Birth Anniversary :Remembering TMS’ voice that powered Dravidian movement

“His voice was a priceless treasure,” says T Vijayaraj, an ardent admirer of legendary singer TM Soundararajan (TMS). Recalling his association with the singer, whose 103rd birth anniversary fell on March 24, Vijayaraj says that TMS’ songs formed an integral part of the Dravidian political firmament. “Even today, numbers such as ‘Naan aanaiyittal’ and ‘Yaen endra kelvi ketkaamal vaazhkai illai’ echo during election campaigns and rallies across Tamil Nadu. These songs contributed immensely in boosting MGR’s popularity and helped him win a huge fan following.” 

T Vijayaraj with the bronze life-size statue of the singer at the Madurai Corporation East Zone Office
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Vijayaraj has directed a documentary series IMayathudan Oru Isai Payanam on the singer’s journey to stardom. He shot the first episode of the series in Madurai, at TMS’s house in Thaerkku Krishnan Koil Street, the singer’s birthplace. Another episode was filmed at Pakshiraja Studios in Coimbatore, where TMS recorded ‘Eththanai kaalam thaan emaatruvaar’ for the MGR blockbuster Malai Kallan. He also filmed at Bharathiyar Illam in Triplicane, where TMS interacted with the poet’s grandson. Other episodes were filmed at Modern Theatre in Salem, where the singer recorded many songs for actor Jaishankar. The final episode was shot at Adyar Film Institute. 

“TMS sang the popular title song ‘Unnai dhinam thaedum thalaivan’ for Vijayakanth in Uzhavar Magan, directed by Aabaavaanan, an alumnus of the institute. In 1989, he sang six songs for actor Sathyaraj in Thaai Naadu. The series traces TMS’ rise to stardom, as he became the voice of MGR and Sivaji Ganesan,” shares Vijayaraj, awaiting approval from an OTT platform to air the series. 

T Vijayaraj, director of documentary series Imayauthudan Oru Isai Payanam 
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Vijayaraj studied acting at Adyar Film Institute and worked with Tamil Nadu Films Division in the theatre news reel section in the 1990s. It was then that Vijayaraj realised that there were no visual record of icons such as TMS, Mohammed Rafi, Kannadasan or Bharatiyar. “We remember famous people only after they are gone. I wanted to do something during the lifetime of TMS,” says the man who documented the singer’s journey by revisiting iconic studios along with him between 2001 and 2013. “To mark the birth centenary of TMS in 2023, Chief Minister MK Stalin unveiled a bronze life-size statue of the singer at the Madurai Corporation East Zone Office. It was a great honour. Born in Madurai in 1923, TMS sang over 10,000 songs across six generations spanning more than five decades since 1950.” 

While TMS’s versatility comes through in songs such as ‘Engey nimmadhi’, ‘Manappara maadukatti’ and ‘Veedu varai uravu’, his mastery in modulation technique, and emotions-laden singing stand out in ‘Satti suttadhadaa’ or the revolutionary ‘Acham enbadhu madamaiada’ — another MGR song that draws attention to Dravidian ideologies. “His songs for MGR were political statements that elevated his image as a champion of the poor,” says Vijayaraj adding, “The songs still resonate with people, because they hold out hope.” 

TM Soundararajan with music director MS Viswanathan
| Photo Credit:
KUMAR SS

Vijayaraj recalls some special moments while working on the documentary. “One segment features Lata Mangeshkar sharing about her fan-moment with Sivaji Ganesan with TMS. There are interviews with maestro Ilaiyaraaja (TMS sang ‘Annakili unnai thaeduthu’ for his first film Annakili), A.R. Rahman, K.J. Yesudas and actors such as Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth,” he says, adding that a visit to MGR’s House — Chandranthi Nilayam — at Kuzhalmannam village in Kerala was another memorable outing. He adds, “TMS became emotional there. He shared a special bond with MGR.”