Music legend - T M Soundararajan (TMS)

Here is about another musci legend TMSoundararajan, knows as TMS...those days, no MGR, Sivaji Ganesan movie was complete without TMS singing in it...my favourite singer...

KALAIMAMANI T.M.SOUNDARARAJAN



Parents: Meenatchi Iyengar, Venkatammaal.

Date of Birth: 24.03.1923

Plce of Birth: Madurai, Tamilnadu.

Education: S.S.L.C (not qualified to write the final exam), Hindi: Passed 'RastraBasha'.

Vocal Training: Saarangabaani Baagavathar, Kaaraikudi Rajamani Iyer.

Inagural Concert: Madurai Sathguru Samaajam-1945, Violin: C.R.Mani, Miruthangam:S.N.Vijayarangam.

Family: Marriage- 28.03.1946, Wife: Sumithra, 3 sons & 3 daughters.

First song : Jupiter's 'KRISHNA VIJAYAM' - 1946, Direction: Sunderlal Natkarni, Music: Subbiah Naidu.

Songs: 'Namma Kannan Prathaabamae, Raathae ennai Vittu Odaathaedi, Naanam Aeno Anuradha'.

First Screen Appearance: Film- Devaki, Song: 'Munnaalil Aandavanae Naeril Vandhu'.

As a Hero : Pattinaththaar, Aunagirinaathar.

First song for Sivaji: 'Konjum Kiliyaana pennai...Sariyaa thappaa?' Film: koondukkili, Lyric: Thanjai Raamaiya Dos, Music:K.V.Mahadevan, Direction: T.R.Raamannaa.

First song for M.G.R : 'Eththanaik kaalamthaan aemaatruvaar intha naattilae' Film: Malaikkallan, Lyric:Thanjai Raamaiya Dos,Kovai Aiyaa Muththu, Music:Subbaiya Naidu, Prduced & Directed by : Sriramulu Naidu.

Mukta Srinivasan: "Sonia Gandhi became emotional when TMS sang ''Ullam Urugudhaiya'' at the first anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi's death for which she had come down from Sriperumbudur. ''What do the lines mean,'' she asked. "My heart melts...'' she was told. She had just begun walking down the dais but stood transfixed and moved. "Such is the power of TMS's voice and his music''.

Vali's Eulogy:" T. M. Soundararajan was one of the first to tell me to come to Chennai and try to make a name here, he said. Vali had written his lyrics (''Karpanai Endralum...'', a devotional number on Lord Muruga which is popular even today) on just a post card and had sent it to TMS. "The popularity of the song was most unexpected".