T. R. Pappa

Papa's real name is Sivasankaran, who is from a lineage of musical family in Thruthuraipoondi. He started training on the violin from early childhood. His father, Radhakrishnan, had inability to pay tuition fees his education was stopped in middle. He was trained by Siva Vadivelu Pillai who joined in National movie tone cinema company, as fiddle player to some movies Seemanthini 1936 Parvathi Kalyanam 1936 and this life of carrying instruments ended in 1938.

After he joined as a helper to S.G. Kasi Iyer, elder brother of great Kittappa. In 1941 most of the citizens was flying to other towns due to fear of Japanese Bombing Jupiter Pictures was shifted to Coimbatore, M.S.Viswanathan went with S.V.Venkatraman who is famous music director on those days. Kalki's daughter Ananthi, Sadasivam's daughter Radha were dancers, jointly made dance Programmes, M.S.Viswanathan as Playback Singer along with Papa Violin.

Papa started playing the violin in Manonmani (Modern Theatres) and Kannagi, Kubera Kuchela and Mahamaya (Jupiter Pictures). In the late 40s, Papa and T. K. Ramamoorthy were the highest paid violinists for the movies and were always in demand. He was the Director of Music Colleges

Papa became music director for Malayalam film Aathmasanthi in 1952. The chance was given to him by Joseph Thaliath Jr. of Citadel Film Corporation. This film is dubbed in Tamil under the same title.

Then onwards, Papa went on to compose for many of Citadel films such as Mallika, Vijayapuri Veeran, Vilakketriyaval, Iravum Pagalum and Kathal Paduthum Padu.

Papa also composed music for many Sinhalese films. The song Siriyame Sara, sung by H. R. Jothipala is one of the popular hits in Sinhalese.

He worked with singers like T. M. Soundararajan, A. M. Rajah, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Thiruchi Loganathan, C. S. Jayaraman, S. C. Krishnan, A. L. Raghavan, M. L. Vasanthakumari, P. Leela, Jikki, T. V. Rathnam, A. P. Komala, P. B. Sreenivas, K. Jamuna Rani, P. Susheela, A. G. Rathnamala, T. S. Bagavathi, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, A. Nithyakala, S. Janaki, L. R. Eswari, S. P. Balasubrahmaniam, B. S. Sasirekha and S. P. Sailaja.

The singing actors K. R. Ramasamy, T. R. Rajakumari, P. Bhanumathi, N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Madhuram and J. P. Chandrababu also sang memorable songs under his compositions.

As a Nilaya Vidwan of AIR from 1946, Papa accompanied the violin for many great classical vocalists. He composed music for many wonderful devotional albums with Seerkazhi Govindarajan where the song Chinnanjiru Penn Pole dedicated to the Goddess Abirami is notable. Papa scored music for the album Abirami Andhaadhi. Papa has served as the Principal of Madras Music College.

T. R. Ramanna and Papa were classmates in Thanjavur. T. R. Ramanna was in the midst of the making of Arunagirinathar when the music director G. Ramanathan fell ill. Papa was called upon to complete the rest of the songs. T. R. Ramana again engaged Papa for his movies in the early 1970s.

Tamil Isai Sangam conferred the title Isai Perarignar (Great Scholar of Music) on him.

Some of the notable music compositions:

• Enna Enna Inbame for Anbu by A. M. Rajah and Jikki
• Samarasam Ulaavum Idame for Rambaiyin Kaadhal by Seerkazhi Govindarajan
• Bagavane Mounam Eno for Rambaiyin Kaadhal by Seerkazhi Govindarajan
• Varuven Naan Unadhu for Mallika by A. M. Rajah and P. Susheela
• Chinnanjiru Vayathu Mudhal for Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali by T. M. Soundararajan and Jikki
• Yaar Solluvaar Nilave for Kuravanji by C. S. Jayaraman
• Sirikkindraal Indru Sirikkindraal for Nallavan Vazhvan by Sirkazhi Govindarajan and P. Susheela
• Ullam Thedaathe Endru Solluthe for Ethaiyum Thangum Idhayam by K. R. Ramasamy and S. Janaki
• Unakkum Enakkum Veguthooram Illai for Ethaiyum Thangum Idhayam by Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
• Muththaitharu Paththithala for Arunagirinathar by T. M. Soundararajan
• Onnume puriyale ulagathile for Kumara Raja by J. P. Chandrababu
• Ullathin Kadhavugal Kanngalada for Iravum Pagalum by T. M. Soundararajan
• Muththama Asai Muththama for Vilakketriyaval by P. Susheela
• Asai Ponggum Azhagu Roobam for Asai by A. M. Rajah and Jikki
• Soodi Koduthaval Naan Thozhi for Teacheramma by P. Susheela
• Thalai Vaari poochoodi Unnai for Rangoon Radha by P. Bhanumathi
• Iraivan Endroru Kavignan for Yen by S. P. Balasubrahmaniam
• Ullathile Uram Vendumada for Vijayapuri Veeran by A. M. Rajah
• Vennila Nerathile Venugaanam for Avasara Kalyanam by P. Susheela

• Myriad Music Composers of the Last Century in My Movie Minutes