Premgi Amaren
{{short description|Indian actor, comedian (born 1979)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Premgi Amaren
| background = solo_singer
| image = PREMGI_AMAREN.jpg
| birth_name = Prem Kumar Gangai Amaren
| alias = Premgi Amaren, Prem G
| spouse = Indhu (m. 2024)
| module3=relative: Venkat Prabhu (brother)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|2|26}}
| occupations = Actor, comedian, composer, singer, rapper
| years_active = 2006–present
}}
Prem Kumar Gangai Amaren (born 26 February 1979), better known as Premgi or Premji ({{IPAc-en|p|r|eɪ|m|dʒ|i}}) is an Indian singer, composer, songwriter, actor and comedian. The son of composer and director Gangai Amaran, he often composes rap songs in Tamil cinema and is known for his comical performances in his elder brother Venkat Prabhu's films.{{cite web|url=http://origin-www.sify.com/movies/premji-amaren-makes-his-malayalam-debut-news-malayalam-nhbiSvhciej.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225225241/http://origin-www.sify.com/movies/premji-amaren-makes-his-malayalam-debut-news-malayalam-nhbiSvhciej.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 February 2019|title=Premji Amaren makes his Malayalam debut!|website=Sify|access-date=25 February 2019}}
He is also best known for his catchphrases "Enna koduma sir idhu?" ({{translation|What atrocity is this, sir?}}) and "Evvalavo pannitom, itha panna mattoma?" ({{translation|We've done so much, won't we do this also?}}), the former being a modified version of a famous dialogue used by Prabhu in Chandramukhi (2005).{{Cite news |last=CR |first=Sharanya |date=20 January 2017 |title=I'm not a comedian: Premgi |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/im-not-a-comedian-premgi/articleshow/56666306.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=2 October 2020 |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420001141/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/im-not-a-comedian-premgi/articleshow/56666306.cms |url-status=live }}
Career
In 1997, Premgi planned to enter the film industry as a director with a project titled Wanted starring his elder brother and S. P. B. Charan. The film, which had his younger cousin brother as music composer and his father and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam as comedians, did not complete shoot.{{cite web|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/97/Oct/a-z/atoz-5.htm|title=A-Z (V)|date=24 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424003725/http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/97/Oct/a-z/atoz-5.htm|access-date=26 February 2019|url-status=usurped|archive-date=24 April 2013}}
In 2005, he became an independent music director with Gnabagam Varuthe, starring his brother.
Primarily interested in composing music, Premgi then started his career as an assistant to film music composer and his cousin Yuvan Shankar Raja,{{cite web |title=Premji's M'Wood bound |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130727/entertainment-mollywood/article/premjis-mwood-bound |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112051102/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130727/entertainment-mollywood/article/premjis-mwood-bound |archive-date=12 January 2018 |access-date=25 February 2019 |website=Deccan Chronicle}} turning a playback singer, singing mostly the rap portions in Yuvan Shankar Raja's compositions,{{cite web |date=February 25, 2013 |title=Happy Birthday Premji |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/91308.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131106132623/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/91308.html |archive-date=6 November 2013 |access-date=22 April 2024 |website=IndiaGlitz.com}} 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 (2006).
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 Seenu. The movie went on to become the year's biggest summer blockbuster, establishing Premgi as a comedy actor.{{Cite news|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/31681.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611114242/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/31681.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2007|title=Cinema News {{!}} Movie Reviews {{!}} Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz|work=IndiaGlitz.com|access-date=2017-09-26}}
After that, he composed for Agathiyan's Nenjathai Killathe (2008) and for Thozha (2008), 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 on Singapore's satellite channel, "Mediacorp Vasantham". He joined with his brother for his next film Saroja (2008), which fetched him accolades for his performance as Ganesh Kumar.
