theatres brought in Chinappa and Ramanthan face to face.. (like sruthi & laya) for Uthama puthiran and thus a new chapter was born. Similar to Sundaram, another person from salem also started a studio to make movies and it was Mr.Nadiu and his studio was Pakshiraja. He was starting a movie with Chinappa in the lead role and G.Ramanathan was called for music and film being “aaryamala”. Chinappa played 10 roles and the movie became the milestone in his film career. Ramanthan’s music was one of the main reason for the films success. His tunes were hailed by rasikas at that time , even now. This movie displays Ramanathan’s talent not just Carnatic , even in folk tunes he created a magic. Thus Ramanthan slowly established his foot as a successful music director. After the success of Aaryamala, Pakshiraja studio made Sivakavi with the reigning super star M.K.Thiyaragaraja bhagavathar. G.Ramanathan was booked for background score since Sivan used to tune and write the songs in all MKT films. It was Sivan who made Ramanathan as the composer for this film and he himself just wrote the lyrics.. Sivakavi’s songs are still remembered not just for MKT but for G.R too. That was his class. Vadaname Chandra bimbamo , soppana vaazhvil magizhndhu stands tall even in 2015 .. that speaks for itself. G.Ramanathan used variety of raga(s) for Sivakavi and all songs are gems even if you hear them today. 1944 .. Historical achievement was to be created and followed in 1945 and 1946 . yes it was HAridas . No one can forget bhagavathar singing Manmadha leelaiyai vendrar undo to the then seduction queen T.R.Rajakumar . Bhagavathar- Ramanthan combo Haridas was served for Diwali 1944 and it was served till 1946 .. Film ran for 3 continuous years . Story, direction, MKT and of course Ramanthan’s tune all came together so well that this film was grand success. Ramanathan had a knack of using different raga , trying out different different raga for his songs. His charukesi for Manmadha leelaiyai vendrar was praised by everyone including Carnatic musicians. But fate decided something else. MKT was arrested, Pakshi raja studio owner was arrested and Ramanthan couldn’t enjoy the success of HAridas. Modern theatres Sundram was giving chances for Ramanthan even though the films didn’t fare well @ the box office .in 1947 Modern theatres produced a mega movie “Aayiram thalai vaangiya aboorva chinthamani” with V.N.Janaki in lead. All songs in this movie in the voices of S.Varalakshmi, P.S.govindan, C.T.Rajakantham, Kali N.Ratnam were great hits. His background score was also very well appreciated and thus after a brief lag Ramanathan became busy again. Films followed. Chinappa’s sudharshan , sri aandal, inbavalli etc. In Chinappa’s sudharshan All songs became popular and it was G.R who introduced T.M.S as a chorus singer in Sudharshan. Next movie was Pon mudi. Puratchi kavingar Bharatidasan’s story, screenplay & dialogues and Ramanathan’s music made Ponmudi a class by itself. Ramanathan’s music even today is remembered.. Mind blowing is the word to describe the songs in the movie . added speciality was Ramanathan himself lent his voice for the hero Narasimha barathi. The film bombed at the box office but songs are still remembered. Next major hit was with the rising star MGR (MGR’s arrival was announced with this film ), yes MAnthiri kumara. Yes of course Karunanidhi as a powerful writer’s arrival was also announced. What a combination we got for our industry. Modern theatres Manthiri kumari , MGR,S.A.Natarajan,Nambiar, MAdhuridevi in cast, G.Ramanathan’s music made this movie as classic film. Ramanathan made the non famous G.Krishnaveni to sing for the leading lady and trichy loganathan for the male lead. Jikki became so popular from this movie .. even today we remember “Vaarai Nee Vaarai” Another song ulavum thendral kaatrinile by Jikki & Loganathan is also equally popular. MAndhiri kumari still remembered for Vaarai nee varai , MGR & KAlaingar’s dialouges. As everyone ventures into producing Ramanathan too tried his hands at it. JAmindar failed , but failure didn’t teach a lesson. He produced puthuyugam which created lot of pressure and he couldn’t focus on the other commited films. This was the timewhen C.R.Subburaman, S.M.S, S.V.Venkataraman were busy,S.Rajeswarao, KVM,T.G.Lingappa, MSV each waiting for opportunities C.R.Subburaman’s untimely death made the producer of MArumagal to invite G.Ramanathan to finish the movie . His version of chinna chinna veedu katti singara veedu katti was entirely different from what subburaman composed and his version became more popular. Still it was a lean phase for Ramanathan. He went back to stage drama (MKT was in a terrible failure phase and was performing stage dramas). But luck came to Ramanathan in the name of “Thooku thooki” which became great boost for his dull phase. This is the film in which TMS was elevated to sing for the lead (Sivaji ganesan) , little did TMS knew that he would be the permanent voice for Sivaji in the coming years. TMS sang beautifully with Leela & komala and what a composition by Ramanathan (kurangilirindhu pirandhavan manidhan..) Thooku thooki was a musical movie – musical magic created by Ramanathan Be it Carnatic or folk he had covered each genre in his style and satisfying every type of music lover.. That was ramanathan. Ramanathan also sang a song for KVMahadevan in Alli petra pillai. (Ejaman petra selvame is still popular in Ramanathan’s voice) unfortunately picturized on a horse Sadharam, NAan petra selvam (naan petra selvam nalamana selvam, ka.mu