Remembering TMS’ voice that powered Dravidian movement

“His dependable was a priceless treasure,” says T Vijayaraj, an ardent admirer of legendary singer TM Soundararajan (TMS). Recalling his relation with the singer, whose 103rd birth day fell connected March 24, Vijayaraj says that TMS’ songs formed an integral portion of the Dravidian governmental firmament. “Even today, numbers specified arsenic ‘Naan aanaiyittal’ and ‘Yaen endra kelvi ketkaamal vaazhkai illai’ echo during predetermination campaigns and rallies crossed Tamil Nadu. These songs contributed immensely successful boosting MGR’s popularity and helped him triumph a immense instrumentality following.” 

Vijayaraj has directed a documentary series IMayathudan Oru Isai Payanam on the singer’s travel to stardom. He changeable the archetypal occurrence of the bid in Madurai, at TMS’s house in Thaerkku Krishnan Koil Street, the singer’s birthplace. Another occurrence was filmed at Pakshiraja Studios in Coimbatore, where TMS recorded ‘Eththanai kaalam thaan emaatruvaar’ for the MGR blockbuster Malai Kallan. He besides filmed astatine Bharathiyar Illam in Triplicane, where TMS interacted with the poet’s grandson. Other episodes were filmed astatine Modern Theatre successful Salem, wherever the vocalist recorded galore songs for actor Jaishankar. The last occurrence was changeable at Adyar Film Institute. 

“TMS sang the fashionable rubric opus ‘Unnai dhinam thaedum thalaivan’ for Vijayakanth successful Uzhavar Magan, directed by Aabaavaanan, an alumnus of the institute. In 1989, helium sang six songs for actor Sathyaraj in Thaai Naadu. The bid traces TMS’ emergence to stardom, arsenic helium became the dependable of MGR and Sivaji Ganesan,” shares Vijayaraj, awaiting support from an OTT level to aerial the series. 

Vijayaraj studied acting at Adyar Film Institute and worked with Tamil Nadu Films Division successful the theatre quality reel conception successful the 1990s. It was past that Vijayaraj realised that there were no ocular grounds of icons specified as TMS, Mohammed Rafi, Kannadasan oregon Bharatiyar. “We retrieve celebrated radical lone aft they are gone. I wanted to bash thing during the beingness of TMS,” says the antheral who documented the singer’s travel by revisiting iconic studios on with him betwixt 2001 and 2013. “To people the commencement centenary of TMS in 2023, Chief Minister MK Stalin unveiled a bronze life-size statue of the vocalist astatine the Madurai Corporation East Zone Office. It was a large honour. Born in Madurai in 1923, TMS sang implicit 10,000 songs crossed six generations spanning much than 5 decades since 1950.” 

While TMS’s versatility comes done successful songs specified arsenic ‘Engey nimmadhi’, ‘Manappara maadukatti’ and ‘Veedu varai uravu’, his mastery successful modulation technique, and emotions-laden singing basal retired successful ‘Satti suttadhadaa’ oregon the revolutionary ‘Acham enbadhu madamaiada’ — different MGR opus that draws attraction to Dravidian ideologies. “His songs for MGR were governmental statements that elevated his representation arsenic a champion of the poor,” says Vijayaraj adding, “The songs inactive resonate with people, due to the fact that they clasp retired hope.” 

Vijayaraj recalls immoderate peculiar moments portion moving connected the documentary. “One conception features Lata Mangeshkar sharing astir her fan-moment with Sivaji Ganesan with TMS. There are interviews with maestro Ilaiyaraaja (TMS sang ‘Annakili unnai thaeduthu’ for his archetypal film Annakili), A.R. Rahman, K.J. Yesudas and actors specified as Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth,” helium says, adding that a sojourn to MGR’s House — Chandranthi Nilayam — at Kuzhalmannam village successful Kerala was different memorable outing. He adds, “TMS became affectional there. He shared a peculiar enslaved with MGR.”