# Palani Bharathi

Palani Bharathi or Pazhani Bharathi (pronounced or) is an Indian writer and lyricist who works in Tamil cinema.

## Early life

Palani Bharathi was born in Karaikudi to Sami Palaniappan, a poet, and Kamala. He has a brother and four sisters. Palaniappan was an assistant of orator/writer Kundrakudi Adigal and follower of poet Bharathidasan. When Palaniappan moved to Madras (now Chennai) with his family in search of work, he got a job in the government newspaper Tamil Arasu. As a result, Bharathi studied and grew in Chennai. He initially studied at a municipal school, and later at Ganapathi Higher Secondary School till the twelfth grade. Aspiring to become a film editor, he tried joining the M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute, to no avail.

## Career

Bharathi began his career by editing articles, mainly correcting factual errors, in publications including Neerottam and Porval. He later got a job in the Tamil Nadu Textbook Corporation, of checking and recording the account of volumes of books transported in vehicles from the book warehouse, with his salary being ₹10 (equivalent to ₹86 or 98¢ US in 2023) per day. Bharathi was not very interested in that job, which did not last for more than a month. Unlike his father, Bharathi liked listening to filmi songs, and aspired to become a film lyricist. He was eventually introduced to director Vikraman, and wrote a song for the film Perum Pulli (1991) which did not appear onscreen. Bharathi later wrote some songs for Annai Vayal (1992); though the film was unsuccessful, the songs were well received and he received more offers. He achieved significant success writing all the songs for Ullathai Allitha (1996), and the 1995–1997 period is considered his "golden years", during which he wrote for over 100 films.

## Style

Bharathi prefers to write in simple, understandable language, taking inspiration from Kannadasan and Vaali. He explained, "Any literary piece is worth only if it reaches the audience and I keep it very simple. I don't believe in being verbose". He also said, "A song is no longer listened to for its meaning, it is mostly bought for the sake of rhythm and beat. Words go only to serve the musical purpose, not the semantic purpose". Palani Bharathi identifies himself as a "people's lyricist".

## Controversies

Palani Bharathi wrote slanderous articles about Malathy Maitri, a founder of the feminist literary movement Anangu, and was eventually forced to write a public apology.

