Shankar–Ganesh is an Indian music director duo who has worked on Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Telugu movies for around 50 years. They also directed one movie Jagathalaprathapan in 1990. Despite Shankar's death, Ganesh continued using the name.
Personal life Shankar was the younger brother of music director C. R. Subbaraman while Ganesh was the son-in-law of G. N. Velumani who produced films like Bhaagapirivinai and Paalum Pazhamum.
Career
They started as assistants to Tamil music composers M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy in 1964 and later the duo assisted M.S.Viswanathan alone from 1965 till 1967. When Shankar Ganesh were composing for a stage play titled "Paadi Parandha Kuyil", Kannadhasan started his own film titled "Nagarathil Thirudargal" in which he introduced Shankar Ganesh as music directors. However that film was stopped, so Kannadhasan took them to Chinnappa Devar and requested him to give them a chance thus making their debut with Magaraasi. After Kannadhasan's death, Shankar Ganesh had their titles changed to " Kavinger vazhangiya thevarin" Shankar Ganesh.
Kaveri Thanda Kalaiselvi was a Natya Nadagam (Dance Drama) wherein Jayalalitha was main lead and rehearsals used to happen at her house with all artistes and musicians coming to her house and doing practice. Shankaraman, musician duo Shankar and Ganesh used to come to play music. Sandhya used to make food and give all artistes breakfast and lunch. This went on for 28 days before the first show happened in 1965. After Jayalalitha became a huge star she recommended Devar Films to give musician duo Shankar Ganesh their debut film as a music director in the film Maharasi starring Ravinchandran with Jayalalitha.
Their first independent release was Magaraasi in 1967. Aattukara Alamelu was a turning point in their career. Musician duo Shankar Ganesh composed music for 2 films of Jayalalitha – Maharasi in 1967 produced by Devar Films and Vandhale Maharasi in 1973 directed by K.S.Gopalakrishnan. Their best known composition were in Naan Yen Pirenden and Idhaya Veenai.
Bomb blast On 17 November 1986, Ganesh received an anonymous parcel by post. It contained a tape recorder with a note from the sender saying that the parcel contained a cassette with some ‘new’ music and if Ganesh liked it, he should give the sender a "break" into films. As Ganesh pressed the play button, the tape recorder exploded in his face, injuring his hands and eyes. Plastic surgery restored his hands and allowed him to play the keyboard, but he lost his vision in his right eye and had blurred vision in the left. On 1 June 2014, his vision was restored by a "glued intra ocular lens" technique.
He was also performing on the stage 50 meters away at the Congress rally in Sriperumbudur on 21 May 1991, when a human bomb killed Rajiv Gandhi.
Personal life Shankar from the duo died prematurely, while Ganesh continued take the band forward with the name Shankar–Ganesh, and has often been credited simply as Shankar Ganesh himself. Shankar's son Balasubramaniam "Bobby" Shankar made his debut as a music composer through Chinni Jayanth's romantic drama film, Unakkaga Mattum (2000). Ganesh's son Shreekumar, became an actor, and later married actress Shamitha, who starred in Pandavar Bhoomi (2001).
Discography Tamil films Year Film Notes 1967 Magaraasi Debut FilmNaan Yaar Theriyuma 1968 Siritha Mugam 1969 Akka Thangai 1970 Maanavan Kalam Vellum Kannan Varuvan 1971 Deivam Pesuma Kettikaran Then Kinnam 1972 Ganga Thaikku Oru Pillai Naan Yen Pirandhen Kannamma Savalukku Savaal Varaverpu Puguntha Veedu Idhaya Veenai Ponmagal Vandhal 1973 Manjal Kungumam Vandhaale Magaraasi Amman Arul Kasi Yathirai Dheiva Vamsam Iraivan Irukkindran 25th FilmKomatha En Kulamatha Veettukku Vandha Marumagal Vakkuruthi Nathaiyil Muthu 1974 Kai Niraya Kaasu Vellikizhamai Viratham Doctoramma Ore Satchi Pathu Madha Bandham Sorgathil Thirumanam Devi Sri Karumari Amman Pandhattam Pudhiya Manidhan 1975 Anbu Roja Enga Pattan Sothu Cinema Paithiyam Pinju Manam Panam Pathum Seyum Thangathile Vairam Pattikkaattu Raja Oru Kudumbathin Kadhai 1976 Ore Thanthai 1977 Aattukara Alamelu 1978 Karunai Ullam 50th FilmUllathil Kuzhanthaiyadi Chinna Chinna Veedu Katti Thaai Meethu Sathiyam Palabishegam Uravugal Endrum Vazhga 1979Inikkum Ilamai Thaayillamal Naan Illai Neeya?Ennadi MeenakshiKanni ParuvathilePasi1980 Othayadi Paathayilae Kannil Theriyum Kathaikal composed one song "Naan Unna Nenachen"Dhinamthorum Deepavali Vandichakkaram Kumari Pennin Ullathile 75th FilmNatchathiram Nijangal Nilaikkindrana Ponnagaram Maria My Darling 1981 Veli Thaandiya Vellaadu Anjatha Nenjangal Aani Ver Jadhikkoru Needhi Chinna Mul Periya Mul Kanneer Pookkal Needhi Pizhaithathu Sattam Oru Iruttarai Palaivana Solai Sivappu Malli Arthangal Aayiram 1982 Darling, Darling, Darling Pakkathu Veetu Roja Nenjile Thunivirunthal AmmaNeram Vandhachu 100th FilmMamiyara Marumagala Ilanjodigal Adhisayappiravigal Auto Raja Ayiram Muthangal Kalyana Kalam Kanalukku Karaiyethu Krodham Nenjangal Oorum Uravum Moondru MugamPattanathu Rajakkal Poi Satchi Theerpugal Thiruththapadalam Thooku Medai Thunai Ranga 1983 Alai Payum Nenjangal En Aasai Unnoduthan Anal Kaatru 125th FilmThai Veedu Dhooram Adhighamillai Nenjamellam Neeye 1984 Vaanga Mappillai Vaanga Film unreleasedOne song "Ennadi Muniyamma" was later remixed by D. Imman in Vathiyar (2006)Ninaivugal Nandri Niraparaadhi Osai Madras VathiyarVai Pandal Vetri Pournami Alaigal 1985 Naagam Chavi Avan Santhosha Kanavukal Anthasthu Bandham Poi Mugangal Chain Jayapal Chidambara Rahasiyam Engirunthalum Vazhga 150th FilmIlamai Kutravaaligal Needhiyin Nizhal Uthami Veli Mangamma Sabatham1986 Aayiram KannudayaalAnandha KanneerPiranthaen Valarnthen Kulirkaala Megangal Paadum Vaanampadi Panneer Nadhigal175th FilmMounam KalaikirathuKaalamSamsaram Adhu Minsaram1987 Anbulla AppaAnjatha SingamEnga Chinna Rasa Raja Mariyadhai OorkavalanThirumathi Oru VegumathiVeerapandiyan1988 Aalay Pathu Malai MathuMappillai Sir Makkal Aanaiyittal Sahadevan Mahadevan Veedu Manaivi Makkal Poo Pootha Nandavanam Neruppu Nila Vacha Kuri Thappathu Sivapputhaali1989 En Rathathin RathameManidhan MarivittanSattathin Thirappu Vizhaa Sakalakala Sammandhi Nyaya Tharasu Manandhal Mahadevan Thangamana Purushan 200th FilmThangamani Ramamani 1990 Aarathi Edungadi Amma Pillai Sathan Sollai Thattathe Durga Sakthi Parasakthi Aavathellam Pennale Manaivi Oru Manickam Sandhana Kaatru Vedikkai En Vadikkai Idhaya Thamarai Varavu Nalla Uravu Nalla Kaalam Porandaachu Aadi VelliPattikaattaan 225th FilmVaazhkai ChakkaramVaaliba Vilaiyattu Pengal Veettin Kangal Jagathalaprathapan also director1991 Nallathai Naadu Kekum Sendhoora Devi Vaakku Moolam Eeswari Aadi Viratham Thai Poosam Ayul Kaithi Pudhusa Oru Kalyanam Movie Not Released1992 Moondram Padi Naane Varuven Urimai OonjaladugiradhuDeiva KuzhandhaiChinna Poovai Killathey Devar Veettu Ponnu Sivasankari 250th FilmMadha Komadha Harihara Puthran Purushan Enakku Arasan1993 Paarambariyam Sivarathri Karpagam Vanthachu 1994 Vaanga Partner Vaanga1995 Mudhal Udhayam 2006 Mazhaithuli Mazhaithuli 2006 Theenda Theenda2022Uzhaikkum Kaigal
Kannada films Year Film Notes1980 Maria My Darling Rahasya Ratri 1982Khadeema Kallaru Prema Mathsara1983Chakravyuha Dharma YuddhamKarune Illada KanoonuSididedda Sahodara 1984Naane Raja ShapathaPralayanthaka 1985Hosa Itihaasa Mareyada Manikya Naanu Nanna Hendthi Savira Sullu Swabhimana Karinaga1986 Na Ninna Preetisuve TigerAsambhavaKadinalli JathreAnand1987 Agni Kanye Vijayothsava1988Samyuktha Background score onlyPrajaprabhutvaMathru VathsalyaNee Nanna DaivaBharath1989 Ade Raaga Ade HaaduBangarada BadukuHosa KavyaMahayuddhaJayabheri 1990Tiger GanguMouna Horata1991NaginiBombay DadaBhairavi1992Mavanige Thakka Aliya1993 Vasantha Poornima VikramSidukabeda SingariSambhavi Vijaya Kranthi1994Mayor Prabhakar
Malayalam films Year Film Notes1974Ayalathe Sundari Chakravakam 1976 Chirikkudukka Kamadhenu 1977 Tholkan Enikku Manassilla 1979PennorumbettaalPrabhuVijayam Nammude Senani 1980 Anthappuram Chandra Bimbam Ival Eevazhi Ithu Vare Love in Singapore 1981Saahasam Sankharsham Sphodanam 1982 Aarambham Guha Kaalam Kazhumaram Maattuvin Chattangale Paanjajanyam 1983Angam Bhookambam Yudham 1984Thirakal 1985Aadhiyugam Pournami Raavil 3D 1988Karate Girls1989MrugayaChakkikotha Chankaran
Telugu films Year Film Notes 1980 Love in Singapore 1987Veera PratapSrimathi Oka Bahumathi 1988Aadade Aadharam 1989 Ajatha Satruvu
Filmography As a director Year Title Notes 1990Jagathalaprathapan
As an actor Othaiyadi Paadhaiyile (1980) Sattam Oru Iruttarai (1981) Naan Paadum Paadal (1984) as themselves Pookkalai Parikkatheergal (1986) Namma Ooru Nalla Ooru (1986) Neruppu Nila (1988) Anbu Kattalai (1989) Poovellam Kettupaar (1999) Gurusamy (2011) Maharani Kottai (2015) Unnai Thottu Kolla Vaa (2017) Naai Sekar (2022)
References
External links
Sankar Ganesh at MSI
Bibliography