Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy

Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy were an Indian music-director duo composed of M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy. They worked together on over 100 films, from 1952's Panam to 1965's Aayirathil Oruvan. After their split, Ramamoorthy worked on 16 films between 1966 and 1986. He and Viswanathan reunited in 1995 for Engirundho Vandhan.

Early lives

Ramamoorthy

Ramamoorthy, born into a well-known musical family in Trichy, was a capable violinist at an early age. His father (Krishnaswamy Pillai) and grandfather, Malaikottai Govindasamy Pillai, were noted violinists in Trichy.[1] As a child, Ramamoorthy performed several times with his father. During the early 1940s he worked for Saraswathi Stores (in which AVM Productions owner Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar was a partner), and played violin for AVM composer R. Sudharsanam in several films. Ramamoorthy became friendly with P. S. Diwakar, the pianist-composer of Malayalam cinema, and roomed with P. S. Diwakar. C. R. Subburaman hired him as a violinist for HMV. By the late 1940s, Ramamoorthy joined C. R. Subburaman's South Indian film-music ensemble and met fellow violinist T. G. Lingappa.

Viswanathan

Viswanathan, who had acting and singing ambitions, had a few minor stage roles during the 1940s. The famous music composer in the 1950s T. R. Pappa who was a violinist for the doyen of the Tamil film music S. V. Venkatraman, met him and obtained him a job as an errand boy. Viswanathan developed an interest in composition, and joined S. M. Subbaiah Naidu.[1] He played harmonium for C. R. Subburaman and met Ramamoorthy and T. G. Lingappa, another leading violinist. In addition to the harmonium, Viswanathan began playing piano at an early age.

With Subburaman

With C. R. Subburaman, Viswanathan played the harmonium and Ramamoorthy the violin. Although both considered Subburaman their mentor, Viswanathan was also inspired by the music of S. V. Venkatraman and T. R. Pappa.

In 1952 Subburaman died unexpectedly, leaving the music for several films unfinished. Ramamoorthy and Viswanathan completed the background music for Devadas, Chandirani, Marumagal and Kaadhal. Viswanathan then suggested a south-Indian partnership to Ramamoorthy, similar to Shankar Jaikishan in the north. Initially reluctant, Ramamoorthy agreed.[1]

First film

Their first film was Panam, written by A. L. Seenivasan and directed by N. S. Krishnan (who supported their partnership).[1] Their musical training and personalities differed; the shy Ramamoorthy had a Carnatic musical background and Viswanathan, lacking Carnatic training, was a dynamic individual.

Panam was Sivaji Ganesan's second film and his first appearance with Padmini. Although the duo were initially supposed to be billed as Ramamoorthy-Viswanathan, N. S. Krishnan felt having Viswanathan's name first sounded better and told Ramamoorthy, "You are senior to him so you can be behind him, supporting him" and Ramamoorthy assented.[2]

Composer and singer C. S. Jayaraman commissioned Viswanathan Ramamoorthy for Ratha Kanneer's background music, writing the songs himself.

Success

Success was slow in coming during a period which featured composers such as G. Ramanathan, S. V. Venkatraman, K. V. Mahadevan, S. Rajeswara Rao, S. Dakshinamurthi and Pendyala Nageswara Rao. In the wake of Panam's success, however, Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy wrote music for over 100 films from 1952 to 1965 and were the most successful composers from 1957 to 1965.

They had a flair for light, sweet melodies, and 1950s films such as Porter Kanthan, Paasavalai, Thenali Raman, Gulebakavali, Sugam Enge and Sorgavasal attracted attention. In 1956 Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy composed music for Santhosham, the Telugu adaptation of the Tamil film Velaikaari with N. T. Rama Rao and Anjali Devi, which was a musical hit. It was reprised in Hindi as Naya Aadmi with music by Madan Mohan, who wanted to keep some of the original songs in the Hindi version. The Hindi song "Laut gaya gam ka zamana", sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhyay, copies the duo's Telugu song Teeyani Eenati Reyi (sung by P. Suseela and G. K. Venkatesh) and was a hit in the north.

During the late 1950s, Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy composed for musical hits such as Pudhaiyal, Nichaya Thaamboolam, Padhi Bhakti and Bhaaga Pirivinai. They enjoyed continued success into the early 1960s with directors T. R. Ramanna and A. Bhimsingh. After a 1961 disagreement with his composer, A. M. Rajah, C. V. Sridhar commissioned Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy for his films and Gemini Studios and AVM Productions later engaged the duo. At this time, they were assisted by R. Govardhanam, G. K. Venkatesh, Shankar Ganesh and Henry Daniel and used Sathan for vocal and sound effects.

Other collaborations

Viswanathan and Ramamoorthy, particularly Viswanathan, are credited with moulding the careers of their regular singers T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela, P. B. Sreenivas, Seerkazhi Govindarajan and L. R. Eswari. A. L. Raghavan and S. Janaki sang less often for them.

K. J. Yesudas had his only collaboration with the duo in two songs from Kadhalikka Neramillai (1964): "Nenjathai Alli Alli" with L. R. Eswari and P. Suseela and "Enna Paarvai Undhan Paarvai" with P. Suseela. After the partnership dissolved, K. J. Yesudas sang with Viswanathan and Ramamoorthy separately.

During their early years, they worked with established male singers such as Thiruchi Loganathan, C. S. Jayaraman, S. C. Krishnan, Ghantasala and V. N. Sundharam. The female singers were P. A. Periyanayaki, M. L. Vasanthakumari, R. Balasaraswathi Devi, P. Leela, Jikki, T. V. Rathinam, T. S. Bagavathi, M. S. Rajeswari, K. Jamuna Rani, K. Rani, A. P. Komala and A. G. Rathnamala.

The singing actors N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Madhuram, Chittor V. Nagaiah, T. R. Mahalingam, K. R. Ramaswamy, J. P. Chandrababu, P. Bhanumathi and S. Varalakshmi also sang for the duo. G. K. Venkatesh, M. S. Viswanathan's friend and assistant, sang a few songs as well.

T. M. Soundararajan was Viswanathan's favourite singer and Jikki, followed by P. Susheela, were the duo's primary female singers. They were divided on A. M. Rajah; although Ramamoorthy favoured him, Viswanathan had a personality conflict dating back to Genova. Rajah sang only five Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy songs, at the height of his career during the 1950s. He voiced Gemini Ganesan, the actor for whom he was the primary voice, only in Padhi Bhakti.

P. Leela, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Sarojini, K. Jamuna Rani, M. S. Rajeswari and A. L. Raghavan owe their 1950s and 1960s vocal success primarily to the duo, particularly to Viswanathan. Directors such as B. R. Panthulu, B. S. Ranga, Krishnan-Panju, A. Bhimsingh, P. Madhavan, C. V. Sridhar, T. R. Ramanna and A. C. Tirulokchandar worked with Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy frequently until 1965. K. Balachander never worked with the duo, preferring to work with Viswanathan alone even before the split.

Mellisai Mannargal

On 16 June 1963, Viswanathan and Ramamoorthy were given the title of Mellisai Mannargal (Tamil: மெல்லிசை மன்னர்கள், Kings of Light Music) by Sivaji Ganesan at a Madras Triplicane Cultural Academy ceremony sponsored by T. M. Ramachandran, director C. V. Sridhar and Chitralaya Gobu of the Hindu Group of Publications.[3]

Split

Viswanathan and Ramamoorthy split up after the release of Aayirathil Oruvan on 9 July 1965. They composed for films separately, with the assistants remaining with Viswanathan. Although producer-directors T. R. Ramanna and A. Bhimsingh were saddened by the development, they worked with both men individually.

The split was the result of interpersonal issues. In 1964, C. V. Sridhar directed Kalai Kovil, starring S. V. Subbaiah, R. Muthuraman, Chandrakantha, Nagesh, V. Gopalakrishnan and V. S. Raghavan; Viswanathan and Ramamoorthy produced the film and composed its music. The film and its songs were unsuccessful, and a Kalki article was critical. Disagreement between the composers worsened by Server Sundaram, starring Nagesh, R. Muthuraman and K. R. Vijaya, which was released at the end of 1964. Viswanathan and Ramamoorthy were scheduled to shoot a scene suggested by Bollywood music director Naushad Ali to producer A. V. Meiyappa Chettiar; Ramamoorthy could not appear, and after completing Aayirathil Oruvan the duo announced their split.

In his solo career, Viswanathan composed music for over 1,100 films from 1965 to 2013. Ramamoorthy was less successful, composing for 19 films from 1966 to 1986. Viswanathan, the highest-paid music director from 1965 to 1985, continued to compose until 1995; after a period composing devotional songs, he resumed until 2013.

