Why MS Viswanathan will live on

It was three years after Ilayaraja had made a staggering debut through Annakili and was fast becoming a rage in Tamil Nadu. Film buffs were busy writing off MS Viswanathan. After all, he had monopolised the Tamil film music scene for three decades now and it was time to rest his laurels. And then came Ninaithale Inikkum - an iconic film that had featured veterans Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth together, alongside Jayapradha. Directed by K Balachander, the film besides being a commercial hit went on to become a musical sensation.

When Kamal Haasan crooned "Engeyum Epodhum" on screen, the audiences swooned to the music. When Rajinikanth broke into "Sambho Shiva Sambho" (sang by MSV himself), the audiences went into raptures. And the peppy numbers came from the man who had rightfully earned himself (along with T K Ramamurthy) the title Mellisai Mannar (the king of mellifluous music). In 1979, three years after Ilayaraja debuted, M S Vishwanthan could still not be written off. After all, he was a legend.

Ninaithale Inikkum was not a case in isolation. MSV continued to deliver super hits through the 1980s when Ilayaraja was in his peak and films like Sujatha, Billa, Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu are still remembered for their music.

It would surprise many to know that Manayangath Subramanian Viswanathan (MSV) started his film career as an office boy for a monthly salary of Rs 3 at Jupiter films in the 1940s. His insatiable love for music landed MSV a job as Harmonium player in music director C R Subburaman’s troupe. When Subburaman passed away in 1952, MSV along with TK Ramamurthy – who was then a violinist in the same troupe – came together to complete the music of the films left unfinished by their guru. Then the duo was offered a chance to score music for Panam in 1952. The partnership went on to become a legendary one, redefining the idiom of Tamil film music. Soon, MSV along with TK Ramamurthy became a household name. Together they had composed music for around hundred films before deciding to split in 1965 after scoring music for Aayirathil Oruvan starring MGR and Jayalalithaa.

MSV, however, continued to dominate the Tamil music scene reinventing himself at every stage. MSV has over 1200 films to his credit, in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Very few partnerships in films have been as successful and as seminal as that between MSV and lyricist Kannadasan. Together, they have belted out numbers that had a lasting impact on Tamil life. From a breezily romantic "Kaalangalil aval vasantham" (Among seasons, she is the spring) to a deeply philosophical “Ninaippathellam Nadanthuvittal” (if only things happen as we wish), the duo came up with numbers that defined the ethos of Tamil life. For many an ordinary film buff, their songs have been everything from inspiring to offering consolation. Lyricist Vaali has often recounted how the duo’s "Mayakkama Kalakkamanumber" in the film Sumaithangi had inspired him to look for chances in film world again after he had decided to give up and commit suicide. Such was the telling impact their songs had on ordinary lives.

MSV’s strength lies in the fact that he had refused to fade off. When Ilayaraja came into the scene, MSV partnered with him to give some memorable songs. He has sung quite a few songs for A R Rahman and among those numbers, the poignant "Vidai Kodu Engal Naade" (Bid adieu, my land) in Mani Ratnam’s 2002 film Kannathil Muthamittal went on to achieve a cult status among Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. In 2013, MSV had partnered with Yuvan Shankar Raja – Ilayaraja’s son and a successful music director in his own right- to score music for Thillu Mullu. He had also sung for G V Prakash, another young music director for the film Madrasappattinam in 2010. Besides, MSV would have acted in at least ten films in Tamil.

Till almost the end MSV kept himself busy in singing assignments and judging music based reality shows.

As long as a Mayakkama Kalakkama can save another human being from killing himself, as long as "Kaalangalil aval vasantham" helps another love story blossom, MSV will live on.

After all among music directors, he is the king.