S. Ramanujam, known as the Bhishma of modern Tamil theatre, but was equally popular in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, died in Thanjavur on Monday night.
He was 80 and is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Born in Nanguneri, Ramanujam was responsible for reviving Kaisikapuranam performed in Thirukurungudi temple in Tirunelveli district with the support of noted dancer Anita Ratnam.
Left leaning by choice, his early life was influenced by education based on Gandhian principles. He worked as a teacher in a school run by M. Arunachalam in Thiurchitrambalam near Sirkazhi. When Gandhigram Rural University was launched he joined it and was sent to National School of Drama. He was a student of Alkazi, the eminent theatre personality and later became his close friend. After completing his studies in NSD, he joined School of Drama and Fine Arts in Thrissur set up by playwright G. Sankara Pillai.
“His production of Sankara Pillai’s Karutha Theivathai Thedi is an all-time classic in modern Malayalam theatre,” said V. Arasu, former Head of the Department of Tamil, Madras University. The first Vice-Chancellor of Thanjavur Tamil University V.I. Subramaniam made him head of the department of theatre. Writer and dramatist Indira Parthasarathy said Ramanujam helped him set up a department for theatre in Pondicherry University. “He staged my ‘Kala Enthirangal,’ a difficult and complex play along with the Alliance Francaise in Puducherry,” said Mr. Parthasarathy. He also produced Mr. Parthasarathy’s famous play ‘Ramanujar’ in 2014.
He was responsible for reviving Kaisikapuranam performed in Thirukurungudi
