Cuddalore Nagarathnam Pandurangan (1912 – 1975) was a noted music director who had scored music for Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Sinhala movies. C. N. Pandurangan was an Indian music director who worked mainly in South Indian films.[1]

Early life

Cuddalore Nagarathinam Pandurangan (CNP) was born in 1912. His father was holding a Government post, conducted religious discourses and was also an exponent of Harikatha. CNP commenced his music lessons under his father and accompanied him on the stage. He was later put under the tutelage of Chittoor Subramaniam Pillai (The same vocalist who taught Madurai Somu).[1]

Career

CNP became a veena exponent and was spotted by K. Subramaniam who engaged CNP for his productions. CNP's first assignment as a music composer was the 1948 Sinhalese movie Kapati Arakshakaya directed by K. Subramaniam. The movie was a runaway hit and CNP's compositions sung by the famous Eddie Jayamane and Rukmani Devi became very popular. This led to CNP composing the songs for a few more Sinhalese movies in later years such as Veradunu Kurumanama, Amma, Sihinaya and Devasundari. Vembathur Krishnan mentioned working with CNP in reverential terms.

The first Tamil movie which had songs composed by CNP was Kamavalli (1948). Despite some good classical songs written by Papanasam Sivan and rendered by Nagercoil Mahadevan and S. Varalakshmi. Even though CNP was not flooded with offers, he carried on in Tamil movies till 1978. He also composed music for Telugu movies where most of them are Tamil-Telugu bilingual movies.

He worked in Kannada movie too such as Bhakta Mallikarjuna (1955), Kacha Devayani (1956), Devasundari (1962). Later Sri Purandaradasaru (1967) based on the legendary saint-composer which had singers such as M. L. Vasanthakumari, M. Balamuralikrishna, P. B. Srinivas and S. Janaki.[1]

Composer Vedha worked as his associate for some years and learned the nuances of music composition before branching off on his own. Pukazhenthi worked under him for a few years, before teaming up with K. V. Mahadevan. Shyam commenced his film career as a violinist under him. B. A. Chidambaranath was part of his troupe.

Shyam mentioned that unlike the other composers who would compose playing the harmonium, CNP would play the notes on the veena and sing the tune. He could come up with 5 to 6 tunes for every song and the directors would sit mesmerized, spoilt for choice. His assistant Munuswamy would then play each segment on the harmonium to the instrumentalists. CNP shared a very good rapport with all the great lyricists and singers of the time. He used to encourage the lyricists to come out with appropriate, poetic lines and would not hesitate to amend the tune to accentuate the beauty of the lyrics. CNP was also very particular about the choice of singers, Shyam recalled, and each song would go the singer who CNP thought could do it the best justice. CNP would escort all his troupe members to Harrisons and treat them to a sumptuous meal at his own expense. Sham recalls CNP as A great artiste and A great human being.[1]

CNP worked with G. Ramanathan in Pudhu Vazhvu[2] and with Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy in Pona Machaan Thirumbi Vandhan.[3] He also collaborated with Meenakshi Subramaniam in Kacha Devayani (Kannada) and Pandithevan (Tamil).[1]

He worked with singers like T. M. Soundararajan, A. M. Rajah, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Thiruchi Loganathan, C. S. Jayaraman, V. N. Sundharam, P. B. Sreenivas, S. C. Krishnan, T. A. Mothi, K. R Chellamuthu, A. L. Raghavan, M. Balamuralikrishna, S. V. Ponnusamy, K. M. Mani Rajan, M. L. Vasanthakumari, P. A. Periyanayaki, P. Leela, Jikki, T. V. Rathnam, A. P. Komala, K. Jamuna Rani, P. Suseela, Radha Jayalakshmi, A. G. Rathnamala, Soolamangalam Jeyalakshmi, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, K. V. Janaki, K. Rani, G. Kasthoori, S. Janaki, and L. R. Eswari.

The singing actors T. R. Mahalingam, K. R. Ramasamy, S. Varalakshmi, V. Nagayya, B. Jayamma, N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Madhuram, P. S. Govindhan, C. S. Pandiyan and J. P. Chandrababu also sang memorable songs under his compositions.