Reunion

Viswanathan and Ramamoorthy briefly reunited in 1995 for the unsuccessful Tamil film Engirundho Vandhan, starring Sathyaraj and Roja. It was the remake of the megahit Malayalam film Chithram. The film was a box office disaster and the songs went unnoticed. It was also their last film together. They received honorary doctorates from Sathyabama University in September 2006.[4]

Thirai Isai Chakravarthy

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa gave Viswanathan and Ramamoorthy the title of Thirai Isai Chakravarthy (Tamil: திரை இசை சக்ரவர்த்தி, Emperors of Cine Music) in August 2012.[5][6][7]

Deaths

Ramamoorthy died in a Chennai hospital after a brief illness on 17 April 2013 at age 91.[8]

On 27 June 2015, Viswanathan was admitted to Fortis Malar Hospital in Chennai with respiratory difficulty[9] and died there at 4:15 a.m. on 14 July.[10]

Filmography
YearFilmLanguageDirectorBannerNote
1952PanamTamilN. S. KrishnanMadras Pictures
1953AmmalakkaluTeluguD. YoganandKrishna PicturesAlong with C. R. Subbaraman
1953MarumagalTamilD. YoganandKrishna PicturesAlong with C. R. Subbaraman
1953DevadasuTeluguVedantam RaghavaiahVinodha PicturesBackground Score
1953DevadasTamilVedantam RaghavaiahVinodha PicturesBackground Score
1954SorgavasalTamilA. KasilingamParimalam Pictures
1954Praja RajyamTeluguA. KasilingamParimalam Pictures
1954Sugam EngeTamilK. RamnothModern Theatres
1954Maa GopiTeluguB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1954Vaira MaalaiTamilN. JagannathVaidhya Films
1954Ratha KanneerTamilKrishnan–PanjuNational PicturesBackground Score
1955KaveriTamilD. YoganandKrishna PicturesCo-music director G. Ramanathan
1955Jaya GopiTamilB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1955Porter KandanTamilK. VembuNarasu Studios
1955Vijaya GauriTeluguD. YoganandKrishna PicturesCo-music director G. Ramanathan
1955GulebakavaliTamilT. R. RamannaR. R. Pictures
1955NeedhipathiTamilA. S. A. SamiVijaya Films
1955SanthoshamTeluguC. P. DixitJupiter Pictures
1956PaasavalaiTamilA. S. NagarajanModern Theatres
1956Tenali RamakrishnaTeluguB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1956Tenali RamanTamilB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1957Bhaktha MarkandeyaTamilB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1957Bhaktha MarkandeyaTeluguB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1957Bhaktha MarkandeyaKannadaB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1957MahadheviTamilSundar Rao NadkarniSri Ganesh Movietone
1957Pathini DeivamTamilCh. Narayana MurthyVRV Productions
1957PudhaiyalTamilKrishnan-PanjuKamal Brothers
1957Kudumba GouravamTamilB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1957Kutumba GowravamTeluguB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1958Maalaiyitta MangaiTamilG. R. NathanKannadasan Films
1958MahadheviTeluguSundar Rao NadkarniSri Ganesh Movietone
1958Padhi BhaktiTamilA. Bhim SinghBuddha Pictures
1958Padhi BhaktiTeluguA. Bhim SinghBuddha Picturesco-music director T. Chalapathi Rao
1958Petra Maganai Vitra AnnaiTamilT. R. SundaramModern Theatres
1958LillyMalayalamF. NagoorHT Pictures
1959AmudhavalliTamilA. K. SekharJupiter Pictures
1959Bhaaga PirivinaiTamilA. Bhim SinghSaravana Films
1959Raja Malaiya SimmanTamilB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1959Raja Malaya SimhaTeluguB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1959Sivagangai SeemaiTamilK. ShankarKannadasan Films
1959Thalai Koduthaan ThambiTamilT. R. SundaramModern Theatres
1959Thanga PadhumaiTamilA. S. A. SamyJupiter Pictures
1960Aalukkoru VeeduTamilM. KrishnanSubash Movies
1960Kavalai Illaadha ManithanTamilK. ShankarKannadasan Productions
1960Mannadhi MannanTamilM. NatesanNatesh Art Pictures
1960Ondrupattal Undu VazhvuTamilT. R. RamannaRanga Pictures
1960Rathinapuri IlavarasiTamilT. R. RamannaSri Vinayaga Pictures
1961BhagyalakshmiTamilK. V. SreenivasanKanaka Films
1961ManapanthalTamilT. R. RamannaRR Pictures
1961Palum PazhamumTamilA. Bhim SinghSaravana Films
1961PasamalarTamilA. Bhim SinghRajamani Films
1961Intiki Deepam IllaleTeluguT. R. RamannaRR Pictures
1961Pava MannippuTamilA. Bhim SinghBuddha Pictures
1961Vijayanagarada VeeraputraKannadaR. Nagendra RaoRNR Pictures
