Sujatha Rangarajan

Sujatha
Born	S. Rangarajan (1935-05-03)3 May 1935 Madras, Madras Presidency, British India
Died	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation	Engineer, author, novelist, screenwriter
Spouse(s)	Sujatha Rangarajan
Children	Kesava Prasad, Ranga Prasad

Sujatha (3 May 1935 – 27 February 2008) was the pseudonym of the Tamil author S. Rangarajan, author of over 100 novels, 250 short stories, ten books on science, ten stage plays, and a slim volume of poems. He was one of the most popular authors in Tamil literature, and a regular contributor to topical columns in Tamil periodicals such as Ananda Vikatan, Kumudam and Kalki. He had a wide readership, and served for a brief period as the editor of Kumudam, and has also composed screenplays and dialogues for several Tamil movies.

Career

Penning with his wife's name, Sujatha's Tamil literary career spanned more than four decades. An engineer by profession, he was proficient in the language of technology. Widely read and knowledgeable, he presented his knowledge in simple Tamil.

His works stood out during a time when Tamil composing was dominated by social/family dramas and historical novels. His identification with the masses, and his uncanny adoption of their way of talking, behavior, mindset and slang, helped make him popular across multiple demographic segments.

His popularization of technology was one of his greatest contributions – starting with his Silicon Chip composing in Dinamani Kadhir and Yen, Yedharku, Eppadi in Junior Vikatan. At one point, his composing was appearing in numerous Tamil weeklies and journals simultaneously, including Ananda Vikatan, Kumudam, Kungumam, Kalki and Dhinamani Kadhir. Later he contributed as script/screenplay author for several Tamil movies. His notable movies included Vikram,Thiruda Thiruda, Boys and Sivaji. Most of his early novels/stories were made as movies, including Priya, Gaytri, Karaiyellam Senbagapoo and Anandha Thandavam, among others.

In addition to the novels, stories, essays he wrote, he helped introduce haiku poetry to Tamil audiences. Brought up in Srirangam, Trichy, and having spent most of the later part of life in Bangalore, he described both places vividly in his various compocings. Among his popular novels are Pirivom Sandhipom (not related to the recent movie of the same name), Rathham Ore Niram, and Kolaiyudhir Kaalam.

He also immortalized Ganesh-Vasanth – an imaginary advocate pair serving as the main characters in most of his detective stories. Ganesh is a level-headed, senior advocate and Vasanth is his flirtatious junior advocate. The Ganesh-Vasanth pair was based on James Hadley Chase's characters, Vic Malloy and his sidekick.

In his later days he restricted his composing to essays such as Katradhum-Petradhum. He began to spend more time reading, especially old rare Tamil composings and composings on the latest developments in information technology and computing.

As an engineer, he supervised the design and production of the electronic voting machine (EVM) during his tenure at Bharat Electronics Limited, a machine which is currently used in elections throughout India. As an author he inspired many authors, including Balakumaran, Madhan, Charu Nivedita.

Biography

Sujatha Rangarajan was born in Triplicane, Chennai but spent his childhood in Srirangam near Tiruchirapalli under the care of his paternal grandmother owing to his father's frequent transfers in his job.

Education

He did his schooling in The Higher Secondary School for Boys, Srirangam. He attended St. Joseph's College, Trichy, where he was a friend of Abdul Kalam (who later became the President of India). Sujatha graduated in the 1954 batch with a BSc in Physics (1952–54). Later he studied engineering in Electronics from the Madras Institute of Technology. His composing interests were largely inspired by the short stories and serials published in popular Tamil magazines.

Early composings

Srirangathu Devathaigal (Angels of Srirangam) is a series of short stories based on incidents in that part of the world in the 1940s and 50s which appeared in Ananda Vikatan. Sivaji, a minor magazine from Trichy, published a story during his student days. His first short story was published in Kumudam magazine in 1962. His Kolaiyuthir Kalam was an exciting ghost-themed novel.

Engineering career

He worked first in Civil Aviation Department of Government of India and later for Bharat Electronics Limited in Bangalore, India before his retirement to Chennai, India, where he lived till his last days. As an engineer, he was a forward thinker and he was the key person behind the development of the Electronic Voting Machine in India. He initiated the development of advanced word processing before the days of personal computers.....

