Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass

Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass (1914-1965) was an Indian poet and script writer who wrote mainly in the Tamil language. He wrote more than 500 lyrics for Tamil films.

Early life Born to Narayanasamy and Pappu at Manampoochavadi in Thanjavur district, he had his primary and secondary education at St. Peters Higher Secondary school in Thanjavur. Then he graduated as a Pulavar from Karanthai Thamizh Sangam. He was trained as a teacher.

Career He started his career as a teacher in a primary school in Thanjavur. While he was working as a teacher, he became interested in stage plays. Soon he joined a drama troupe Sudharsana Ghana Sabha founded by Jagannatha Naidu, as a writer. Then he created his own drama troupe Jayalakshmi Ghana Sabha and produced plays like Macharegai, Dhuruvan, Kambhar, Vidhiyin Pokku, Valli Thirumanam, Alli Arjuna, Pavalakodi and Pahadai Pannirendu. He staged these plays in several towns in Tamil Nadu. Actor and Film Producer T. R. Mahalingam once watched one of his plays and produced it as a film with the same title Macha Regai in 1950. Though the film failed in box office, it opened the way to Ramaiah Dass to settle in Chennai and work in Tamil films.

In all he wrote 532 lyrics in 83 films, wrote screenplay and dialogues for 25 films and wrote story for 10 films between 1950 and 1963.

Family Ramaiah Dass had two wives - Thaayaarammal and Ranganayagi. He had a daughter, Vijayarani and a son, Ravindran from each wife. Ravindran is an Editor in Prasad Lab while Vijayarani is a housewife.

Death Ramaiah Dass died on 16 January 1965. Medical cause of death was alcoholism-related.