1962AlayamaniTamilK. ShankarPSV Pictures
1962Bale PandiyaTamilB. R. PanthuluPadmini Pictures
1962Bandha PasamTamilA. Bhim SinghSanthi Films
1962Kaathiruntha KangalTamilT. Prakash RaoVasumathi Pictures
1962Aasha JeevuluTeluguB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1962Thendral VeesumTamilB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1962Nenjil Or AalayamTamilC. V. SridharChithralaya
1962Nichaya ThaamboolamTamilB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1962Pelli ThambulamTeluguB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1962Paadha KannikkaiTamilK. ShankarSaravana Films
1962Padithaal Mattum PodhumaTamilA. Bhim SinghRanganathan Pictures
1962Paarthaal Pasi TheerumTamilA. Bhim SinghAVM Productions
1962PaasamTamilT. R. RamannaRR Pictures
1962Policekaran MagalTamilC. V. SridharChithrakala Pictures
1962SenthamaraiTamilA. Bhim SinghALS Productions
1962SumaithaangiTamilC. V. SridharVisalakshi Productions
1962VeerathirumaganTamilA. C. TirulokchandarMurugan Brothers
1963Anandha JodhiTamilV. N. Reddy & A. S. A. SamyPSV Pictures
1963Idhayathil NeeTamilMukta V. SrinivasanMuktha Films
1963Idhu SathiyamTamilK. ShankarSaravana Films
1963KarpagamTamilK. S. GopalakrishnanAmarjothi Movies
1963Mani OsaiTamilP. MadhavanALS Productions
1963Nenjam MarappathillaiTamilC. V. SridharManohar Pictures
1963Paar Magale PaarTamilA. Bhim SinghKasthuri Films
1963PanathottamTamilK. ShankarSaravana Films
1963Periya Idathu PennTamilT. R. RamannaRR Pictures
1963Manchi CheduTeluguT. R. RamannaRR Pictures
1964Andavan KattalaiTamilK. ShankarPSV Pictures
1964Dheiva ThaaiTamilP. MadhavanSathya Movies
1964En KadamaiTamilM. NatesanNatesh Art Pictures
1964Kai Koduttha DheivamTamilK. S. GopalakrishnanSri Ponni Productions
1964Kalai KovilTamilC. V. SridharBhagyalakshmi Pictures
1964KarnanTamilB. R. PanthuluPadmini Pictures
1964Karuppu PanamTamilG. R. NathanVisalakshi Films
1964Kaadhalikka NeramillaiTamilC. V. SridharChithralaya
1964Pachai VilakkuTamilA. Bhim SinghVel Pictures
1964PadagottiTamilT. Prakash RaoSaravana Films
1964Panakkara KudumbamTamilT. R. RamannaRR Pictures
1964Puthiya ParavaiTamilDada MirasiSivaji Productions
1964Server SundaramTamilKrishnan-PanjuAVM Productions
1964Vazhkai VazhvatharkeTamilKrishnan-PanjuKamal Brothers
1965Panchavarna KiliTamilK. ShankarSaravana Films
1965Enga Veettu PillaiTamilChanakyaVijaya Productions
1965Hello Mister ZamindarTamilK. J. MahadevanSudharsanam Pictures
1965Panam PadaithavanTamilT. R. RamannaRR Pictures
1965PazhaniTamilA. Bhim SinghBharatha Matha Pictures
1965Poojaikku Vandha MalarTamilMukta V. SrinivasanMuktha Films
1965SanthiTamilA. Bhim SinghALS Productions
1965Vaazhkai PadaguTamilS. S. VasanGemini Studios
1965Vennira AadaiTamilC. V. SridharChithralaya
1965Maganey KelTamilMukta V. SrinivasanNaaval Films
1965Aayirathil OruvanTamilB. R. PanthuluPadmini Pictures
1995Engirundho VandhanTamilSanthana BharathiVSR Pictures
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References
  1. Ramachandran, T. M. (17 August 1963). "Kings of Light Melody". Sport and Pastime. Vol. 17. p. 43.
  2. Rangarajan, Malathi (8 November 2012). "Ninety, and bowing away!". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  3. "Why did Viswanathan and Ramamurthy break-up their". Tfmpage.com. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  4. "Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Honorary doctorates for seven eminent personalities". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 4 September 2006. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  5. "Amma confers title of Thiraiyisai Chakravarthy on legendary MSV". ChennaiOnline. 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  6. News, Express (30 August 2012). "CM confers Thirai Isai Chakravarthy on MSV". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  7. "After Padma snub, Jaya says one day Centre will listen". Indian Express. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  8. TK Ramamurthy, noted music composer, passes away
  9. "M S Viswanathan Death". Telangana News Paper.
  10. "King of Film Music MS Viswanathan Passes Away". The New Indian Express.
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