T. G. Lingappa Biography 
T. G. Lingappa was a popular music director of Tamil, Kannada and Telugu movies. He was the son of G. Govindarajulu Naidu, noted music director of Tamil movies of yesterdays. Mohanasundaram, Thangamalai Ragasiyam, Shabash Meena, Kuzhandaigal Kanda Kudiyarasu, Mudhal Thethi, Sangilithevan and Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachaari are among his noted works as a music director. He has worked with leading voices of his time like - T. M. Soundararajan, U. R. Jeevarathinam, K. Jamuna Rani, A. M. Rajah, Radha Jayalakshmi, M. M. Dandapani Desikar, N. S. Krishnan, P. Susheela, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, T. R. Mahalingam and S. Varalakshmi.
Lingappa’s father G. Govindarajulu Naidu was a noted musician of Thiruchi, from whom he learnt first lessons of music. M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar used to sing in their house and Naidu introduced his kids to this great singer. G. Govindarajulu was also a harmonium player and also proficient in several musical instruments. He was the guru of K. B. Sundarambal in Carnatic music. He also ran a business to sell musical instruments and gramophone in Thiruchi, though it was not profitable. In 1940, G. Govindarajulu Naidu took his family to Chennai.
At the age of 14, he tried his luck to act as a child artist in the movie, Kamathenu. But its producer Visvanathan asked him to wait for a while to get chance as a singer. He waited for a while and later joined Mayoora Film Orchestra and played harmonium, mandoline and guitar for movies. Lingappa approached Gemini Studios also. But he was rejected as he was too young. Lingappa met T. R. Papa and K. V. Mahadevan at Modern Theatres also. In 1945, Lingappa returned to Chennai and played instruments for movies. Later he decided to be a freelance musician and brought an electric guitar and some more electric equipment from abroad. As a music director, Mohanasundaram (1951) was his debut and he stayed in the industry still late 1980’s.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 17, 2014
