Aaroor Dass
Born
Yesudas

(1931-09-10)10 September 1931
Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Madras Province, British Raj
Died20 November 2022(2022-11-20) (aged 91)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Other namesAarooraan
OccupationScreenwriter
SpouseBaby
ChildrenThara, Usha, Asha (daughter)
Ravichandran (Son)
Parent(s)Santhyagu (Father)
Arockiya Mary (Mother)
AwardsKalaimamani Awards
Kavingnar Vaali Award (2016)[1]
Makkal Kavingnar Award

S. Yesudas (10 September 1931 – 20 November 2022) known by his stage name Aaroor Dass, was an Indian stage, film and television Screenwriter who was active in Tamil cinema during the latter part of the 20th century.[2] Aaroor Dass has written the story and dialogues for over 1000 films, who dominate the Tamil film for more than 40 years.[3] He wrote his first film for actor Sivaji Ganesan's Pasamalar (1961).[4][5] He debuted as a director with the film Penn Endral Penn (1967).

Early life

Dass was born on 10 September 1931 to Sathyagu and Arockiya Mary as Yesudas at Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam. He had three younger brothers and three younger sisters. Aaroor Dass attended Thiruvarur Jilla Board Higher Secondary School. Aaroor refers to Thiruvarur.[6]

Career

Dass started his career as an assistant to Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass in 1955 and assisted in writing the dialogues for the film called Naattiya Thara.[7][6] He has said that he named his first child as Arokyamary and also gave a pet name, Thara Devi in remembrance of this film.[8][9] He wrote his debut film as Vaazha Vaitha Deivam (1959) produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar. Then, he wrote next film for Sivaji Ganesan's Pasamalar (1961) and continued to write for the thespian in 28 films. When he wrote Pasamalar, Das was 28 years, Sivji Ganesan was 32 and Savitri was 24. He wrote for nearly the same number of M. G. Ramachandran too (including a few that were not released). Dass worked with many top class directors of yesteryears, like A. Bhimsingh, A. C. Tirulokchandar, M. A. Thirumugam and many others. He was associate director under Tirulokchandar and Dever films. He has written stage plays like Thirisoolam and Jenma Thandanai.[citation needed] In June 2022, Aaroor Dass received the Kalaignar Kalaithurai Vithagar Award from the government of Tamil Nadu.[10]

Personal life and death

Dass married Baby, the couple had four children; three daughters Thara, Aasha and Usha and a son Ravichandran. He lived in Nathamuni Street in T. Nagar in Chennai.[3]

Dass died in Chennai on 20 November 2022, at the age of 91.[11]

Filmography

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (May 2019)

