G. Ramanathan Biography 
Gobalsamy Ramanatha Iyer or G. Ramanatha Iyer was a music director of Tamil movies since middle 1930’s. He completely dominated the era of 1950’s in Tamil movies with many golden hits of Shivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran. His association with M.K.Thyagaraja Bhagavathar was very famous and he is known for popularizing Carnatic tunes through movie songs and taking them to masses. This influential music director was also known by the names, GR, 'Isai Methai' and 'Sangeetha Chakravarthy'. He has been associated with Salem Modern Theatres and Coimbatore Central Studios and was active in the industry till his death happened in 1963.
Gobalsamy Ramanatha Iyer was born in Bikshandarkoil, Srirangam. His father was a sub-inspector in the Indian Railways. GR had only primary education. He got married in the year 1942. He joined a drama troupe at the age of 18 where he played harmonium. Later he became the part of V. A. Sellappa Drama company. He got opportunity to play musical instrument for a Tamil film called "Kalavarishi" in the year 1932. In 1938, he debut as a music director with the movie, Sathyaseelan produced by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. Vipranarayana was his second movie as a music director. GR was a resident music director for the Modern Theatres since the beginning.
He has also appeared as an actor in a few movies. He appeared in the role of a saint in Aayiram Thalai Vangiya Aboorva Chintamani (1947). GR has never received formal training in Carnatic music. But in those days, all music directors chose Carnatic music as base to compose songs. He believed in semi-classical songs for movies and "Manmatha Leelaiyai Vendrar Undo" in Haridas sung by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar is its best instance.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 23, 2014
