M.S. Viswanathan
M.S. Viswanathan (1928–2015), affectionately called 'Mellisai Mannar,' the King of Light Music, was among the most beloved Tamil film composers, scoring hundreds of films first in partnership with T.K. Ramamoorthy and then on his own from the mid-1960s. Rooted in Carnatic melody but open to Western and dance idioms, his graceful, singable tunes defined an era of Tamil cinema and were openly cited by Ilaiyaraaja as a model for his own craft.
the sound in question
1966
Nilave Ennidam NerungadheM.S. Viswanathan
we haven’t charted M.S. Viswanathan yet
this stretch of the river isn’t mapped. we trace the watershed one artist at a time — and we’re always heading further upstream.