Works

FICTION

NOVELS

• 1. Aaah
• 2. Pirivom Sandhippom 1
• 3. Pirivom Sandhippom 2
• 4. Kolayudhir Kaalam
• 5. En Iniya Endhira
• 6. Meendum Jeeno
• 7. Srirangathu Dhevadhaigal
• 8. Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo
• 9. Nylon Kairu
• 10. Nillungal Raajaave
• 11. Kanavu Thozhirchaalai
• 12. Ratham Ore Niram
• 13. Pesum Bommaigal
• 14. Anithaavin Kadhalgal
• 15. Vasanth Vasanth
• 16. Computer Graamam
• 17. Nirvaana Nagaram
• 18. Vikram
• 19. Odaadhey
• 20. 24 Rubaai Theevu
• 21. Eppodhum Pen
• 22. Idhan Peyarum Kolai
• 23. Irandaavadhu Kaadhal Kadhai
• 24. Kolai Arangam
• 25. Edhaiyum Oru Murai
• 26. Anitha Ilam Manaivi
• 27. Yavanika
• 28. Niramatra Vaanavil
• 29. Sorgatheevu
• 30. Theendum Inbam
• 31. Aadhalinaal Kaadhal Seiveer
• 32. Pookutti
• 33. Irul varum Neram
• 34. Kaandhaloor Vasanthakumaaran Kadhai
• 35. Oru Naduppagal Maranam
• 36. Priya
• 37. Vasantha Kaala Kutrangal
• 38. Pen Iyandhiram
• 39. Nila Nizhal
• 40. Aayirathil Iruvar
• 41. Aryabhatta
• 42. Padhavikkaga
• 43. Ullam Thurandhavan
• 44. Marubadiyum Ganesh
• 45. Vannathu Poochi vettai
• 46. Commissioner ku kadidham
• 47. Vidivadharkul Vaa
• 48. Thanga Mudichu
• 49. Ore Oru Dhrogam
• 50. Aindhaavadhu Adhiyaayam
• 51. Sivandha Kaigal
• 52. Endraavadhu Oru Naal
• 53. Thisai Kanden Vaan Kanden
• 54. 10 Second Mutham
• 55. Thedaadhe
• 56. Roja
• 57. J K
• 58. Veniyin Kaadhalan
• 59. Vaaimaye Sila Samayam Vellum
• 60. Kaagidha Sangiligal
• 61. Unnai Kanda Neramellam
• 62. Vaanam Ennum veedhiyile
• 63. Chinnakuyili
• 64. Moondru Kutrangal
• NOVELLAS
• 1. Marina
• 2. Gayathri
• 3. Apsara
• 4. Meendum Oru Kutram
• 5. Paadhi Raajyam
• 6. Vibareedha Kotpaadu
• 7. Nil Gavani Thaaku
• 8. Ilamayil Kol
• 9. Megathai Thurathinavan
• 10. Moondru Naal Sorgam
• 11. Virumbi Sonna Poigal
• 12. Sylvia
• 13. Merke Oru Kutram
• 14. Guruprasaadhin Kadaisi Dhinam
• 15. Virupamilla Thiruppangal
• 16. Vairangal
• 17. Malai Maaligai
• 18. Jannal Malar
• 19. Meendum Oru Kutram 2
• 20. Melum Oru kutram
• 21. Thapithaal Thappillai
• 22. 14 Naatkal
• 23. 6961
• 24. Maaya
• 25. Austin Illam
• 26. Jodhi
• 27. Vizhundha Natchathiram
• 28. Kai
• 29. Oriravil Oru Rayilil
• 30. Man Magan
• 31. Kalaindha Poigal
• 32. Vidhi
• 33. Manaivi Kidaithaal
• 34. Oru Sikkal Illadha Kaadhal Kadhai
• 35. Honolulu
• 36. Oru vibathin Anatomy
• 37. Paalam
• 38. Vilimbu
• 39. Ippadi Oru Maarudhal
• PLAYS
• 1. Kadavul Vandhirundhaar
• 2. Oonjal
• 3. Bharathi Irundha Veedu
• 4. Anbulla Appa
• 5. Singamaiyangaar Peran
• 6. Dr. Narendhranin Vinodha Vazhakku
• 7. Adimaigal
• 8. Nylon Raadhaagal
• 9. Oru Prayaanam Oru kolai
• 10. Mudhal Naadagam
• 11. Prayaanam
• 12. Mandhiravaadhi
• 13. Vazhakku
• 14. Sekar
• 15. Krishna Krishna
• 16. Vandhavan
• 17. Maarudhal
• 18. Vaasal
• 19. Kadhai Kelu Penne
• 20. Idaiyan Magal
• 21. Sarala
• 22. Petti
• 23. Marumanam
• 24. Aagaayam
• 25. Muyal
• NON - FICTION
• 1. En Edharku Eppadi 1
• 2. En Edharku Eppadi 2
• 3. Katradhum Petradhum 1,2,3,4
• 4. Kanayaazhiyin Kadaisi Pakkangal
• 5. Thalamai Seyalagam
• 6. 60 America naatkal
• 7. Sujatha Badhilgal 1,2,3
• 8. Sujathoughts
• 9. Kadavul Irukkiraara
• 10. Kadavul
• 11. Sila vidhyaasangal
• 12. Kadavulgalin Pallathaakku
• 13. Innum Sila Sindhanaigal
• 14. Thamizh andrum Indrum
• 15. Genome
• 16. Oriru Ennangal
• 17. Uyirin Ragasiyam
• 18. Paarvai 360
• 19. Thoranathu Maavilaigal
• 20. Vivaadhangal Vimarsanangal
• 21. Adutha Nootraandu
• 22. Karpanaikkum Appaal
• 23. Nano Technology
• 24. Oru Vignaana Paarvaiyilirundhu
• 25. Appa Anbulla Appa
• 26. Ezhuthum Vaazhkaiyum
• 27. Chinna Chinna Katturaigal
• 28. Vaaram Oru Paasuram
• 29. Nootraandin irudhiyil Sila Sindhanaigal
• 30. 1000 kanippori vaarthaigal
• 31. Kaneer Illamal
• 32. Nijam Needhi
