Palani Bharathi or Pazhani Bharathi (pronounced [paɭani baːɾaði] or [paɻani baːɾaði]) is an Indian writer and lyricist who works in Tamil cinema.[1][2][3][4]

Palani Bharathi
BornKaraikudi, Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation
  • Writer
  • lyricist
  • poet
NationalityIndian
Years active1991–present
ParentsSami Palaniappan, Kamala

Early life

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Palani Bharathi was born in Karaikudi to Sami Palaniappan, a poet, and Kamala. He has a brother and four sisters. Palaniappan was an assistant of orator/writer Kundrakudi Adigal and follower of poet Bharathidasan.[5] When Palaniappan moved to Madras (now Chennai) with his family in search of work, he got a job in the government newspaper Tamil Arasu. As a result, Bharathi studied and grew in Chennai. He initially studied at a municipal school, and later at Ganapathi Higher Secondary School till the twelfth grade. Aspiring to become a film editor, he tried joining the M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute, to no avail.[6][5]

Career

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Bharathi began his career by editing articles, mainly correcting factual errors, in publications including Neerottam and Porval. He later got a job in the Tamil Nadu Textbook Corporation, of checking and recording the account of volumes of books transported in vehicles from the book warehouse, with his salary being 10 (equivalent to 86 or US$1.00 in 2023) per day. Bharathi was not very interested in that job, which did not last for more than a month.[6] Unlike his father, Bharathi liked listening to filmi songs, and aspired to become a film lyricist. He was eventually introduced to director Vikraman, and wrote a song for the film Perum Pulli (1991) which did not appear onscreen.[5][7] Bharathi later wrote some songs for Annai Vayal (1992); though the film was unsuccessful, the songs were well received and he received more offers. He achieved significant success writing all the songs for Ullathai Allitha (1996), and the 1995–1997 period is considered his "golden years", during which he wrote for over 100 films.[7]

Style

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Bharathi prefers to write in simple, understandable language, taking inspiration from Kannadasan and Vaali. He explained, "Any literary piece is worth only if it reaches the audience and I keep it very simple. I don't believe in being verbose".[7] He also said, "A song is no longer listened to for its meaning, it is mostly bought for the sake of rhythm and beat. Words go only to serve the musical purpose, not the semantic purpose". Palani Bharathi identifies himself as a "people's lyricist".[8]

Controversies

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Palani Bharathi wrote slanderous articles about Malathy Maitri, a founder of the feminist literary movement Anangu, and was eventually forced to write a public apology.[9]

