Thiruthuraipoondi Radhakrishnan Pappa

Thiruthuraipoondi Radhakrishnan Sivasankaran (T. R. Pappa) (3 July 1922 – 15 October 2004) was an Indian music director of Tamil, Telugu and Sinhalese films. He was born at Thiruthuraipoondi, Madras Presidency, British India.

Early life Papa's real name is Sivasankaran, who is from a lineage of musical family in Thruthuraipoondi. He started training on the violin from early childhood. His father, Radhakrishnan, had inability to pay tuition fees his education was stopped in middle. He was trained by Siva Vadivelu Pillai who joined in National movie tone cinema company, as fiddle player to some movies Seemanthini 1936 Parvathi Kalyanam 1936 and this life of carrying instruments ended in 1938.

After he joined as a helper to S.G. Kasi Iyer, elder brother of great Kittappa. In 1941 most of the citizens was flying to other towns due to fear of Japanese Bombing Jupiter Pictures was shifted to Coimbatore, M.S.Viswanathan went with S.V.Venkatraman who is famous music director on those days. Kalki's daughter Ananthi, Sadasivam's daughter Radha were dancers, jointly made dance Programmes, M.S.Viswanathan as Playback Singer along with Papa Violin.

Career Papa started playing the violin in Manonmani (Modern Theatres) and Kannagi, Kubera Kuchela and Mahamaya (Jupiter Pictures). In the late 40s, Papa and T. K. Ramamoorthy were the highest paid violinists for the movies and were always in demand. He was the Director of Music Colleges

Papa became music director for Malayalam film Aathmasanthi in 1952. The chance was given to him by Joseph Thaliath Jr. of Citadel Film Corporation. This film is dubbed in Tamil under the same title.

Then onwards, Papa went on to compose for many of Citadel films such as Mallika, Vijayapuri Veeran, Vilakketriyaval, Iravum Pagalum and Kathal Paduthum Padu.

Papa also composed music for many Sinhalese films. The song Siriyame Sara, sung by H. R. Jothipala is one of the popular hits in Sinhalese.

He worked with singers like T. M. Soundararajan, A. M. Rajah, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Thiruchi Loganathan, C. S. Jayaraman, S. C. Krishnan, A. L. Raghavan, M. L. Vasanthakumari, P. Leela, Jikki, T. V. Rathnam, A. P. Komala, P. B. Sreenivas, K. Jamuna Rani, P. Susheela, A. G. Rathnamala, T. S. Bagavathi, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, A. Nithyakala, S. Janaki, L. R. Eswari, S. P. Balasubrahmaniam, B. S. Sasirekha and S. P. Sailaja.

The singing actors K. R. Ramasamy, T. R. Rajakumari, P. Bhanumathi, N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Madhuram and J. P. Chandrababu also sang memorable songs under his compositions.

As a Nilaya Vidwan of AIR from 1946, Papa accompanied the violin for many great classical vocalists. He composed music for many wonderful devotional albums with Seerkazhi Govindarajan where the song Chinnanjiru Penn Pole dedicated to the Goddess Abirami is notable. Papa scored music for the album Abirami Andhaadhi. Papa has served as the Principal of Madras Music College.

T. R. Ramanna and Papa were classmates in Thanjavur. T. R. Ramanna was in the midst of the making of Arunagirinathar when the music director G. Ramanathan fell ill. Papa was called upon to complete the rest of the songs. T. R. Ramana again engaged Papa for his movies in the early 1970s.

Tamil Isai Sangam conferred the title Isai Perarignar (Great Scholar of Music) on him.

Works Some of the notable music compositions: Enna Enna Inbame for Anbu by A. M. Rajah and Jikki Samarasam Ulaavum Idame for Rambaiyin Kaadhal by Seerkazhi Govindarajan Bagavane Mounam Eno for Rambaiyin Kaadhal by Seerkazhi Govindarajan Varuven Naan Unadhu for Mallika by A. M. Rajah and P. Susheela Chinnanjiru Vayathu Mudhal for Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali by T. M. Soundararajan and Jikki Yaar Solluvaar Nilave for Kuravanji by C. S. Jayaraman Sirikkindraal Indru Sirikkindraal for Nallavan Vazhvan by Sirkazhi Govindarajan and P. Susheela Ullam Thedaathe Endru Solluthe for Ethaiyum Thangum Idhayam by K. R. Ramasamy and S. Janaki Unakkum Enakkum Veguthooram Illai for Ethaiyum Thangum Idhayam by Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi Muththaitharu Paththithala for Arunagirinathar by T. M. Soundararajan Onnume puriyale ulagathile for Kumara Raja by J. P. Chandrababu Ullathin Kadhavugal Kanngalada for Iravum Pagalum by T. M. Soundararajan Muththama Asai Muththama for Vilakketriyaval by P. Susheela Asai Ponggum Azhagu Roobam for Asai by A. M. Rajah and Jikki Soodi Koduthaval Naan Thozhi for Teacheramma by P. Susheela Thalai Vaari poochoodi Unnai for Rangoon Radha by P. Bhanumathi Iraivan Endroru Kavignan for Yen by S. P. Balasubrahmaniam Ullathile Uram Vendumada for Vijayapuri Veeran by A. M. Rajah Vennila Nerathile Venugaanam for Avasara Kalyanam by P. Susheela

