CHENNAI: Veteran Tamil film music composer T K Ramamurthy, credited with producing timeless tunes in the company of fellow-composer M S Viswanathan in the 1960s, passed away here today after a brief illness.
The duo known as “Viswanathan-Ramamurthy” ruled the Tamil film world scoring music for over 700 films with numerous hit songs and earned the title “Mellisai Mannargal” (Kings of Light Music).
91-year old Ramamurthy, a violinist, breathed his last this morning at a hospital, sources close to his family said.
Ramamurthy and Viswanathan, who came together in 1952, went on to become a highly successful duo, scoring music for several hit films starring M G Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesan besides others.
Box-office hits directed by A Bhim Singh, who gave a series of films beginning with letters “Pa” and “ba”, and T R Ramana in the late 1950s and 60s propelled them to fame.
Among the memorable hits of the duo are “Malarndhum Malaratha” (Pasa Malar), “Malai Pozhuthin Mayakkathile” (Baghyalakshmi) “Aval Paranthu Ponale” (Par Magale Par), “Thangathile oru kurai irundal” (Bagaprivinai), “Atho Andha Paravai Pola” (Aayirathil Oruvan) and ‘Ammano Saamiyo’, in the Jayalalithaa starrer ‘Naan’.
The duo broke up in 1964 after which success eluded Ramamurthy unlike his erstwhile partner MSV.
Ramamurthy’s recent significant public appearance came at the anniversary function of Jaya TV, where he was honored by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
His demise was condoled by several personalities including Jayalalithaa and DMK chief M Karunanidhi.
In her message, Jayalalithaa said Ramamurthy’s demise was not only a huge loss to the cine industry but to her also.
“He composed music along with Viswanathan in over 700 movies… He composed music for film ‘Naan,’ in which I had acted. It was received very well and was popular among the people. It is a memorable experience in my life,” she said.
State Information Minister K T Rajendra Bhalaji placed a wreath on behalf of Jayalalithaa.
Expressing shock over Ramamurthy’s death, Karunanidhi said: “I shared a 60-year friendship with him. I remember the days when he composed music for ‘Kagitha Odam’ song for the movie ‘Marakka Mudiyuma.”
MSV paid floral tributes to his former music partner.-PTI
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