In front of a packed audience in Chennai’s Museum Theatre last week, Bharadwaj started singing.
He sang just a couple of lines – from his popular ‘Nyabagam Varuthey’ from Cheran’s Autograph (2004) – and had the whole audience captivated.
What Bharadwaj did recently at ICAN Awards 2025 ceremony was rekindle nostalgia with one of his most popular songs from a superhit Tamil film that, ironically, was all about nostalgia.
That past hit is being served again for audiences. With Autograph re-releasing this week – replete with fresh visuals and what looks like a makeover – reminiscence is back in flavour. Making his presence felt again is music composer Bharadwaj. In his three decades in Tamil cinema, the musician has indulged in a variety of genres. Among several superhits, he has dished out an energetic ‘O Podu’ (Gemini), a soulful ‘Oovaru Pookalume’ (Autograph) and a melodious ‘Kaadu Thirande’ (Vasoolraja MBBS).
Autograph is close to his heart and he is thrilled that it is being re-released now. “It is special. I remember the time when we sat down to compose ‘Nyabagam Varuthey’… though film music consists of exaggeration, we wanted this particular track to reflect reality. We wanted anyone hearing this track to remember their past.”
And that is exactly why when Bharadwaj sings this particular track in concerts, the audiences feel a slight tug at their heartstrings. “I would say Autograph is one of those movies that gave me extensive mileage outside the movie industry as well, because people reflected their own lives while watching and hearing the music. It didn’t come across as a hero singing a love song on screen; it felt like a reflection of their own lives,” explains Bharadwaj, who also had the popular motivational track ‘Ovvaru Pookalume’ and other significant tracks in the album.
Music composer Bharadwaj receiving the ‘Ever-Inspiring Legend’ Award at ‘The Musical ICAN Awards 2025’
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A musical path
Autograph might be in the spotlight now, but if you ask Ramani Ramaswamy aka Bharadwaj to reminisce about his life, you’ll have to begin in Delhi. There, Bharadwaj grew up studying Accountancy he is a qualified Chartered Accountant. But the passion to do something big in music was always gnawing at him, which led him to explore Chennai’s film music scene. “Chennai was ruled by music stalwarts like Ilaiyaraaja, AR Rahman, Deva and Vidyasagar. In fact, it had the greatest musical talents in India, which made me wonder at times: what exactly was I doing here? How do I stand out?”
Self motivation helped. “I approached the profession in a scientific manner. I kept telling myself that I was the best composer out there. And I kept asking myself the question: why would a filmmaker come to me when he already had the best of musical talents there?” These questions plagued him during the Nineties and early 2000s, even after he had delivered a smashing hit of a debut tune (‘Unnai Paartha…’) in Tamil film Kadhal Mannan (1998). “I realised that the basic dictum in film music making is that you are not doing it for yourself. You are doing it for somebody else. The most important thing is to make the other guy like your song.” For this, Bharadwaj designed two rules for himself: keep the tune as simple as possible, and have the core of the song in the first line itself.
With these two self-imposed tenets, Bharadwaj, working out of a studio in T Nagar, went about his work, taking on the best names in business. That certain filmmakers trusted him and collaborated repeatedly helped. Director Saran, for instance, has worked with the composer in a dozen films, with a majority of them featuring actor Ajith. “That combination – of Saran-Ajith-Bharadwaj and Vairamuthu – worked wonders. For me, that was a great phase of hits and successes,” he remarks, referring to films like Amarkalam and Attagasam.
The tunes of today
Bharadwaj’s last outings in Tamil cinema were in 2017, with Saran’s Aayirathil Iruvar and Thankar Bachchan’s Kalavadiya Pozhudugal. He does not miss the scene much – but he does believe that he has more to offer, if the opportunity presents itself. “There have been some things that I have wished for during my peak as a composer – like huge budgets from reputed production houses and opportunities to record a big orchestra. I hope they happen someday.”
Does he listen to a lot of Tamil songs today? “Being an analytical person, I have always believed that you should have a strong reason to make a song. Today, the reason for a track is only to give you hook steps for Instagram,” he states, “Without belittling the younger composers of today, I feel that what we regarded as a film song is not the same anymore. Today’s songs support more of movement and dance rather than explore aspects of life and soul. Having said that, musicians have to cater to what sells at the moment.” So, who is his current favourite? “You will be surprised to know that a lot of latest songs dominate my playlist. I love Anirudh’s work for his attitude. His songs have been rightly liked by people.”
Though he is not active in film music currently, Bharadwaj is looking forward to the next year, in which he promises some exciting shows and concerts. “Whenever I travel, I keep meeting the Tamil diaspora who have kind things to say about my work and the impact that it had on them. That gives me great joy.”
It is that optimism that keeps him going. “I am currently designing a concert experience, filled with some of my hit tracks. You will see more of me in 2026.”