Tamil Playback Singer Krishnaraj Ramasamy Dies At 75

Tamil playback singer Krishnaraj Ramasamy has died in Chennai at the age of 75 due to ill health. He was living in Valasaravakkam, Chennai, and had been undergoing treatment for health issues. His body will be taken to his hometown, Vembadithalam in Salem, on Friday morning. His passing marks the third major loss for the Tamil film community in less than a week. It comes five days after the death of composer Deva on October 17, and two days after the death of Deva's nephew, actor Karthik Sabesh, on October 20. During the 1990s and early 2000s, Krishnaraj and Deva formed one of the most prolific singer-composer pairs in Tamil cinema. Deva frequently chose Krishnaraj for songs requiring energy, folk authenticity, and a voice capable of carrying mass appeal and emotional weight. Krishnaraj worked as a weaver before pursuing music, learning to play instruments and singing with troupes and at religious events while looking for his break. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay posted a tribute on X calling the death a great loss to Tamil cinema and praising his unique voice and energetic songs. Singer Chinmayi Sripaada noted the exhausting week, while singer Sujatha Mohan called him Deva's favourite singer and her own, noting he supervised many songs she sang. Playback singer Anuradha Sriram visited his Chennai home to pay condolences, and Sarathkumar shared a heartfelt tribute recalling songs like "Paasamulla Sooriyane" and "Thaayae Thirisoolee" that featured Krishnaraj's voice across over 300 tracks.

Context

The sudden loss of multiple prominent figures within a single week is a rare and heavy blow to any regional film industry. Playback singers and composers like Krishnaraj and Deva form the backbone of Indian film music, shaping the cultural soundscape of decades of cinema.