Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema - M. S. Viswanathan

For the veteran music director, ‘Mellisai mannar’ M. S. Viswanathan, battling odds was a way of life before climbing the rungs of the ladder of fame. He is a man of simplicity, who can be easily befriended. He is a musician, nonpareil. This great but simple man belongs to Ilappulli hamlet of Palghat district. He was born on 28th June 1928 to the couple Subramanian – Narayani. His house was named ‘Manaiyangath house’ as per the practice in Kerala where every family has a hereditary name. ‘M’ stands for the name ‘Manaiyangath’.

When his father, who had worked in the Pollachi public works department and as a jail warder in Trichi died suddenly, MSV was only four years old. Fifteen days later, his younger sister also died. After these tragedies, MSV’s grandfather Krishnan Nair took care of the boy and his mother. Right from his school days, MSV showed interest in music. And, without the knowledge of his family, the young boy started selling snacks at theatres for the purpose of listening to the film songs. Neelakanda bhagawadhar, impressed by MSV’s interest in music, gave him formal training in music and also arranged for his maiden performance at the Kannanur Town Hall. And, he got him opportunities to act in stage dramas also.

MSV left his home to join as an office boy with Jupiter Pictures for a paltry salary of Rs. 3 per month with the help of his uncle Rajan. While appearing in minor roles in films, he joined as an assistant to music director S. M. Subbiah Naidu. In the year 1948, when Subbiah Naidu was trying to compose music for a song for the film Abhimanyu, he couldn’t achieve what he wanted. During the recess, MSV tried his hands at harmonium to compose music for the song and Subbiah Naidu, who happened to overhear the same, was very much impressed and finalized the tune for the song. He congratulated and encouraged MSV for his beautiful work. And, MSV helped his ‘guru’ in many other songs after this incident though his name didn’t find place in the titles. But, at one stage, Subbiah Naidu told the proprietor of Jupiter Pictures about MSV’s incredible talents, telling that MSV was a genius. And, he sent MSV to Madras where he joined as an assistant to C. R. Subramaniam. As there were already assistants including T. K. Ramamurthi, T. G. Lingappa and Govardhana, MSV worked with them for films including ‘Sorgavaasal’ and ‘Devadas’. And, MSV was the music director for the first time for the MGR starrer ‘Genova’. But, initially, MGR didn’t relish MSV’s entry. He wrongly thought that MSV, who was an errand boy in a cinema company wouldn’t know anything about music. The producer and the director told MGR to listen MSV’s songs and that in case, MGR didn’t like them, MSV could be replaced. But when MGR listened, he was very much pleased and hugged MSV and congratulated him. MSV grew optimistic after this incident. He brought his grandfather and mother to Madras to live with him. And, till date, MSV is occupying a special place in the music field. With 1,800 films to his credit, MSV continues to remain simple and humble, always telling that he has yet to learn many more things in the art of music!

In the year 1993, the Salem Lions Club organized and conducted a light music program ‘Mellisai mannarin isai nigazhchiyum, malarum ninaivugalum’ at the Nehru Auditorium in Salem to raise funds to help the victims of an earthquake in Maharashtra State and also to build a cancer hospital in Salem. Poet Kamakodiyan and I accompanied MSV for this program. Though I was known to MSV already, this visit brought us both closer. And, our beautiful friendship continues till date.