"maadugal sekku suthi varuvathu pola iruntha cinema paadalgalilum vasanangalilum ilakkiya nayathai puguthivitta silaril ivarum oruvar". This is how he was described by a famous reviewer. Suratha is the short form for Subburathina dhasan. (i.e. dhasan of Bharathi dhasan.) Rajagopalan was his real name. Was born in 1921 in a village near Thanjavur. His first film song was "Aadum oonjalai pole alayaaduthe" in "En thangai"(1951). Apparently the film shoot was done outdoors(when it was really costly to do do) just to suit the lines. His famous songs: amuthum thenum etharkku - thai piranthaal vazhi pirakkum vetrilai podaamale vaai sivantha pachchai kiligal - Amarakavi kannil vanthu minnal pol - naadodi mannan vasantha kaalam varumo - marakka mudiyumaa aadi adangum - neer kumuzhi pennukku melaadai - naanal He has written many literary works including Thodaatha vaalibam, uthattil uthadu, amuthum thenum, echil iravugal, vetta velicham. He has penned about 50 songs. "Netru indru naalai" is apparently his last. "Vaarthai koottangalukkum, verum varnanaigalukkum idam koduppathai kuraithu paadalgalil ennangalai kootti poda vendum. appothu thaan oru ilakkiya pthagathin mel cinema puthagamum saaynthukollum anthasthai pera mudiyum" - Suratha.