Chennai: M S Vishwanathan, one of the prominent music composers of South Indian cinema, breathed his last at a Chennai hospital on Tuesday morning.
“He passed away at 4.15am,” said hospital sources.
The music maestro was admitted to the intensive care unit of Fortis Malar Hospitals on June 27 with breathing difficulty and his condition had been worsening ever since.
He died at the age of 97. He was fondly known as MSV in the Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam industry and has worked with over 1200 films. Shivaji Ganeshan’s Panam in 1952 was his debut creation.
‘MSV,’ is a household name in Tamil Nadu and has scored music for films like Billa, Nalai Namathe, Urmai Kural and Sirithu Vazha Vendum.
His brilliant partnership with Ramamurthy, also a music composer, is historic as the duo produced super hit songs. Together they had the famous creditline of ‘Viswanathan-Ramamurthy.’
‘Sonnathu Needhana’ (Nenjil Oru Alayam), ‘Viswanathan Velai Vendum’ (Kadalikka Neram Illai), ‘Kettavarellam Padalam’ (Thangai) are among MSV’s all-time favourites that are still popular in Tamil Nadu.
MSV is survived by four sons and three daughters. His last rites will be performed on Wednesday.
The Tamil cinema industry gave their condolence. The actors and producers of south Indian cinema described his death as an irreparable loss. Â