Style

CNP only composed music for less than 40 movies spread over a period of 30 years. Many of them are collaboration with other composers where he had only a handful of songs to compose himself. Even though many of the movies were commercial failures, yet CNP shows his erudite classical roots, technical finesse, inventive arrangements, uncanny grasp of the mood and sequence and astute pick of a variety of singers.[1]

Works

Some compositions of C. N. Pandurangan, include:

CNP has worked with Radha Jayalakshmi in almost all of his compositions which brings the best out of her .[1] Some of the songs are:

Personal life

CNP and his wife Tarabai had 6 children. One of his sons, Mohanarangan was a famed flautist. CNP passed away in 1975 at the age of 63.[1]

Filmography

Year Film Language Director Banner Co-Music Directors
1948 Kamavalli[4] Tamil Manickam Baskar Pictures
1948 Kapati Arakshakaya Sinhala Jyotish Sinha & K. Subramanyam Ceylon Theatres
1948 Naveena Valli[5] Tamil T. Balaji Singh Santhanam Pictures
1948 Sri Krishna Thulabaram[5] Tamil T. Balaji Singh Santhanam Pictures
1948 Veradunu Kurumanama Sinhala Jyotish Sinha Ceylon Theatres
1949 Amma Sinhala Sirisena Wimalaweera Navajeewana Film
1949 Geetha Gandhi Tamil K. Subramanyam Madras United Artists Corporation Br Lakshmanan
1951 Maya Pilla Telugu R. Prakash Prakash Shankar Pictures
1952 En Thangai[6] Tamil Ch. Narayana Murthy Ashoka Pictures
1953 Naa Chellelu Telugu Ch. Narayana Murthy Ashoka Pictures
1953 Gumastha[7] Tamil R. M. Krishnaswami Aruna Films G. Ramanathan & V. Nagayya
1953 Gumastha Telugu R. M. Krishnaswami Aruna Films G. Ramanathan & V. Nagayya
1953 Mamiyar[8] Tamil K. Vembu Sri Gajanana Productions
1953 Kodarikam Telugu K. Vembu Sri Gajanana Productions
1954 Edhir Paradhathu Tamil Ch. Narayana Murthy Saravanabava Pictures & Unity Pictures
1954 En Magal[9] Tamil K. V. R. Acharya
M. K. R. Nambiar		 Asoka Pictures
1954 Pona Machaan Thirumbi Vandhan Tamil C. S. Rao Mercury Films M. S. Viswanathan
1955 Bhakta Mallikarjuna Kannada C. V. Raju Jairaj Productions
1955 Menaka Tamil V. C. Suburamman Kasturi Films Vedha
1956 Kacha Devayani Kannada K. Subramanyam Morak Pvt Limited Meenakshi Subramanyam
1956 Vazhvile Oru Naal[10] Tamil A. Kasilingam Mercury Films T. G. Lingappa & S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
1956 Verum Pechu Alla[11] Tamil Joseph Pallippad Principle Productions
1957 Pudhu Vazhvu[12][13] Tamil M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar Sarvodaya Pictures G. Ramanathan
1958 Boologa Rambai[14] Tamil D. Yoganand Asoka Pictures
1958 Booloka Rambha Telugu D. Yoganand Asoka Pictures
1959 Pandithevan[15] Tamil K. Subramanyam Morak Pvt Limited Meenakshi Subramanyam
1959 Sihinaya Sinhala T. Janaki Ram Jayanthi Producers
1960 Kottadhari Telugu K. Subramanyam Morak Pvt Limited Ramana
1960 Solaimalai Rani Tamil A. Rajaram
1961 Amulya Kanuka Telugu T. Janakiraman Maheswari Pictures
1962 Devasundari Kannada C. V. Raju
1962 Devasundari Sinhala C.V. Raju Royal Studio
1962 Indira En Selvam Tamil C. Padmanaban Ashoka Pictures H. R. Padmanabha Sasthri
1963 Devasundari Telugu H. V. Babu Royal Studio
1963 Kubera Theevu Tamil G. Vishwanathan Nithya Kalyani Films
1967 Sri Purandara Dasaru Kannada C. V. Raju & R. Ramamurthy Sri Hamsa Chithra
1968 Sathiyam Thavaradhey Tamil Pondy Selvaraj Ammal Films
1972 Thiruneelakandar Tamil C. P. Jambulingam Vahini - Vasu
1972 Rahasiyapenn 117 Tamil
1975 Kadhavai Thattiya Mohini Paey Tamil Rajaram Anuradha International Films
1978 Vetri Thirumagal Tamil H. V. Babu Vivek Agencies

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Saravanan Natarajan (24 March 2018). "மலர்ந்தும் மலராதவை # 27". Dhool. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  2. ^ Randor Guy (13 September 2014). "Pudhu Vazhvu 1957". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  3. ^ Randor Guy (14 December 2013). "Pona Machaan Thirumbi Vandhaan (1954)". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  4. ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023.
  5. ^ a b Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 25 December 2017.
  6. ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Gumastha 1953". The Hindu. 24 October 2015. Archived from the original on 22 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  8. ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017.
  9. ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018.
  10. ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022.
  11. ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017.
  12. ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017.
  13. ^ "Music by CN Pandurangan". www.indian-heritage.org. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  14. ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018.
  15. ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017.
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