Premgi Amaren

Prem Kumar Gangai Amaren. (born 25 February 1979), better known as Premgi Amaren, is an Indian playback singer, film composer, songwriter and actor. Son of veteran film composer and singer Gangai Amaran, he often composes rap songs in Tamil cinema and is known for his comical performances in the Venkat Prabhu films Chennai 600028, Saroja, Goa and Mankatha.^[1] His stage name, Premgi, is actually a spelling error, as it is meant to be "Prem G.", (the G referring to his father's name).^[2]

Career

Primarily interested in composing music, Premgi started his career as an assistant to film music composer and his cousin Yuvan Shankar Raja,^[3] turning a playback singer, singing mostly the rap portions in Yuvan Shankar Raja's compositions,^[2] before working with other music composers as well. Working with Yuvan Shankar Raja, he also remixed some of his compositions for the soundtrack albums, the first being "Loosu Penne" from the film Vallavan.^[4]

In 2006, however, he made his acting debut in Silambarasan's Vallavan as the heroine's friend, following which he starred in his brother, Venkat Prabhu's directorial debut Chennai 600028 (2007), in which he played the role of Seenu. The movie went on to become the year's biggest summer blockbuster, establishing Premgi as a comedy actor.^[5] He joined with his brother for his next film Saroja which fetched him accolades for his performance as Ganesh Kumar.

He appeared as a lead character in Venkat Prabhu's Goa (2010), before going on to make further appearances in Mankatha (2011) and Settai (2013). In 2013, he made his Malayalam debut in North 24 Kaatham.^[1] In the upcoming Maanga he plays the lead character and also works as the music composer.^[3] He currently acts in Chennai 600028 II: Second Innings, which is a sequel of the super-hit movie Chennai 600028.^[6]

Composing

In 2005, he became an independent music director with Gnabagam Varuthe starring his brother.^[4] After that he composed for Agathiyan's Nenjathai Killathe and for Thozha, in which he played one of the leading roles as well. Apart from film music, he composed music for an episode titled Planet Galatta II – Adra Sakkae in a Singapore satellite channel.^[4]

Family

Premgi is the son of veteran director and musician Gangai Amaran and the younger brother of film director and actor Venkat Prabhu. Film composer Ilaiyaraaja is his uncle, while Yuvan Shankar Raja, Karthik Raja and Bhavatharini are his cousins.

Filmography

As actor

As music director

Discography

Awards

International Tamil Film Awards

• Best Supporting Actor – Mankatha

References

External links

• Premgi Amaren on IMDb