Everlasting maestro - MSV

[murali]

I recently crossed 60 and have been listening to music since I was a child, mostly Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and English. Now with a decent playback system when I listen to new and old songs from movies, the most striking thing observed is the haunting melody of those old songs orchestrated by MS Viswanathan. Most of his songs are in mono, majority sung by TMS and Susheela, to a lesser extent PBS and Janaki, often penned by Kannadasan. Many of them are 40 or 50 years old but sound so mesmerizing that you never forget them and feel like playing them again and again. I have nothing against later composers like Ilayaraja and AR Rehman but their songs do not last in memory and haunt you like MSV's. Or, may be I am getting too old!!!
It is a pity that he never won a national award and was never honored like they are doing now for every Tom, Dick and Harry who claim to compose music. There were no electronic gimmicks in MSV's time, not too many singers around (no Idea star singers certainly), mostly mono recordings with limited orchestra. But they still sound so good and to me are the immortal songs. I can only compare him with other stalwarts of those times like G Devarajan (Malayalam), Shankar-Jaikishen and SD Burman (Hindi).
That was music to my ears and it still is.

murali

 

[Naturelover]

Just checked out YouTube. There are several compilations uploaded by Saregama Tamil. One listener has commented:
"I think that Saregama has uploaded these songs from the gramaphone records. For many songs, there are differences between the gramaphone version and video version. For people like me who have grown up on the diet of MSV's songs played on the gramaphone, the gramaphone versions have great nostalgic value."

 

[subbubusk]

I recently crossed 60 and have been listening to music since I was a child, mostly Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and English. Now with a decent playback system when I listen to new and old songs from movies, the most striking thing observed is the haunting melody of those old songs orchestrated by MS Viswanathan. Most of his songs are in mono, majority sung by TMS and Susheela, to a lesser extent PBS and Janaki, often penned by Kannadasan. Many of them are 40 or 50 years old but sound so mesmerizing that you never forget them and feel like playing them again and again. I have nothing against later composers like Ilayaraja and AR Rehman but their songs do not last in memory and haunt you like MSV's. Or, may be I am getting too old!!!
It is a pity that he never won a national award and was never honored like they are doing now for every Tom, Dick and Harry who claim to compose music. There were no electronic gimmicks in MSV's time, not too many singers around (no Idea star singers certainly), mostly mono recordings with limited orchestra. But they still sound so good and to me are the immortal songs. I can only compare him with other stalwarts of those times like G Devarajan (Malayalam), Shankar-Jaikishen and SD Burman (Hindi).
That was music to my ears and it still is.

murali

I accept every words of you.The combination of MSV + Great Kannadasan is unbeatable. Kalathaal azhiyatha paadalgal . But criticizing Ilayaraja was too harsh. Ilayaraja followed MSV's steps and gave thousands of never die compositions.Only Rehman and after Rehman era music is more of fast foods, chats and junks .Hear and forget typo songs.And i'm also Rehman's fan, so no bashing here, but somehow i feel his composition lacks long lasting magic. This is more due to the generation where we have leds and lcds work only for 3to 5 years, whereas old crt's last life long.MSV and Ilayaraja are breeze (thendral) whereas Rehman and others are toofan (they come and go) of which the people will prefer more regardless of their ages and generations?

 

[murali]

Sorry, I never criticized anyone. All composers create great music but the difference to an ordinary listener like me is which one's songs last in memory for long.

murali

 

[hifipal4all]

I have nothing against later composers like Ilayaraja and AR Rehman but their songs do not last in memory and haunt you like MSV's.

You are most welcome to express your opinion about a composer you like but please discuss only about that person. Why to mention unnecessarily other composers name and say that you have nothing against them ... Remember this is a forum and there will be fans for every composer/artist and your comment about other composers might offend other forum members

Or, may be I am getting too old!!!

That is the fact I suppose

 

[murali]

Genius has limits but stupidity has none.
That is what comes to my mind after reading your post.

murali

 

[mukuntharajaa]

As one more FM also posted about Saregama work on these, they have released one on their "Legend" series for MSV and Kannadasan too.

Legends - Viswanathan & Ramamurthy: Viswanathan, Ramamurthy: Amazon.in: Music

Probably you can check these for better quality

 

[hifipal4all]

Genius has limits but stupidity has none.
That is what comes to my mind after reading your post.

murali

Dude .. Never was my intention to spoil the flow & spirit of this nice thread ... I was only telling you in the right spirit not to do comparison when you are discussing about a particular artist ... Anyway it's up to you how you take it or react ... Wish the original topic gets continued with cheer & colour

 

[Audio_Freek]

Thanks for the Thread Dedicated for MSV.
He is the One of the Best Music director and Raja, ARR Never hesitate to say that ,They grown listening to MSV and they got inspired by MSV.
When it come to Awards, I have posted before too There is lot of Politics were behind say during 80's and Before and Now its now reduced but not completely washed out.

It should be Tough Job to compose such wonderful piece of Music say before the Introduction of the Computers into Music(for Mixing\recording) with live instruments and Surely the credits goes to MSV.

The Music Had made magic and has helped "Film Hero" to CM of Tamil Nadu transformation, Very simple instruments and give mammoth presence.

Few Master piece of MSV(Which is Love)

????? ??????? - Enge nimmathi - YouTube - It gives a Haunting feeling when i was KID

Paartha nyabagam illayo.mp4 - YouTube - One of the Best Club Song\I dont know who to name it.

?????????????? ???????????- Maalai pozhudhin - YouTube - Its combo of MSV+Ramaoorthy But, I doubt there any other song with such "Veena" work in tamil ever produced (MY opinion )

Let me post best of MSV, But One thing is Sure, Music of of TWO types, One Will make you Dance another will Give piece for your Mind.

I would say MSV have given the best of both Types

 

[murali_n]

Hi all,

When it comes to situational tunes in movies there can never be anyone better than MSV. His tunes are from his heart, so pure and melodious. He depended on Ramamurthy , Joseph Krishna et al for the BGMs, interludes in his songs. Some of the film I like are:

1) Enga mama
2) Karnan
3) Utharavinri ulle vaa
4) Sumathi en sundari
5) Gauravam
6) Pon Oonjal
7) Sorgam
8) Avalukendru Oru manam
9) Uyarndha manithan
10) Shanthi
11) Apoorva Ragangal
12) Paalum Pazhamum

While listening to some songs by Ilaiyaraaja, I have felt the MSV influence on him. However IR improvised on the Orchestration with the western Violin and Keyboards and of course his STEREO recording.(Courtesy Emmy, Ramanathan et al).

Both of them are the indestructible pillars of tamil film music in their own right.

Here's a video featuring both of them :

ilayarajah ms.visvanathan - YouTube

N.Murali