Filmography

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Year Movie Song(s) Music Director Note
1990s
1991 Perum Pulli "Ilamaiyin Vizhigalil" S. A. Rajkumar
1993 Naan Pesa Ninaipathellam
  1. "Yalean Kiliyae"
  2. "Manoduthu Mayiloduthu"
  3. "Adi Pulla Alla Marathula"
  4. "Aagaya Gangaye"
  5. "Poonguyil Ragame"
Sirpy
1993 Gokulam
  1. "Chittada Rakkai"
  2. "Nane Madai Mela"
  3. "Puthu Roja Puthiruchu"
  4. "Antha Vanam"
  5. "Chevanthi Poo"
  6. "Chinna Chinna Assai"
  7. "Pon Malayil"
  8. "Therkke Adikkuthu"
Sirpy
1994 Pudhiya Mannargal
  1. "Eduda Antha Sooriya"
  2. "Vaanil Yeni"
  3. "Nee Kattum Selai"
  4. "Vaadi Saathukodi"
A. R. Rahman
1995 Pavithra "Eechambazham" A. R. Rahman
1995 Murai Maman
  1. "Poove poove"
  2. "Yennachi Yennachi"
Vidyasagar
1996 Ullathai Allitha
  1. "Adi Anarkali"
  2. "Azhagiya Laila"
  3. "Chittu Chittu Kuruvikku"
  4. "I Love You Love You"
  5. "Mama Nee Mama"
Sirpy
1996 Poove Unakkaga
  1. "Anantham Anantham"
  2. "Sollamalae"
  3. "Machinichi"
S. A. Rajkumar
1996 Sengottai
  1. "Uchchi Muthal Patham"
Vidyasagar
1997 Surya Vamsam "Kadhala Kadhala" S. A. Rajkumar
1997 Janakiraman
  1. "Hawaliya Hawaliya"
  2. "Hey Cha Cha Kadalicha"
  3. "Kadal Solla Varthai"
  4. "Pottu Mela Pottu"
  5. "Yenadi Kanne"
Sirpy
1997 Arunachalam
  1. "Alli Alli Anarkili"
  2. "Mathadu Mathadu"
Deva
1997 Poochudava
  1. "Computer Graphic"
  2. "Kaadhal Kaadhal Kaadhal"
  3. "Nee Illai"
  4. "Sillu Sillu"
  5. "Vaaliba Vayasukku"
Sirpy
1997 Aravindhan
  1. "All The Best"
  2. "Hey Ponnamma, Un Lovvu Yaaru Sollamma"
  3. "Pothum Idhu Pothum"
  4. "Eera Nila"
Yuvan Shankar Raja
1997 Mettukudi
  1. "Anbulla Mannavane"
  2. "Velvetta Velvetta"
  3. "Indha Poonthendral"
  4. "Adi Yaaradhu Yaaradhu"
  5. "Mana Madurai Gundu Malliye"
  6. "Saravanabava"
Sirpy
1997 Nesam
  1. "O Ranganatha"
  2. "Madonna Varuvala"
  3. "Natchathira Bangla"
  4. "Thuli Thuli"
Deva
1997 Once More "Ooty Malai Beauty" Deva
1997 Kadhalukku Mariyadhai
  1. "Ennai Thalaata"
  2. "Anantha Kuyilin Pattu"
  3. "Oru Pattam Poochi"
  4. "Idhu Sangeetha Thirunalo"
  5. "Anantha Kuyilin Pattu"
  6. "O Baby"
  7. "Ennai Thalatta Varuvala"
  8. "Ayya Veedu Therandhuthan"
Ilaiyaraaja Won Best Lyricist
1997 Raasi
  1. "Yenadi Yenadi"
  2. "Ennai Thedatho"
  3. "Kadhalin Desam"
  4. "Poomalai"
  5. "Thendral"
  6. "Ennachu Thangachi"
Sirpy
1997 Ullaasam
  1. "Konjum Manjal"
  2. "Veesum Kaatrukku"
Karthik Raja
1997 Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga
  1. "Baghavanae"
  2. "Oru Mani Adithal"
Deva
1997 Kathirunda Kadhal
  1. "Alai Alai"
  2. "Dhavani Devathai"
  3. "Irin Scalila"
  4. "Kangalil Vanthaval"
  5. "Many Many"
  6. "Sir Uh Porandha"
Sirpy
1998 Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen "Thottabedda Kuliru" S. A. Rajkumar
1998 Moovendhar
  1. "Chera Enna"
  2. "Nenja Thirandhu"
  3. "Singakutty"
  4. "Sokku Sundari"
Sirpy
1998 Desiya Geetham
  1. "Ladies Special"
  2. "Naan Vaakkapattu"
Ilayaraaja
1998 Aval Varuvala
  1. "Sikki Mukki"
  2. "Idhu Kaadhalin"
  3. "Kaadhal Enna"
  4. "Ooh Vandhadhu"
  5. "Rukku Rukku"
  6. "Selaiyile Veedu"
S. A. Rajkumar
1998 Ninaithen Vandhai
  1. "Vannanilavae Vannanilavae"
  2. "Ennavale Ennavale"
  3. "Maligayae Maligaiyae"
  4. "Un Marbile Vizhi Moodi"