• 33. Sujathaavi Kelungal
• 34. Kanipporiyin Kadhai
• 35, Seidhi sollum Seyarkai kolgal
• 36. Ki Pi 2000ku appaal
• 37. Veetukul Varum Ulagam
• 38. Silicon Sillu puratchi
• HOW - TO MANUALS
• 1. Thiraikkadhai ezhudhuvadhu eppadi - Book & Manual
• 2. Sirukadhai Ezhudhuvadhu eppadi
• ELIYA ARIMUGAM
• 1. Puranaanooru
• 2. Silappadhigaaram
• 3. Haikoo
• 4. Thirukkural
• 5. Aazhwaargal
• 6. 401 Kaadhal Kavidhaigal - Kurundhogai
• 7. Brahma Sutra
• SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS
• 1. Therndhedutha Sirukadhaigal 1,2,3 by Uyirmmai
• 2. Marma kadhaigal
• 3. Nagaram
• 4. Vignyaana sirukadhaigal
• 5. Miss Thamizh Thaaye Namaskaaram
• 6. Computere Oru Kadhai Sollu
• 7. Karuppu Gudhirai
• 8. Olai Pattasu
• 9. Aatakaaran Sirukadhaigal
• 10. Madhyamar Kadhaigal
• 11. Thoondil Kadhaigal
• 12. Meendum Thoondil Kadhaigal
• 13. Vaanathil Oru Mouna thaaragai
• 14. Sri Rangathu Kadhaigal
• 15. Anumadhi
• 16. Pudhiya Needhi kadhaigal
• 17. Nijathai thedi
• 18. Siru Sirukadhaigal
• 19. Maadhar Thammai
• OTHER PROMINENT COLLECTIONS
• 1. Sujathavin Kurunovelgal 1,2,3,4,5 by Uyirmmai
• 2. Sujatha Sirukadhaigal
• 3. Sujathaavin Naadagangal - Muzhu Thoguppu by Uyirmmai
• MISCELLANEOUS
• 1. 21aam vilimbu
• 2. Innum Oru Pen
• 3. Erakkuraiya Sorgam
• 4. Neerkumizhigal
• 5. Pugaar
• 6. Rayil Punnagai
• 7. Maarudhal varum
• 8. Podhu Marathu Pudhu Mugangal
• 9. Andru Un Arugil
• 10. Kaanikkai
• 11. Hostel dhinangal
• Adutha nuttraandu (next century) - First edition July,1990, VISA publications.
• Vairangal (Diamonds)
• Eppothum Penn (Always a woman) – A Tamil novel influenced by Simone De Beauvoir's The Second Sex
• En Iniya Iyanthira (My Dear Machine) – A science-fiction novel in Tamil involving robots. The novel features Nila, Ravi, Mano, Jeano – a robo dog. The story is composed like everything is happening in 2020 A.D.
• Meendum Jeano – a sequel to En Iniya Iyandhira
• Sorga Theevu – one of the first science fiction works in Tamil
• En? Etharku? Eppadi? – answers to questions by readers, mostly on science
• Katrathum Petrathum (I, II & III)
• Kolaiyuthir Kalam (roughly translated as The Autumn of Murders) – One of his famous detective novels in Tamil, that came as a series in Kumudam, featuring Ganesh and Vasanth. It was also made into a television serial and was aired by Doordarshan's Podhigai channel.
• Pirivom Sandhipom – Part I and Part II – A love story set in Tamiraparani which then travels to New York. Captures a glimpse of an NRI Tamil's life in the early 80s. This novel was later made into a film called 'Aanandha Thaandavam'.
• Nylon Kayiru (Nylon Rope)
• Anitha Ilam Manaivi – a crime story
• Thoondil Kathaigal – a compilation of short stories
• Srirangathu Thevathaigal a series of short stories featuring Sujatha's experiences as a boy, a youth and a man in Srirangam, depicting incidents when he was staying in his grandmother's house in Srirangam.
• "Kanayazhiyin Kadaisee Pakkangal" – a series of articles in the last pages of the magazine Kanayazhi
• Anithavin Kadhalgal
• Aaah! – a story based on hallucinations
• Marina
• "Aadhalinal kadhal seiveer"(complete suspense story )
• Pesum Bommaigal
• Nirvana Nagaram
• 24 rubai thevu
• Kadavulgalin palathaku(Composition)
• Marma kadaikal(Collection of thiller)
• Niramatra Vanavil
• Theendum Inbam
• Alvargal – Oru Elia Arimugam – a Simple introduction to the Geniuses of first millennium
• Kanthalur Vasantha Kumaran kathai- A historic fiction that centers around Raja Raja chozhan empire
• "Retham ore Niram"- Set in Pre-Independence period, this novel narrates the story of young man who wants to take revenge on a British officer who killed his father
• 14 naatkal
• vaimaiye sila samayam vellum