## Discography

| Year | Movie | Song(s) | Music Director | Note |
| 1990s |||||
| 1991 | Perum Pulli | "Ilamaiyin Vizhigalil" | S. A. Rajkumar | |
| 1993 | Naan Pesa Ninaipathellam | "Yalean Kiliyae" "Manoduthu Mayiloduthu" "Adi Pulla Alla Marathula" "Aagaya Gangaye" "Poonguyil Ragame" | Sirpy | |
| 1993 | Gokulam | "Chittada Rakkai" "Nane Madai Mela" "Puthu Roja Puthiruchu" "Antha Vanam" "Chevanthi Poo" "Chinna Chinna Assai" "Pon Malayil" "Therkke Adikkuthu" | Sirpy | |
| 1994 | Pavithra | "Eechambazham" | A. R. Rahman | |
| 1994 | Pudhiya Mannargal | "Eduda Antha Sooriya" "Vaanil Yeni" "Nee Kattum Selai" "Vaadi Saathukodi" | A. R. Rahman | |
| 1995 | Murai Maman | "Poove Poove" "Yennachi Yennachi" | Vidyasagar | |
| 1996 | Ullathai Allitha | "Adi Anarkali" "Azhagiya Laila" "Chittu Chittu Kuruvikku" "I Love You Love You" "Mama Nee Mama" | Sirpy | |
| 1996 | Poove Unakkaga | "Anantham Anantham" "Sollamalae" "Machinichi" | S. A. Rajkumar | |
| 1996 | Sengottai | "Uchchi Muthal Patham" | Vidyasagar | |
| 1996 | Mettukudi | "Anbulla Mannavane" "Velvetta Velvetta" "Indha Poonthendral" "Adi Yaaradhu Yaaradhu" "Mana Madurai Gundu Malliye" "Saravanabava" | Sirpy | |
| 1997 | Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga | "Baghavanae" "Oru Mani Adithal" "Babilona" "Putham Pudhu Malargal" | Deva | |
| 1997 | Kathirunda Kadhal | "Alai Alai" "Dhavani Devathai" "Irin Scalila" "Kangalil Vanthaval" "Many Many" "Sir Uh Porandha" | Sirpy | |
| 1997 | Nesam | "O Ranganatha" "Madonna Varuvala" "Natchathira Bangla" "Thuli Thuli" | Deva | |
| 1997 | Mannava | "Pa Pa Chinnapappa" | Deva | |
| 1997 | Aravindhan | "All The Best" "Hey Ponnamma, Un Lovvu Yaaru Sollamma" "Pothum Idhu Pothum" "Eera Nila" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| 1997 | Arunachalam | "Alli Alli Anarkili" "Mathadu Mathadu" | Deva | |
| 1997 | Raasi | "Yenadi Yenadi" "Ennai Thedatho" "Kadhalin Desam" "Poomalai" "Thendral" "Ennachu Thangachi" | Sirpy | |
| 1997 | Sishya | "Yaro Azhaithadhu" "Thigu Thigura" "O Lamba" | Deva | |
| 1997 | Ullaasam | "Konjum Manjal" "Veesum Kaatrukku" | Karthik Raja | |
| 1997 | Pasamulla Pandiyare | "Discovery Channel" "Oh Lovely" | Deva | |
| 1997 | Surya Vamsam | "Kadhala Kadhala" | S. A. Rajkumar | |
| 1997 | Once More | "Ooty Malai Beauty" | Deva | |
| 1997 | V. I. P. | "Netru No No Naalai No No" | Ranjit Barot | |
| 1997 | Kadhali | "Oh Nenje" | Deva | |
| 1997 | Kalyana Vaibhogam | "Vizhiyoda Adiye" | Deva | |
| 1997 | Janakiraman | "Hawaliya Hawaliya" "Hey Cha Cha Kadalicha" "Kadal Solla Varthai" "Pottu Mela Pottu" "Yenadi Kanne" | Sirpy | |
| 1997 | Periya Manushan | "Vaalapaari Chinna" | Deva | |
| 1997 | Poochudava | "Computer Graphic" "Kaadhal Kaadhal Kaadhal" "Nee Illai" "Sillu Sillu" "Vaaliba Vayasukku" | Sirpy | |
| 1997 | Kadhalukku Mariyadhai | "Ennai Thalaata" "Anantha Kuyilin Pattu" "Oru Pattam Poochi" "Idhu Sangeetha Thirunalo" "Anantha Kuyilin Pattu" "O Baby" "Ennai Thalatta Varuvala" "Ayya Veedu Therandhuthan" | Ilaiyaraaja | Won Best Lyricist |
| 1997 | Ottam | "Ottam Than" "Sooriyanai" "Shabba Shabba" "En Kadhal Neruppe" "Poonthendrale" "Oh! Vandhale" | A. R. Rahman | |
| 1998 | Moovendhar | "Chera Enna" "Nenja Thirandhu" "Singakutty" "Sokku Sundari" | Sirpy | |
| 1998 | Kaadhale Nimmadhi | "Gangai Nadhiye" "Indha Devathaikku" | Deva | |
| 1998 | Ninaithen Vandhai | "Vannanilavae Vannanilavae" "Ennavale Ennavale" "Maligayae Maligaiyae" "Un Marbile Vizhi Moodi" "Pottu Vaithu Poomudikkum" | Deva | |
| 1998 | Monalisa | "Enthan Uyir" "Veesum Thendral" "Eera Thamaraikku" "Ninaithale Inikkum" "Ajantha Oviyam" | A. R. Rahman | |
| 1998 | Aval Varuvala | "Sikki Mukki" "Idhu Kaadhalin" "Kaadhal Enna" "Ooh Vandhadhu" "Rukku Rukku" "Selaiyile Veedu" | S. A. Rajkumar | |
| 1998 | Priyamudan | "Pooja Vaa" "Mouriya" | Deva | |
