MUSIC DIRECTORS

G. RAMANATHAN

G. Ramanathan, considered to be one of the influential Tamil Music composers to take carnatic music to the masses was born in Pichandarkovil, Srirangan, Tamilnadu.  During 50’s his music dominated  most of the box office hits of the then leading Tamil Movie stars Shivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran.  He composed music for many patriotic Tamil movies like KAPPALOTTIYA TAMILAN, VEERAPANDIA KATTABOMMAN. He was active in Tamil film music composing from 1940 till his death in 1963.

Film: Kappalottiya Tamilan

S.M. SUBBIAH NAIDU

S. M. Subbaiah Naidu (SMS), is a great and one of the oldest music directors and worked as an in-house music composer for Central Studios and Jupiter Pictures. His all-purpose assistant, M. S. Viswanathan at Jupiter Pictures later became the musician of Tamil films. As his assistant, MSV practiced composing tunes when SMS was not around.
In 1947 itself, SMS created history when Jupiter Pictures produced Rajakumari which was MGR's first hero movie. In that film Thiruchi Loganathan sang a song called "Kasinimel Nangal". That was a playback song for M.N. Nambiar. That is the first playback song in Tamil Film industry.


Film:  Aasai mugam

K.V. MAHADEVAN

K.V. Mahadevan, started his career in the drama field was born on December 6 1918 at Krishnankovil, Kanyakumari district, Tamilnadu.  A contemporary of Viswanathan and Ramamurthy, K.V. Mahadevan has scored for over 600 films in four decades.  He started his career as a  music composer in the film MANONMANI in the year  1942 and his last film was SWATHI KIRANAM in 1992. 
M.G.R., Sarojadevi, Sando MMA Chinnappa thevar and K.V. Mahadevan combination has given many hit tamil movies and the songs by K.V. Mahadevan are hummed even today by Tamil cine music lovers. K.V. Mahadevan died in 21 June 2001 at the age of 82.  Mr. Puhalendi was the only assistant to K.V. Mahadevan from the beginning.

Film: Thaayai kaatha thanayan

Film: Kudumba thalaivan

VISWANATHAN - RAMAMURTHY

M.S. Viswanathan and T.K. Ramamurthy duo, popularly known as mellisai mannargal ( kings of light music ) dominated the Tamil film music during the mid 50s and 60s.  They added the touch of western music in to Tamil film songs, which until that time were pretty much classical oriented..The combination of Viswanathan Ramamurthy, Lyricist Kannadasan , Playback singers  T.M. Soundaararajan, P. Shsheela, P.B. Sreeinivas, and L.R. Easwari gave 1000s of melodious and excellent Tamil film songs in the 50s and 60s.  For the song MUTHAANA MUTHALLAVO from the Tamil film NENJIL OR AALAYAM directed by the famous director SRIDHAR, lyrics by Kannadasan, the duo Viswanathan and Ramamurthy, took only half an hour to record the song with the melodious voice of P. Susheela and minimum instruments. 


Film: Padagotti




 


Film: Anantha Jothi





A.M. RAJAH

A.M. Rajah, a film music composer and a nice playback singer was born on July 1 1929 in Ramachanbdrapuram, Chittoor district of Andhrapradesh state and he was well versed with carnatic and western music. In playback, what Mukesh was for Raj Kapoor, Rajah was for Gemini Ganesan, he also sang many songs for Sivaji Ganesan and M.G.R. too.  His notable music compositions are KALYAANA PARISU, THEN NILAVU.  He was married to JIKKI, a famous playback singer of the 50s and 60s. A.M. Rajah died at the age of 59 in the year 1989 in a rail accident in Vallioor train station while proceeding to conduct a light music programme in Kanyakumari district.


Film:  THEN NILAVU







ILLAYARAAJA

Illayaraja, alias Dainel Rajayya was bron on 2 June 1943 in Pannaipuram near Madurai, Tamilnadu. Popularly known as isaignani ( a man with great knowledge in music ), Ilaiyaraaja has been a prominent composer of film music in southern Indian cinema since the late 1970s.  He worked as session guitarist, keyboardist, organist for many music directors like Salil chowdhry, M.S. Viswanathan and others and he was assisting Tamil film music scorer G.K. Venkatesh,  His first Tamil film score was ANNAKILI in the year 1976 and he has composed for more than 800 films of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi languages. Illayaraja also has two fusion music albums to his credit, How to name It? and Nothing But Wind. The second album features noted flautist Hari Prasad Chaurasia as the solo flautist.

In July 1993, he recorded his first major work in western classical music, his Symphony No.1 with the world famous Royal philharmonic Orchestra of London under the baton of John Scott.

 He got National awards for best music direction from the Government of India thrice in 1984, 1986 and 1989.


Film: Kavikuil





Film: PATTAKATHI BAIRAVAN

A.R.RAHMAN

A.R. Rahman started his career as a keyboardist in Illayaraja's troupe then composed music for advertisement films and his first film score was RAJA in 1992.  He got two OSCAR awards for the film SLUM DO MILLIONAIRE

Film: Sakkarakatti

Film: Vinnaithaandi varuvaaya

E.K. BOBBY

Edwin Kennedy Bobby, born  in a music loving family began his music career as a guitarist in the tamil film music scorers Shankar-Ganesh duo troupe.  His father Edwin was also a guitarist and he was famously called as “Guitar Edwin” in the area of Mattakadai, Tuticorin.  Mr. Edwin and my father Mr. Michael were friends and my brother Mr. Victor learned guitar from Mr. Bobby.  I learned some knowledge of guitar from Bobby’s brother Mr. Clippas, but because of my appointment in the Central Secretariat in New Delhi, I had to cut shot the practice.  The families of Mr. Kanagu, Mr. Bobby and myself were living in Mattakadai area in Tuticorin and I recall my college days while writing this page.  Mr. Bobby scored his first film SOLLAMALEY, which got him best music director award in the year 1998.  After that he composed for NESAM PUTHUSU, starring Ranjith and Priya Raman.  Mr. Bobby has finished his composing for the film MARKALI 16, directed by Mr. K. Stephen, who also hails from Tuticorin and Mr.Bobby is going to score for some more Tamil films.  As a family friend, I wish Mr. Bobby,  become a notable music scorer in the Tamil cine field.

Film: Sollamaley