sherrif’s Vaazhndhaalum yesum thaazhndhaalum yesum is still alive because of TMS and G.Ramanathan) Madurai veeran (MGR starrer) had fantastic songs by G.Ramanathan Vaanga machan vaanga, nadagamellam kanden undhan aadum vizhiyile. Movie was super hit, MGR became mass hero and G.Ramanathan started to get more offers with this success Chakravarthy thirumagal, Ambigapathi(maasila nilave nam.. what a song by TMS & P.Banumathi, sindhanai sei maname ), Aaravalli (my fav one of G.Ramanathan) Aaravalli – G.Varalakshmi as the queen, Mynavathi as her daughter but the real hero was Ramanathan.. My god he did cover every type of song in this movie.. right from Doris day’s Que sera sera (Chinna pennana pothile, chinna kutti nathana sillaraya mathuna, anbe endhan munnale, pazhakkam illadha kazhuthai kitta pathu karakkanum pala (my fav song with all comedians in one song) KArpukkarasai,puthumai pithan all songs were hit Vanangamudi – This is more special to me because it was the association of Gaana kokila Smt P.Susheela with G.Ramanathan. Though she sang a dance number in Pudhumai pithan it was Vanangamudi where Ramanathan utilized the voice so well and created magic with her voice . She sang Rajayogame paareer, Mohana punnagai sindhidum nilave, Vaazhvinile nam vaazhvinile and of course the powerful song in Thodi “Ennai pol pen allavo” pure classical song .. He made PS sing this stunning number even though Carnatic stalwart MLV was very much active (She sang va va valarmathiye va in the same film). PS sang it like a carnatic stalwart herself and even today songs from Vanangamudi are appreciated Main plus of Ramanathan was he took Carnatic tunes to street audience in their own simple way. Even a man in the last walk of life could relate and enjoy his tunes. IF ramanathan created magic for Chinnappa’s uthamaputhiran he re-created the magic in a large scale with Sivaji’s Uthama puthiran. Uthamaputhiran’s songs surpassed the uthamaputhiran of 40’s .. Such was the music. Ramanathan incorporated western music and “Yaaradi nee mohini” remains one of the best fast numbers that too in western style even now. TMS crooned this song with A.P.Komala, jikki & Jamuna rani. What a composition, arrangement and rhythm.. mind blowing.. on another side he did Mullai malar mele moikkum vandu pole TMS & PS sang it so well , P.leela sang KAathiruppan kamala kannan, PS sang a fantastic number Unnazhagai kanniyargal kandathinaale .. wow this is a brilliant composition with tough beats and PS sang it so well .. even popular today (lyrics by KSG), Anbe amuthe is another fantastic song by TMS & PS (though not popular as mullai malar mele but this is quite an interesting composition by Ramanathan), mannulagellam ponnulagaga by PS & jikki all were super duper songs.. Background score was even better than the old uthamaputhiran Ramanathan was giving good music irrespective of the film’s fate. Raja desingu,Kathavarayan,sarangathara(vasantha mullai pole), kalyanikku kalyanam But again boost came in the form of B.R.Panthulu. Panthulu produced Veerapandiya kattabomman. Even today kattabomman is remembered only in the form of Nadigar thilagam. Ramanathan’s tunes speaks volume of his caliber.. Singara kanne, Inbam pongum vennila (first duet of PBS & PS), Anjatha singam en kalai(PS), tuk tuku tukku by PS,APKomala & Svaralakshmi, pogathe pogathe en kanava.. he did a widespread of genre at the same time retaining the time period of the film.. Such was his composing skills. GRamanthan’s music also attributed to the film’s huge success. After the success of Kattabomman , Panthulu again came to Ramanthan for Kappalottiya thamizhan. Ramanthan again did amazing job in Kappalottiya thamzihan. All songs were immersed in patriotism Paarukkule nalla naadu, velli pani malayin, kaatru veli idai kannama (my favourite),endru thaniyum indha, chinna kuzhandhaigal pole all were amazing tunes by Ramanthan. Though film failed songs are heard even today. By then music was changed, MSV-TKR & KVM became the sought after MDs so Ramanathan’s opportunities reduced but he always equips him with the current trend so he gave fantasic music for KSG’s Deivathin deivam (nee illadha ulagathile one of the best of PS , kannan mana nilaiyai by sj, anname surname by PS,SJ , paatu paada vayedhuthen by PS all were super songs ) He also produced pattinathar with TMS as main lead and composed music. Songs are talked about even today. He was working in Arunagirinathar for T.R.Ramanna but fate had different story for him in the form of disease. He fell ill and went in coma , little did he knew that he wouldn’t return to the film world. Lots of losses, work pressure made him neglect his body and thus succumbed to illness.. The creative genius breathed his last on November 1963 .. But people who know MSV TKR, KVM tend to forget Ramanathan’s contribution to Tamil film music. He was the main reason rather a bridge between Carnatic and light music which then was polished by MSV-TKR. Ramanathan’s talent was way above of his contemporaries and his juniors. He was definitely a musical genius and his compostions, handling various ragas, rhythm pattern, arrangements all stands tall even now and they are music university for anyone who wants to learn music composing … References : internet, dinamalar and various sources. Thanks to @chitralaya sriram anna for requesting to write about this man !! Even though Ramanthan did not have immediate next generation in Film world, glad to see his grandson Rajesh Vaidya doing magic with Veena .. Long live Ramanthan’s name and his music. Rajesh Lavanya