Early Life and Interest in Music

Manayangath Subramanian Viswanathan, popularly known as M. S. Viswanathan, was an Indian composer and musician who worked in the Tamil film industry for over five decades. Born on June 24, 1928, in Palakkad, Kerala, Viswanathan showed an early interest in music and started learning the harmonium and flute at a young age. He moved to Chennai in the early 1940s to pursue a career in music and worked as a clerk in a railway company while also performing in small music troupes.

First Break and Early Success

In 1952, M. S. Viswanathan got his first break in the film industry when he was hired as a composer for the Tamil film “Panam”. However, it was his work in the 1954 film “Jenova” that brought him critical acclaim and established him as a composer to watch out for.

Collaboration with Kannadasan

In the 1960s, Viswanathan collaborated with lyricist Kannadasan and created several memorable songs that are still popular today. Their work in the 1964 film “Karnan” is considered a classic and includes songs such as “Ullathil Nalla Ullam” and “En Uyir Thozhan”.

Success with “Server Sundaram”

In 1965, M. S. Viswanathan composed the music for the film “Server Sundaram”, which featured the iconic song “Thathai Thathai”. The song became a huge hit and cemented Viswanathan’s place as one of the leading composers in the Tamil film industry.

Continued Success in the 1970s and 1980s

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Viswanathan continued to create music for Tamil films and worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including M.G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan. He also ventured into the Malayalam film industry and composed music for several films in that language.

Work with New Generation Filmmakers

In the 1990s, Viswanathan started to work with a new generation of filmmakers and actors, including Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan. He composed the music for Ratnam’s 1991 film “Thalapathi”, which is considered a landmark in Tamil cinema. The film features the iconic song “Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu”, which remains popular to this day.

Legacy and Awards

Viswanathan continued to work in the Tamil film industry until his death in 2015 at the age of 87. He composed music for over 1,200 films in his career and won several awards, including the National Film Award for Best Music Direction in 1982 for the film “Nenjathai Killathe”. He was also awarded the Padma Shri in 2003 for his contributions to Indian music.

M. S. Viswanathan was a legendary composer and musician who left an indelible mark on the Tamil film industry. His collaborations with Kannadasan and his work in films like “Karnan” and “Thalapathi” are considered classics and continue to be loved by audiences today. His contribution to Indian music will always be remembered and celebrated.