Filmography Year Film Language Director Banner Co-Music Directors 1952 Aathmasanthi Malayalam Joseph Thaliath Jr. Citadel Film Corporation 1952 Aathmasanthi Tamil Joseph Thaliath Jr. Citadel Film Corporation 1952 Alphonsa Malayalam O. J. Thottan Jeo Productions 1952 Mappillai Tamil T. R. Raghunath National Productions N. S. Balakrishnan 1953 Anbu Tamil M. Natesan Natesh Art Pictures 1954 Iddaru Pellalu Telugu F. Nagoor Nagoor Cine Productions T. A. Kalyanam & T. K. Kumaraswamy 1954 Sandehi Malayalam F. Nagoor Nagoor Cine Productions 1954 Ammaiyappan Tamil A. Bhimsingh National Pictures 1955 Surangani Sinhala Cyril P Abeyratne Ceylon Theatres Ltd. 1956 Aasai Tamil M. Natesan Natesh Art Pictures 1956 Graha Devatha Malayalam F. Nagoor Nagoor Cine Productions 1956 Kudumba Vilakku Tamil F. Nagoor Nagoor Cine Productions 1956 Raja Rani Tamil A. Bhim Singh National Pictures 1956 Rambaiyin Kaadhal Tamil R. R. Chandran Kalpana Pictures 1956 Rangoon Radha Tamil A. Kasilingam Mekala Pictures 1956 Surathali Sinhala Cyril P Abeyratne Ceylon Entertainments 1957 Deva Sundari Malayalam M. K. R. Nambiar Munna's Films 1957 Mallika Tamil Joseph Thaliath Jr. Citadel Film Corporation 1959 Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali Tamil R. R. Chandran Kalpana Kala Mandir 1960 Kuravanji Tamil A. Kasilingam Mekala Pictures 1960 Subhadra Sinhala S R Charlie & Cyril P Abeyratne C P A Producers 1960 Sundara Birinda Sinhala T. Yoganandan Ceylon Entertainments) 1960 Vijayapuri Veeran Tamil Joseph Thaliath Jr. Citadel Film Corporation 1960 Mugguru Veerulu Telugu Joseph Thaliath Jr. Citadel Film Corporation 1961 Kumara Raja Tamil G. K. Ramu Sivakami Pictures 1961 Nallavan Vazhvan Tamil P. Neelakantan Arasu Pictures 1961 Veeradhi Veerudu Telugu A. Kasilingam Mekala Pictures A. A. Raj 1962 Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam Tamil P. Neelakantan Udhaya Suriyan Productions 1962 Seemaan Petra Selvangal Tamil S. Ramakrishnan Paramu Films 1964 Arunagirinathar Tamil T. R. Ramanna Baba Art Productions G. Ramanathan 1964 Sujage Rahasa Sinhala P. Neelakantan 1965 Iravum Pagalum Tamil Joseph Thaliath Jr. Citadel Film Corporation 1965 Kathal Paduthum Padu Tamil Joseph Thaliath Jr. Citadel Film Corporation 1965 Vilakketriyaval Tamil Joseph Thaliath Jr. Citadel Film Corporation 1966 Kathal Paduthum Padu Tamil Joseph Thaliath Jr. Citadel Film Corporation 1967 Premalo Pramadam Telugu Joseph Thaliath Jr. Citadel Film Corporation 1967 Pandhayam Tamil A. Kasilingam M. K. Movies 1968 Teacheramma Tamil Puttanna Kanagal Subbulakshmi Pictures 1969 Avare En Daivam Tamil C. N. Shanmugam Meenakshi Sundareswar Films 1969 Magane Nee Vazhga Tamil M. Krishnan Nair Subbulakshmi Pictures 1970 Yaen? Tamil T. R. Ramanna E.V.R. Pictures 1971 Arutperunjothi Tamil A. T. Krishnaswamy Balu Films 1972 Avasara Kalyanam Tamil V. T. Thyagarajan Subblakshmi Movies 1972 Yaar Jambulingam Tamil M. S. Gopinathan Sri Govindan Films 1973 Maru Piravi Tamil T. R. Ramanna Vijaya & Suri Combines 1974 Idhayam Parkiradhu Tamil A. Jagannathan Udhaya Arts 1974 Vairam Tamil T. R. Ramanna Vijaya & Suri Combines 1976 Vayilla Poochi Tamil K. S. Gopalakrishnan Kalavalli Combines 1996 Enga Chinna Ponnu Tamil