As writer

Year Movie Actors Note Ref(s)
1954 Naattiya Thara
1957 Sathiyavan Savithri A. Nageswara Rao
1958 Zimbo Azad, chitra Dubbed version of Hindi film of same name
1959 Vaazha Vaitha Deivam Gemini Ganesan Debut Film [12]
1959 Nala Damayanthi P. Bhanumathi
1960 Uthami Petra Rathinam
1961 Pasamalar Sivaji Ganesan
1961 Kongunattu Thangam C. L. Anandan
1961 Thaai Sollai Thattadhe M. G. Ramachandran
1962 Kudumba Thalaivan M. G. Ramachandran
1962 Paarthaal Pasi Theerum Sivaji Ganesan
1962 Padithal Mattum Podhuma Sivaji Ganesan
1962 Thayai Katha Thanayan M. G. Ramachandran
1963 Annai Illam Sivaji Ganesan
1963 Needhikkuppin Paasam M. G. Ramachandran
1963 Paar Magale Paar Sivaji Ganesan
1963 Parisu M. G. Ramachandran
1964 Thozhilali M. G. Ramachandran
1964 Puthiya Paravai Sivaji Ganesan
1964 Vettaikaaran M. G. Ramachandran
1965 Aasai Mugam M. G. Ramachandran
1965 Idhaya Kamalam Ravichandran
1965 Kaakum Karangal S. S. Rajendran
1965 Kaattu Rani S. A. Asokan
1965 Thazhampoo M. G. Ramachandran
1966 Anbe Vaa M. G. Ramachandran
1966 Petralthan Pillaiya M. G. Ramachandran
1966 Thaali Bhagyam M. G. Ramachandran
1966 Thanipiravi M. G. Ramachandran
1967 Iru Malargal Sivaji Ganesan
1967 Thaikku Thalaimagan M. G. Ramachandran
1967 Thangai Sivaji Ganesan
1969 Akka Thangai Jaishankar [4]
1969 Anbalippu Sivaji Ganesan
1969 Deiva Magan Sivaji Ganesan
1971 Praptham Sivaji Ganesan
1974 Panathukkaga Sivaji Ganesan
1976 Bhadrakali Sivakumar
1977 Avan Oru Sarithiram Sivaji Ganesan
1978 Vanakkatukuriya Kathaliye Rajinikanth
1979 Naan Vazhavaippen Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth
1979 Pattakathi Bhairavan Sivaji Ganesan
1983 Sumangali Sivaji Ganesan
1984 Niraparaadhi Mohan
1984 Osai Mohan
1984 Unnai Naan Santhithen Sivakumar
1984 Vidhi Mohan
1984 My Dear Kuttichathan Dubbed version of Malayalam film My Dear Kuttichathan
1985 Bandham Sivaji Ganesan
1985 Mangamma Sapatham Kamal Haasan
1985 Poo Ondru Puyalaanathu Vijayashanthi Dubbed version of Telugu film Pratighatana
1986 Marumagal Suresh, Revathi
1986 Viduthalai Rajinikanth
1987 Anbulla Appa Sivaji Ganesan, Nadiya
1987 Vairagyam Prabhu
1987 Kudumbam Oru Koyil Sivaji Ganesan
1989 Idhu Dhanda Police Dr. Rajasekhar Dubbed version of Telugu film Ankusam
1989 Mannikka Vendugiren Dr. Rajasekhar Dubbed version of Telugu film Yamapaasam
1990 Vyjayanthi IPS Vijayashanthi Dubbed version of Telugu film Karthavyam
1992 Asokan Mohanlal Dubbed version of Malayalam film Yoddha
1993 Evana Irundha Enakenna Dr. Rajasekhar Dubbed version of Telugu film Aagraham
1993 Surya Balakrishna Dubbed version of Telugu film Nippu Ravva
1994 Watchman Vadivelu Sivakumar
1995 The King Mammootty Dubbed version of Malayalam film The King
1996 Kutty Sippaigal Ramesh Aravind dubbed version of telugu film Little Soldiers
2001 Pappa Venkatesh Dubbed version of Telugu film Devi Putrudu
2004 Anbu Sagothiran Arjun Dubbed version of Telugu film Puttintiki Raa Chelli
2014 Tenaliraman Vadivelu

As director

Year Movie Actor Note Ref(s)
1967 Penn Endral Penn Gemini Ganesan

References

  1. ^ "தொடுகறி விக்ரமாதித்யன், ஆரூர் தாஸ் இருவருக்கும் வாலி விருது". The Hindu. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2019.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "மாற்றியமைத்த விதி ஆரூர் தாஸ்". 11 August 2014. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b "கலை வித்தகர் ஆரூர் தாஸ் - என் சிந்தைக்கினிய சினிமா தேவதை". 6 March 2017. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  4. ^ a b Film News, Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru (Tamil Film History and Its Achievements). Sivagamai Publications. p. 738.
  5. ^ Kumar, S. r Ashok (17 August 2013). "Platinum celebration". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2020 – via www.thehindu.com.
  6. ^ a b "'Star' Wordsmith - the Hindu". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Kavinjar Thanjai Ramaiyah Das – Tamil Cinema Poets". Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  8. ^ "எம்.ஜி.ஆருடன் முதல் சந்திப்பு- ஆரூர் தாஸ்" [First meeting with M. G. R. - Aroor Das]. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  9. ^ Peter Cowie, Derek Elley (1977). World Filmography: 1967. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. ISBN 9780498015656. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Aaroor Das Receives Tamil Nadu Govt's Kalaignar Kalaithurai Vithagar Award". News18. 3 June 2022. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Veteran screenwriter Aaroor Dass no more". The Hindu. 20 November 2022. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  12. ^ Randor Guy (11 March 2013). "Blast from the Past — Vaazhavaitha Deivam 1959". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
Categories