  5. "Pottu Vaithu Poomudikkum"
Deva
1998 Priyamudan
  1. "Pooja Vaa"
  2. "Mouriya"
Deva
1998 Sandhippoma
  1. "Naanthaan"
  2. "Andha Vennila"
Deva
1999 Endrendrum Kadhal
  1. "O Thendrale"
  2. "Kangala Minnala"
Manoj–Gyan
1999 Nenjinile "Prime Minister" Deva
1999 Poovellam Kettuppar
  1. "CBI Enge"
  2. "Chudithar Aninthu"
  3. "Irava Pagala"
  4. "Poothathu"
  5. "Poove Poove"
  6. "Oh Senyoreeta"
  7. "Sevvaanam Vetkam Kondathu"
Yuvan Shankar Raja
1999 Thodarum "Shock Adikkum" Ilaiyaraaja
1999 Unnai Thedi
  1. "Naalai Kalai"
  2. "Neethana"
  3. "Poraale"
  4. "Oyila Oyila"
Deva
1999 Suyamvaram
  1. "Margazhi Maasathu"
  2. "Sekka Sivanthavalea"
4 composers
1999 Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga "Vennila Veliye" Yuvan Shankar Raja
1999 Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa "Tirupathi Elumalai Venkatesa" S. A. Rajkumar
1999 Sethu
  1. "Kadhalenna Kadhalenna"
  2. "Sikaadha Sitrondru"
Ilaiyaraaja
2000s
2000 Kannukkul Nilavu
  1. "Iravu Pagalai Theda"
  2. "Nilavu Paatu"
  3. "Oru Naal Oru Kanavu"
  4. "Adida Melathai"
  5. "Roja Poonthotam"
  6. "Enthen Kuilenge"
  7. "Chinnanchiru Kiliye"
Ilaiyaraaja
2000 Rajakali Amman "Santhana Malligaiyil" S. A. Rajkumar
2001 Star "Adi Nenthikkitten" A. R. Rahman
2001 Rishi
  1. "Vaa Vaa Poove Vaa"
  2. "Jumbo Idhu Kadhal"
Yuvan Shankar Raja
2001 Friends
  1. "Thendral Varum"
  2. "Kuyilikku Koo Koo"
  3. "Rukku Rukku"
  4. "Manjal Poosum Vaanam"
  5. "Penkaloda Potti"
  6. "Poonkatrae"
  7. "Vaanam Perusuthan"
Ilaiyaraaja
2001 Nandha "Mun Paniyaa" Yuvan Shankar Raja
2001 Thaalikaatha Kaaliamman "Sun TV" Sirpy
2001 Kasi "Punniyam Thedi Kasikku" Ilaiyaraaja
2001 Badri
  1. "Travelling Soldier"
  2. "Adi Jivunnu Jivunnu"
  3. "Salaam Maharasa"
  4. "Ennoda Laila"
  5. "Kalakalakudhu"
  6. "Kadhal Solvadhu"
  7. "Angel Vandhaaley"
  8. "King Of Chennai"
  9. "Stella Maris Laara"
Ramana Gogula
2002 Azhagi
  1. "Damakku Damakku Dum"
  2. "Kuruvi Kodanja"
Ilaiyaraaja
2002 Ramanaa
  1. "Vaanaviley"
  2. "Vennilavin"
  3. "Oorukkoru"
  4. "Vaanaviley"
  5. "Angey Yaaru Paaru"
Ilaiyaraaja
2002 Jaya
  1. "Velli Kolusumani"
Bharani
2003 Parasuram
  1. "Chittukuruvi"
  2. "Jack And Jill"
A. R. Rahman
2003 Jayam
  1. "Kanamoochi"
  2. "Kodi Kodi Minnalgal"
R. P. Patnaik
2003 Kaadhal Kondein
  1. "Manasu Rendum"
  2. "Kadhal Mattum Purivathillai"
Yuvan Shankar Raja
2003 Pithamagan
  1. "Elangaathu Veesudhey"
Ilaiyaraaja
2004 Udhaya "Pookum Malarai" A. R. Rahman
2004 Perazhagan "Ambuli Mama" Yuvan Shankar Raja
2004 Thendral "Aazhakkadalu" Vidyasagar
2005 Maayavi
  1. "Jo Jo Jothika"
  2. "Kadavul Thantha Azhakiya Vaalvu"
Devi Sri Prasad
2005 Sachein "Dai Dai Dai Kattikkoda" Devi Sri Prasad
2005 Chidambarathil Oru Appasamy "Anaithu Vidungal" Ilaiyaraaja
2007 Naan Avanillai "Then Kudicha" Vijay Antony
2008  Nesi Sirpy
2009 Vannathupoochi "Katril Katril" Rehan
2014 Un Samayal Arayil
  1. "Indha Porapudhan"
  2. "Eeramai Eeramai"
  3. "Therintho Theriyamalo"
  4. "Kaatru Veliyil"
Ilaiyaraaja
2015 Dharani
  1. "Malapola Unna Sumanthenae"
  2. "Yar Kobam"
  3. "Kanavae Kanavae"
Yensone Bakyanathan
2022 Maamanithan TBA Raja family
2022 Kantara (D)
  1. "He Semmandha Azhage"
  2. "Aanamale Kaatukulla"
  3. "Manidhanin Payanathil"
B. Ajaneesh Loknath