| 1998 | Sandhippoma | "Naanthaan" "Andha Vennila" | Deva | |
| 1998 | Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen | "Thottabedda Kuliru" | S. A. Rajkumar | |
| 1998 | Desiya Geetham | "Ladies Special" "Naan Vaakkapattu" | Ilayaraaja | |
| 1998 | En Uyir Neethaane | "Mela Mela" "Pathinettu Vayasu" | Deva | |
| 1999 | Endrendrum Kadhal | "O Thendrale" "Kangala Minnala" | Manoj–Gyan | |
| 1999 | Nenjinile | "Prime Minister" | Deva | |
| 1999 | Poovellam Kettuppar | "CBI Enge" "Chudithar Aninthu" "Irava Pagala" "Poothathu" "Poove Poove" "Oh Senyoreeta" "Sevvaanam Vetkam Kondathu" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| 1999 | Thodarum | "Shock Adikkum" | Ilaiyaraaja | |
| 1999 | Unnai Thedi | "Naalai Kalai" "Neethana" "Poraale" "Oyila Oyila" | Deva | |
| 1999 | Suyamvaram | "Margazhi Maasathu" "Sekka Sivanthavalea" | 4 composers | |
| 1999 | Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga | "Vennila Veliye" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| 1999 | Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa | "Tirupathi Elumalai Venkatesa" | S. A. Rajkumar | |
| 1999 | Sethu | "Kadhalenna Kadhalenna" "Sikaadha Sitrondru" | Ilaiyaraaja | |
| 2000s |||||
| 2000 | Kannukkul Nilavu | "Iravu Pagalai Theda" "Nilavu Paatu" "Oru Naal Oru Kanavu" "Adida Melathai" "Roja Poonthotam" "Enthen Kuilenge" "Chinnanchiru Kiliye" | Ilaiyaraaja | |
| 2000 | Rajakali Amman | "Santhana Malligaiyil" | S. A. Rajkumar | |
| 2001 | Friends | "Thendral Varum" "Kuyilikku Koo Koo" "Rukku Rukku" "Manjal Poosum Vaanam" "Penkaloda Potti" "Poonkatrae" "Vaanam Perusuthan" | Ilaiyaraaja | |
| 2001 | Rishi | "Vaa Vaa Poove Vaa" "Jumbo Idhu Kadhal" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| 2001 | Thaalikaatha Kaaliamman | "Sun TV" | Sirpy | |
| 2001 | Badri | "Travelling Soldier" "Adi Jivunnu Jivunnu" "Salaam Maharasa" "Ennoda Laila" "Kalakalakudhu" "Kadhal Solvadhu" "Angel Vandhaaley" "King Of Chennai" "Stella Maris Laara" | Ramana Gogula | |
| 2001 | Star | "Adi Nenthikkitten" | A. R. Rahman | |
| 2001 | Nandha | "Mun Paniyaa" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| 2001 | Kasi | "Punniyam Thedi Kasikku" | Ilaiyaraaja | |
| 2002 | Azhagi | "Damakku Damakku Dum" "Kuruvi Kodanja" | Ilaiyaraaja | |
| 2002 | Ramanaa | "Vaanaviley" "Vennilavin" "Oorukkoru" "Vaanaviley" "Angey Yaaru Paaru" | Ilaiyaraaja | |
| 2002 | Jaya | "Velli Kolusumani" | Bharani | |
| 2003 | Parasuram | "Chittukuruvi" "Jack And Jill" | A. R. Rahman | |
| 2003 | Jayam | "Kanamoochi" "Kodi Kodi Minnalgal" | R. P. Patnaik | |
| 2003 | Kaadhal Kondein | "Manasu Rendum" "Kadhal Mattum Purivathillai" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| 2003 | Pithamagan | "Elangaathu Veesudhey" | Ilaiyaraaja | |
| 2004 | Udhaya | "Pookum Malarai" "Anjanam" | A. R. Rahman | |
| 2004 | Perazhagan | "Ambuli Mama" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| 2004 | Kuthu | "Pachai Kili" | Srikanth Deva | |
| 2004 | Thendral | "Aazhakkadalu" | Vidyasagar | |
| 2005 | Maayavi | "Jo Jo Jothika" "Kadavul Thantha Azhakiya Vaalvu" | Devi Sri Prasad | |
| 2005 | Sachein | "Dai Dai Dai Kattikkoda" | Devi Sri Prasad | |
| 2005 | Chidambarathil Oru Appasamy | "Anaithu Vidungal" | Ilaiyaraaja | |
| 2007 | Naan Avanillai | "Then Kudicha" | Vijay Antony | |
| 2009 | Nesi | | Sirpy | |
| 2009 | Vannathupoochi | "Katril Katril" | Rehan | |
| 2014 | Un Samayal Arayil | "Indha Porapudhan" "Eeramai Eeramai" "Therintho Theriyamalo" "Kaatru Veliyil" | Ilaiyaraaja | |
| 2015 | Dharani | "Malapola Unna Sumanthenae" "Yar Kobam" "Kanavae Kanavae" | Yensone Bakyanathan | |
| 2022 | Kantara (D) | "He Semmandha Azhage" "Aanamale Kaatukulla" "Manidhanin Payanathil" | B. Ajaneesh Loknath | |
| 2024 | Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam | "Aale Patha" | M. Jayachandran | Malayalam film with Tamil song |

