| G. N. Rangarajan | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1930-12-17)17 December 1930 Gobichettipalayam |
| Died | 3 June 2021(2021-06-03) (aged 90) Chennai, India |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, producer, director |
| Children | G. N. R. Kumaravelan |
G. N. Rangarajan (17 December 1930 – 3 June 2021) was an Indian writer, producer and director who worked in Tamil cinema.
Film career
Rangarajan was influenced by the works of director A. Bhimsingh, and joined editor Dorai Singam as an assistant in the late 1950s. The first film Rangarajan began work on as an assistant director was Gnayirum Thingalum, which was shelved. He became associated with director S. P. Muthuraman and writer Panchu Arunachalam for many films, early in his career. He worked as an associate director on films including Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri (1977), Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (1979) and Priya (1978).
As a director, Rangarajan subsequently collaborated with Kamal Haasan on a number of successful films including Kalyanaraman (1979), Meendum Kokila (1981), Kadal Meengal (1981) and Ellam Inba Mayyam (1981) in a two-year period. Notably, he took over directorial duties from Mahendran during the making of Meendum Kokila on the insistence of Kamal Haasan. He later also wrote and produced films, notably making Aduthathu Albert (1985) and Sir... I Love You (1991). His final directorial Maharasan (1993), had Kamal Haasan in the lead role, who refused to take any salary for the film, in ode to his friendship with Rangarajan. Following his film career, Rangarajan worked on the television series Raghuvamsam and also made a telefilm for Singaporean producers.
Owing to his association with Kamal Haasan, Rangarajan renamed his house as "Kamal Illam". His son, G. N. R. Kumaravelan, apprenticed with Kamal Haasan for films such as Sathi Leelavathi (1995) and Marudhanayagam, and then debuted as a director in the late 2000s.
Death
Rangarajan died on 3 June 2021, aged 90, due to age-related ailments.
Partial filmography
- Films
| Year | Film | Credited as | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | Producer | |||
| 1979 | Kalyanaraman |  Y |
 N |
N |
|
| 1980 | Rusi Kanda Poonai | Y |
N |
N |
|
| 1981 | Meendum Kokila | Y |
N |
N |
|
| 1981 | Kadal Meengal | Y |
N |
N |
|
| 1981 | Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo | Y |
N |
N |
|
| 1981 | Ellam Inba Mayyam | Y |
N |
N |
|
| 1982 | Rani Theni | Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| 1983 | Muthu Engal Sothu | Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| 1985 | Aduthathu Albert | Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| 1991 | Sir... I Love You | Y |
Y |
N |
|
| 1993 | Maharasan | Y |
Y |
Y |
|
- Television
- Raghuvamsam
References
- ^ "கமலை டா போட்டு அழைப்பவர்" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). 21 November 1982. pp. 52–53. Retrieved 12 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- "Tamil director GN Rangarajan dies at 90". The Hindu. 3 June 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- "Veteran Tamil director GN Rangarajan passes away at 90". The News Minute. 3 June 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- "வரலாற்றுச்சுவடுகள் – திரைப்பட வரலாறு 944 – கமல்–ஸ்ரீதேவி நடித்த மீண்டும் கோகிலா". Dina Thanthi (in Tamil). 16 June 2008.
- Ramachandran, T.M., ed. (1980). "Rekha's first Tamil movie". Film World. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
- சுந்தர்ஜி (3 March 1991). "சார், ஐ லவ் யு..." Kalki (in Tamil). p. 28. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- "Adoring the legendary filmmaker GN Rangarajan on 90th Birthday". Chennai City News. 18 December 2020. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- "Director G.N.Rangarajan' s 90th Birthday". Royal Reporter. 18 December 2020. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ K., Janani (3 June 2021). "Kamal Haasan lost a brother in GN Rangarajan, says he showered me with unconditional love". India Today. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- "Filmmakers should make movies that matter to public: GNR Kumaravelan". Governance Now. 13 October 2016. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- "'கல்யாணராமன்', 'கடல் மீன்கள்' இயக்குநர் ஜி.என்.ரங்கராஜன் மறைவு". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 3 June 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
