G. Ramanathan

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G. Ramanathan
Background information
Also known as	GR
Born	Bikshandarkoil, Trichinopoly District, Madras Presidency, British India
Died	20 November 1963 Chennai, Madras State, India
Occupation(s)	Composer, music director
Instrument(s)	Vocals (playback singing), keyboard/harmonium/piano
Years active	1940–1963
Labels	Isai Methai, Sangeetha Chakravarthy

Gopalan Ramanathan was an Indian music composer for Tamil movies. He is also known as Isai Methai (Genius of Music) or Sangeetha Chakravarthy (Emperor of Music) and is considered to be one of the influential Tamil music composers to take Carnatic music to the masses. Notable for his association with M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. G. Ramanathan also composed for films of Salem Modern Theatres and Coimbatore Central Studios. His career lasted until his death in 1963. During the 1950s G.Ramanathan's music dominated most of the box office hits of the then leading Tamil movie stars Shivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran.