Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass Biography 
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass was a Tamil poet and screenwriter of Tamil movies. He has also penned lyrics for numerous Tamil films in the golden era, with a total of around 500 films. He wrote 532 lyrics in 83 films, screenplay and dialogues for 25 films and story for 10 films between 1950 and 1963. He also had a career as a film producer, though not successful, and lost everything he earned through writing songs. He shared a friendly relationship with M. G. Ramachandran, who released his first book Thirukural Isai Amudham in 1962. His son Ravindran is an Editor in Prasad Lab. Dass was only 50 and was fully active in writing, when he passed away in 1965.
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass hailed from Manampoochavadi in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu. His real name is Narayanasamy Ramaiah Dass, and he was born to Narayanasamy and Pappu on 5 June 1914. He graduated as a Pulavar from Karanthai Thamizh Sangam, and also completed his teacher training course. Later he started his professional career as a school teacher. It was during those days he got interested in stage plays, and slowly drawn towards the world of theatre. Initially he joined a drama troupe Sudharsana Ghana Sabha founded by Jagannatha Naidu, as a writer, and later he started a theatre group of his own. He staged plays across Tamil Nadu through this troupe, Jayalakshmi Ghana Sabha.
Filmmaker T. R. Mahalingam once happened to watch one of his plays, Macha Regai, and directed a movie based on it with the same title. It was in year 1950. Though the movie failed at box office, it opened doors to Dass to work in movies for many years. He worked with Vijaya Productions for many years. His songs for Pathala Bhairavi, Missiamma, Mayabazar etc made him a popular lyricist of his times.
Published: January 05, 2020
Updated: January 05, 2020
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