View source for Ra. Ki. Rangarajan

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Ra. Ki. Rangarajan
| image         =
| alt           =
| caption       =
| birth_name    =
| birth_date    =  1927
| birth_place   =
| death_date    =  18 August 2012
| death_place   =
| nationality   = Indian
| other_names   =
| occupation    = Journalist and prolific author
| years_active  =
| known_for     = Novels, short stories, essays, translations and other works
| notable_works = Naan, Krishna Devarayan, Sumai Thaangi
}}
'''Ra. Ki. Rangarajan''' (1927 – 18 August 2012),  popularly known as '''Ra Ki''' ([[Tamil language|Tamil]]: ரா.கி.), was a [[Tamil language|Tamil]] journalist and prolific author of novels, short stories, essays, translations and other works.<ref name=kolappan/> Rangarajan wrote under 10 pen names including: Mohini for historical novels, T. Duraisami for family dramas, Surya for youthful romance, Krishnakumar for mysteries, K. Malathi for postal-related stories, Mulri, Vinodh, Hamsa and Avittam for another genres.<ref name=dec/><ref name=peppy/>
==Life and works==
Rangarajan was born in [[Kumbakonam]] to [[Sanskrit]] scholar R.V. Krishnamacharya.<ref>[http://www.indiaeveryday.in/fullnews-ra-ki-rangarajan-passes-away-1005-4290958.htm Ra.Ki. Rangarajan passes away], ''India Everyday'', 19 August 2012.</ref> Rangarajan began writing at the age of 16 for ''Sakthi'', a literary magazine run by V. Govindan.<ref name=kolappan/> Later, he worked for another journal ''Kalachakkaram''.<ref name=kolappan/> He then became associated with the popular Tamil weekly ''[[Kumudam]]'' for over four decades (~1950-1990) during which time he became a household name among Tamil readers.<ref name=kolappan/><ref name=dec/> He wrote more than 1,500 short stories and over 50 novels<ref name=kolappan>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article3794061.ece?textsize=large&test=1 Ra. Ki. Rangarajan passes away], B. Kolappan, ''The Hindu'', 19 August 2012</ref> that included several translated works from English such as ''[[Papillon (book)|Papillon]]'' and some [[Sidney Sheldon]] and [[Jeffrey Archer]] novels.<ref name=dec/><ref name=peppy/> He was the first person to write a Tamil [[historical novel]] (''Naan, Krishna Devarayan'') in [[first-person narrative]], inspired by the English novel ''[[I Claudius]]''.<ref name=dec>{{cite web |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/ra-ki-rangarajan-passes-away-410 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820094826/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/ra-ki-rangarajan-passes-away-410 |archivedate=20 August 2012 |title=Ra Ki Rangarajan passes away |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=19 August 2012}}</ref><ref name=peppy/> Rangarajan said he wrote the novel "because not much has been written about [[Krishna Deva Raya]] or the [[Vijayanagar Empire]]. He was one of the greatest kings with many dimensions." The novel involved extensive research, including visits to libraries, as well as discussions with historians and artists.  Rangarajan stated that he was "an admirer of [[Kalki Krishnamurthy]]" and that he "tried to emulate his style."<ref name=peppy>[http://www.thehindu.com/arts/books/article1525619.ece?homepage=true Peppy and prolific], ''The Hindu'', 10 March 2011.</ref> Rangarajan said his inspirations were [[Charles Dickens]], [[Alexander Dumas]] and [[Jeffrey Archer]] in English; [[Kalki Krishnamurthy]] in Tamil.<ref name=peppy/>
Some of his stories were made into films, notably including ''[[Sumai Thaangi]]''.<ref name=kolappan/>
He died 18 August 2012, at 85 years old.<ref name=kolappan/> He had two sons and three daughters.<ref name=kolappan/>
==Filmography==
*''[[Idhu Sathiyam]]'' (1963)
*''[[Sumaithaangi]]'' (1963)
*''[[Kairasikkaran]]'' (1984)
*''[[Mahanadhi (1994 film)|Mahanadhi]]'' (1994)
==References==
{{Reflist}}
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[[Category:Tamil writers]]
[[Category:Tamil-language writers]]
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Thanjavur district]]