Television

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Year TV Series Network Song(s) Music Director/ Composer(s) Note
2001 Aanandha Bhavan Sun TV Intha Vanathin Keezha Vazhum Yuvan Shankar Raja
2001 Kavyanjali Star Vijay Pasathil Irandu Paravai Aravind Siddhartha
2003 Kolangal Sun TV "Kolangal Kolangal Azhagana Kolangal" D. Imman
"Poovil Oru Idhalaga Piranthirunthal"
"Kanbathenna Kanavo Kanimazhalai Ninaivo"
"Kalyana Karunyaam Nithya"
"Vazhi Meethu Vizhi Vaithu Kaathirukindren"
"Kanavil Karuvai Sumakindrom"
"Vanam Pole Valimaikkonda"
"Singara Tamizhe"
Kiran
2005 Malargal Sun TV "Arisi Mavale Kolam Podu" Vijay Antony
2007 Magal Sun TV "Aariraro Aariraro" Rajhesh Vaidhya
2008 Bhuvaneswari Sun TV
2012 Sondha Bandham Sun TV "Vanathil Vennilavu" Bunty & Sunitha Sarathy
2015 Kula Deivam Sun TV "Achuvellam Pacharasi Mavilakku" Sanjeev Rathan

Notable works

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  • Neruppu Paarvaigal (collection of poems)[7]
  • Veli Nadappu[7]
  • Kadhalin Pin Kadhavu
  • Mazhaippen[7]
  • Purakkal Maraintha Iravu[7]
  • Mutthangalin Pazhakkadai[7]
  • Thanimaiyil Vilayaadum Bommai[7]
  • Thanniril Vizhuntha Veyil[7]
  • Kaatrin Kaiyezhuththu[7]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Result Note Ref.
1997 Tamil Nadu State Film Award Best Lyricist Won For Kadhalukku Mariyadhai [10]
1998 Kalaimamani Film Personality Won The highest civilian award in the state of Tamil Nadu, India [11]
2021 Kaviko Award Won [12]

References

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  1. ^ Palani Bharathi on his journey from a journalist to a poet and lyricist (in Tamil). News7 Tamil. 9 March 2015. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ நினைவுக் குறிப்புகள் | Ninaivu Kurippugal | Palani Bharathi (in Tamil). Doordarshan Podhigai. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ Star Profile Pazhani Bharathi (in Tamil). Tamil Star. 27 May 2012. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ பழநிபாரதி: மழையை நனைத்த கவிஞன் | Palani Bharathi | Hindu Tamil Thisai | (in Tamil). Hindu Tamil Thisai. 14 July 2019. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ a b c "ஜெயித்த கதை!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). 21 February 1999. pp. 13–20. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ a b "நான்... பழநிபாரதி". Kungumam (in Tamil). 12 June 2020. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Saravanan, T. (20 October 2017). "In tune with the trend". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  8. ^ Mathai, Kamini (2009). A. R. Rahman: The Musical Storm. Viking. p. 207. ISBN 978-0-670-08371-8.
  9. ^ Ravindran, Nirmala (24 September 2007). "Body of words". India Today. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Tamilnadu Government Cinema Awards". Dinakaran. Archived from the original on 1 January 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  11. ^ "கலைமாமணி விருதுகள் 1991–2010". ValaiTamil (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  12. ^ "பாடலாசிரியர் பழனிபாரதிக்கு கவிக்கோ விருது: விஐடி வேந்தர் கோ.விசுவநாதன் வழங்கினார்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 23 December 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
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