The South Indian music industry is so full of MSV fans. Finding a musician who did not want to work with him is almost next to impossible. Anybody who has got anything to do with music is likely to have memories to share about MSV. Here, a few prominent musicians remember the departed genius.
K.J. Yesudas
I sang in Tamil for the first time in my life after Neeyum Bommai in his movie Kathalukku Neramilley. Instead of talking that, it is better to recollect for how long we appreciated his creative genius in music and for how many years we enjoyed listening to him. It is doubtful if our country has honored him with the big awards and honors that people like us have been bestowed with. It is almost like we forgot about such a reputed man. We are constrained in our words. Some might ask why invite trouble, why not rest contented with what you have got and keep mum. However, I cannot help saying some things, even though there is no point in saying them now either. Reason is that those who learned to sing, compose and write by listening to his songs have received positions and awards from the government.
Those in the know will understand how much of a shining gem he was. The ignorant will not know anyway. He may not have needed recognition. We have imbibed the essence of his songs and intensely felt the emotions of each of them. I feel very sad. There is no use saying it now. We all make a hue and cry after something is over, don’t we? I cannot help saying it. It needs to be said at least now. The question is if anything has been done to him from the part of our country. Five years back, his children came together and spoke up. They said I must talk to the Central government. What needs to be given to him should be given when he is alive. There is no point in doing it afterwards. I will keep saying it now and always. Talking of music, MSV used to say that he did not know anything about music and that all his doing was merely God’s will. I have never seen an artiste like him who utters such words and with extreme humility too.
Ouseppachan
I am a musician who played the violin for him during 80-87 period. Mani, Joseph and Krishna who were with him then are great musicians. I entered after they all retired. He was very fond of me. He was fully focused in music. This even meant that sometimes he forgot the names of people around him. Music alone mattered to him. I remember a small anecdote about him. When I met him during a meeting, I told him that I got a National award but ironically he never got one despite being South India’s greatest musician. He confined his reply to a smile.
He composed music instantly. Ilayaraja sir, on the other hand, did music only after sufficient preparation. MSV himself sang and composed each and every speck of his music. He did not follow the practice of composing with a prior plan for music composition. He composed just the song. The rest of the music arrangements for it were done sitting with the directors during recording at the set. His notations are complex ones. What broke out in his mind at that time is what we enjoyed later as super hit songs.
Gopi Sunder
Viswanathan sir’s is a personality that those like me admired with awe. He explored all the possibilities of music during the ‘60s itself. In fact, our generation is only using in diverse ways what he had used. He handled jazz and blues superbly well in the ‘70s itself. He departs from this world taking away with him all the music of this world.
I was in Chennai for 18-20 years. In those days, when I travel in a car, he would come in a Kinetic Honda from the opposite direction. I used to respectfully wave my hand and greet him. Beyond that, I never dared to ask him anything about my music, so overwhelming was my adulation for him. He kept producing harmonious notes incessantly. MSV is a personality who is a model for my generation and for generations to come.
Afzal Yusuf
When it comes to music direction, the songs and music composers that we listened to are bound to influence us. Listening to M.S. Viswanathan sir’s songs, one is easily able to recognise them as MSV’s. He strove to bring out the meaning of the lines while lending music and setting the mood. An example is the mood he infused into the song starting with Kannuneerthulliye sthreeyodupamicha… This special quality of his music direction has hugely attracted me.