The above works are not listed in chronological order.

Awards

Sujatha received an award from Government of India's National Council for Science and Technology in 1993 for making science accessible to the public through his books, magazine contributions and other media.

VASWIK Award for Electronic Voting Machine.

Kalaimamani Award from the Tamil Nadu Government.

MYLAPORE Academy award for doordharshan best serial "Mahan Ramanujar".

Style and influence

Sujatha was a versatile Tamil author, with several short stories, novels, poems, plays, screenplays for movies, articles on popular science and other non-fiction articles, to his credit. Sujatha wrote a number of sci-fi stories in Tamil and sought to explain science in simple terms to the layman. He would routinely answer science questions in magazines like Junior Vikatan. His science FAQ has been released as separate books called En, Etharku, Eppadi and Athisaya Ulagam by Vikatan Publications.

He worked on "Katradhum, Petradhum" in Anantha Vikatan and "Sujatha Bathilgal" in Kumudam and Kungumam.

Interests

His interests included computers,archeology, astrophysics, biotechnology, neuroscience, Carnatic music, Tamil literature, and sociology.

Contribution to films

He extended his composing skills and expertise from science to movies. The first of these efforts were Gaayathri and Priya. In Priya, his fictional character Ganesh was played by Rajinikanth. Kamal Hassan's Vikram was composed by him. He penned dialogues for the movie Roja, directed by Maniratnam. In recent times he has been associated with Mani Ratnam (for Iruvar, Kannathil Muthamittal, Aayitha Ezhuthu, etc.), Shankar (for Boys, Anniyan, Indian, Mudhalvan, Sivaji, and Enthiran) and Azhagam Perumal is Udhaya. He was also a co-producer for the banner MediaDreams, which went on to produce the critically acclaimed Bharathi, a biopic of the great Tamil poet Bhaarathiyaar.

He was working on Shankar's Enthiran before he died on 27 February 2008.

Films

As Writer

• Enthiran (2010)
• Ananda Thandavam (2009)
• Dasavathaaram (2008) (uncredited)
• Sivaji (2007)
• Anniyan (2005)
• Udhaya (2004)
• Kangalal Kaidhu Sei (2004)
• Aayutha Ezhuthu (2004)
• Chellame (2004)
• Boys (2003)
• Kannathil Muthamittal (2002)
• Nila Kaalam (2001)
• Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000)
• Mudhalvan (1999)
• Uyire (1998)
• Iruvar (1997)
• Indian (1996)
• Thiruda Thiruda (1993)
• Roja (1992)
• Vikram (1986)
• Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo (1981)
• Ninaithale Inikkum (1979)
• Priya (1978)
• Gaayathri (1977)

As Producer

• Little John (2001)
• Bharathi (2000)

External links

• Sujatha – One Hundred Tamils of 20th Century
• Sujatha @ Tamil Friends

• https://transparenttides.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/an-almost-complete-list-of-sujathas-works/
• https://transparenttides.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/sujatha-the-rockstar-of-writers/