### Television

| Year | TV Series | Network | Song(s) | Music Director/ Composer(s) |
| 2001 | Aanandha Bhavan | Sun TV | "Intha Vanathin Keezha Vazhum" | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| 2001 | Kavyanjali | Star Vijay | "Pasathil Irandu Paravai" | Aravind Siddhartha |
| 2003 | Kolangal | Sun TV | "Kolangal Kolangal Azhagana Kolangal" | D. Imman |
| 2003 | Kolangal | Sun TV | "Poovil Oru Idhalaga Piranthirunthal" "Kanbathenna Kanavo Kanimazhalai Ninaivo" "Kalyana Karunyaam Nithya" "Vazhi Meethu Vizhi Vaithu Kaathirukindren" "Kanavil Karuvai Sumakindrom" "Vanam Pole Valimaikkonda" "Singara Tamizhe" | Kiran |
| 2005 | Malargal | Sun TV | "Arisi Mavale Kolam Podu" | Vijay Antony |
| 2007 | Magal | Sun TV | "Aariraro Aariraro" | Rajhesh Vaidhya |
| 2008 | Bhuvaneswari | Sun TV | | |
| 2012 | Sondha Bandham | Sun TV | "Vanathil Vennilavu" | Bunty & Sunitha Sarathy |
| 2015 | Kula Deivam | Sun TV | "Achuvellam Pacharasi Mavilakku" | Sanjeev Rathan |

## Notable works

* Neruppu Paarvaigal (collection of poems)
* Veli Nadappu
* Kadhalin Pin Kadhavu
* Mazhaippen
* Purakkal Maraintha Iravu
* Mutthangalin Pazhakkadai
* Thanimaiyil Vilayaadum Bommai
* Thanniril Vizhuntha Veyil
* Kaatrin Kaiyezhuththu

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Result | Note |
| 1997 | Tamil Nadu State Film Award | Best Lyricist | Won | For Kadhalukku Mariyadhai |
| 1998 | Kalaimamani | Film Personality | Won | The highest civilian award in the state of Tamil Nadu, India |
| 2021 | Kaviko Award | | Won | |