He appeared as a lead character in his elder brother's Goa (2010), before going on to make further appearances in Mankatha (2011) and Settai (2013). He made his Malayalam debut in North 24 Kaatham (2013). In the upcoming Maanga, he plays the lead character and also works as the music composer. He has acted in Chennai 600028 II (2016) which is a sequel of the super-hit movie Chennai 600028.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIT2BBXRmCs|title=Actor Premgi Amaren talks about how to celebrate a party - Premgi Interview - Manam Magazine|last=Manam Magazine|date=8 April 2016|access-date=25 February 2019|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}
Amaren composed a song with singer Suresh Peters called "The One Anthem", and it was made as a tribute to the legend Michael Jackson.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/jul/10/tribute-to-the-king-of-pop-1626640.html|title=Tribute to the King of Pop|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=2017-09-26|archive-date=22 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422073310/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/jul/10/tribute-to-the-king-of-pop-1626640.html|url-status=live}}
Personal life
Premgi is the son of 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. He married Indu on 9 June 2024 at Thiruthani Murugan Temple.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-09 |title=Actor Premgi Amaren gets married to longtime partner Indu in a private ceremony |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/actor-premgi-amaren-gets-married-to-longtime-partner-indu-in-a-private-ceremony-venkat-prabhu-shares-pictures-2550893-2024-06-09 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=India Today |language=en}}
His stage name, Premgi, is actually a spelling error, as it is meant to be "Prem G.", the G standing for his father.{{Cite web |date=2014-04-29 |title=Premji Amaren In Love: Exclusive interview |url=http://indiapulse.sulekha.com/entertainment/premji-amaren-in-love-exclusive-interview_post_6141 |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=indiapulse.sulekha.com |language=en}}
Filmography
=As actor=
;Films
{{pending films key}}
;Web series
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of Premgi Amaren web series acting credits | |||
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Live Telecast | Bigil Sathya | |
| 2023 | Badep | Malaysia Tamil language TV series |
=As music director=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Tamil | Other languages | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Gnabagam Varuthe | ||
| 2006 | Thunichal | ||
| rowspan="3"| 2008 | Nenjathai Killadhe | ||
| Thozha | |||
| Nannusire (Kannada) | |||
| rowspan="2"|2009 | Adhe Neram Adhe Idam | ||
| Kasko (Telugu) | |||
| rowspan="1"|2010 | Goa | Additional background score only | |
| rowspan="1"|2014 | Ennamo Nadakkudhu | ||
| rowspan="1"|2015 | Maanga | ||
| rowspan="1"|2016 | Achamindri | ||
| rowspan="1"|2018 | Party | Unreleased | |
| rowspan="2"|2019 | Zombie | ||
| RK Nagar{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2017/may/30/rk-nagar-is-not-a-political-film-1610532.html|title='RK Nagar is not a political film'|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=2017-09-26|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519090940/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2017/may/30/rk-nagar-is-not-a-political-film-1610532.html|url-status=live}} | released on Netflix | ||
| rowspan="2"|2021 | Kasada Thapara | Composed one song "Vaa Un Neram" | |
| Tamil Rockers | |||
| 2022 | Manmadha Leelai |
Discography
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Film
! Song | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Velai
| "Kaalathukku Etta Gana" | ||
| 2001 | 12B
| "Anandam" | ||
| 2004 | Arya (Telugu)
| "You Rock My World" | ||
| 2004 | Gudumba Shankar
| "Chitti Nadumune" | ||
| 2004 | Vidyardhi | "Andhra Khiladi Vidyardhi" | chorus/rap portions |
| 2004 | Thirupaachi
| "Kannum Kannum" | ||
| 2005 | Raam
| "Boom Boom" | ||
| 2005 | Arinthum Ariyamalum
| "Thee Pidikka" | ||
| 2005 | Kanda Naal Mudhal
| "Pushing It Hard" | ||
| 2006 | Manathodu Mazhaikalam
| "Panivizhum Kaalam" | ||
| 2006 | Azhagai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukkirathu
| "Orampo Naina" | ||
| 2007 | Chennai 600028
| "Saroja Saman Nikkalo" | ||
| 2008 | Thozha
| "Rendupakkam Singamda" | ||
| 2008 | Thozha
| "Oru Nayagan" | ||
| 2008 | Nenjathai Killadhe
| "Naanga Beeru Kudichaa" | ||
| 2008 | Sathyam
| "Ada Gada Gada" | ||
| 2008 | Nenu Meeku Telusa? (Telugu)
| "Yenno Yenno" | ||
| 2011 | Mankatha
| "Machi Open The Bottle" | ||
| 2012 | Veyilodu Vilayadu
| "Kattukadanga Puyalena" | ||
| 2007 | Chennai 600028
| "Jalsa" | ||
| 2013 | Onbadhula Guru
| "Theera Theera" | ||
| 2006 | Vallavan
| "Loosu Penne" (Club Mix) | Remixed by Premgi Amaren | |
| 2006 | Pattiyal
| "Kannai Vittu Kann Imaigal" (Remix) | Remixed by Premgi Amaren | |
| 2007 | Chennai 600028
| "Jalsa" (Remix) | Remixed by Premgi Amaren | |
| 2009 | Kasko
| "Whistle Kottu" | ||
| 2010 | Goa
| "Goa" (Club Mix) | Remixed by Premgi Amaren | |
| 2011 | Mankatha
| "Vilayadu Mankatha" (Extended Dance Mix) | Remixed by Premgi Amaren | |
| 2013 | Biriyani
| "Nahnh Na Nah" (Extended Dance Mix) | Remixed by Premgi Amaren | |
| 2015 | Masss
| "Therikidhu Masss" (Gasa Gasa Mix) | Remixed by Premgi Amaren | |
| 2013 | Biriyani
| "Mississippi | ||
| 2017
|{{n/a}} |"Friendship Anthem" | |||
| 2021 | Kodiyil Oruvan
|"Slum Anthem" | ||
| 2020
|"Plan Panni" | |||
| 2023
|"But Andha Dealing Enakku Pudichirukku" | Malaysian Tamil Series | ||
| 2023
|Custody (Telugu) |"Ammo Nee Rukkumini" | |||
| 2023
|"Ammani Rukkumani" |
Awards
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=2908893|name=Premgi Amaren}}
- {{Twitter|premgiamaren|Premgi Amaren}}
- {{Facebook|PremgiAmarenOfficial|Premgi Amaren}}
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Category:Indian male film actors
Category:Indian male playback singers
Category:Telugu playback singers
Category:Tamil playback singers
Category:International Tamil Film Award winners
Category:Tamil film score composers
Category:Indian male film score composers
Category:Indian male comedians