M. P. Periyasaamy Thooran (26 September 1908 – 20 January 1987) was an Indian patriot, Tamil poet, teacher, and composer of Carnatic music.
Periyasamy was born to K. A. Palanivelappa Gounder and Paavaathal on 26 September 1908 at Manjakattuvalasu, near Modakurichi in present-day Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India.
As a university student, he published an underground monthly magazine called Pithan containing incendiary articles that spoke out against the erstwhile British administration, in support of the Indian Independence Movement.
Periyasamy's background in Science would prove to be instrumental in helping him complete the Tamil Encyclopedia project, work on which began in 1947.
Sivaramakrishna Iyer (who was born in 1913 in Mavelikara, Kerala and had joined Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya as music teacher in 1937) was his guru and choreographer.
His popular compositions include Gananaathane (Saranga), Kaliyuga Varadhan (Brindavana Saranga)[1], Muralidhara Gopala (Maand), Muruga Muruga (Saveri), Pazhani Nindra (Kapi), Punniyam Oru (Keeravani), Thottu Thottu (Padam in BihagVideo on YouTube), and Thaye Thripurasundhari (Shuddha Saveri).
Other publications include 'Thooran Stories' (1962), 'Nalla Nalla Paattu' (1965), 'Call of the Wild' and 'Bharati' for children, some of which were purchased by Tamil Isai Sangam.