TMS Biography

-- by Srinivas Chari

What if the renowned playback singer TMS needed an introduction? ‘The Voice that Moved Millions’ as some would have it. ‘The Voice every Hero wanted’ or closer home, ‘A voice that resonated Sivaji’s moods, MGR’s messages.’ So, who would know best ? Quite easily his biographer Vamanan who has laid bare the life and times of his muse in the 648-page illustrated TMS, Oru Pan-paattu Sarithiram.

T.M. Sounderarajan, famously known as TMS, says in the book: ‘‘Just as I was born to singfor MGR and Sivaji, Vamanan has been born to write about my life and I am blessed to read this book.’’ The first edition was released in 2002 in TMS’ presence  and the fourth on the birth centenary of the ‘Superstar of Song’ in 2023. 

TMS was born in 1923 in a poor Saurashtrian family of Madurai. For one who was later held up as an example for his clarity of diction in Tamil, TMS spoke the Saurashtrian dialect at home. He sang his first song in 1950 in the film Krishna Vijayam under the music direction of S.M. Subbaiah Naidu. This number bore an uncanny resemblance to a song sung by TMS’ role model  M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. Proving his versatility, TMS sang two light songs for comedian K.A. Thangavelu in Chellapillai out of seven that he had sung in the film. The shooting of the AVM film had started in early 1952 but was released only in 1955.

Chief Minister MGR felicitating TMS.

TMS sang his two songs for MGR in the film Malaikallan (The title song and the evergreen number  Ethanai Kaalam Thaan…). The massive success of the film released in 1954 underscored the importance of TMS to MGR. TMS sang for MGR till his last film Maduraiyai Meetta Sundarapandiyan in 1977. MGR’s last song was to have been sung by Yesudas but composer MSV put his foot down and had it sung by TMS.
Considering the iron-clad identification of TMS’ voice with MGR, who better than the former to declare resoundingly in song Naan Aanaiittal Adhu Nadanthivittal… (from Enga Veetu Pillai)….

TMS first sang for Sivaji in the films Koondukili and Thookku Thookki (both released in 1954) and continued till 1991. TMS’s singing which suited Sivaji’s voice, image and style of acting, helped the latter a great deal to add the musical dimension to his versatile acting prowess. The ringing voice of TMS features some of the most meaningful songs of Tamil cinema. The unforgettable lyrics of Kannadasan shine in the rendering of TMS.

Sivaji offering his felicitations to TMS on the latter’s silver jubilee in 1972.

TMS himself acted in Pattinathar (1963) and Arunagirinathar (1964). In 1968, TMS co-produced and acted in the film Kallum Kaniyaagum which was a success for its songs but flopped as a film and cost him Rs 1.5 lakh. An irreparable personal loss around the same time was the death of his 16-year-old eldest son Balasubramanian. After a personal meeting with Sathya Sai Baba, he was consoled and resumed his recordings. Despite these setbacks this was the time when TMS was conquering the peaks of success.
The silver jubilee of TMS’s  career as a singer was celebrated in 1972. A souvenir brought out then praised him both as a person and as a singer. Mention was made of his devotion to Muruga and his bhakti songs which made listeners ecstatic. Studio baron A.V. Meiyappan summed up the accolades: ‘It is TMS here, TMS there and TMS everywhere.’

SPB, who in his later years took TMS’s place at the top, debuted in the MGR-starrer Adimai Penn (1969). Incidentally, Jayalalitha also sang a song in this film as did TMS.  Four generations of heroes like MGR, Sivaji and Gemini Ganesan,  Jaishankar and Ravichandran, Kamal Haasan and Rajnikanth and Vijaykanth and Sathyaraj had songs sung by TMS picturised on them. 

TMS had a strong stage presence and loved to sing live from his stock of about 5,000 songs. He had fans  around the globe; the Tamil diaspora adored him. He travelled abroad about 50 times. 
The late 1970s and the early 80s witnessed the phenomenal rise of Ilaiyaraja for whom TMS sang 25 songs till 1980 but there were differences between them that were never bridged. More about it in the book. 

In 1993, May 1 to be exact, TMS escaped sure and swift death. He had refused to sing from a lorry at an election rally for Sri Lankan leader Premadasa. TMS was very much in Colombo but not part of the rally. A suicide bomber targetted the rally killing Premadasa and 23 others. About 60 were injured. A miracle if ever there was one! TMS lived upto the age of 91. He passed away on May 25, 2013 at his bungalow in Mandavelipakkam where he had lived for more than 60 years.

Apart from his exhaustive biography in Tamil of TMS, Vamanan has brought to bear all his journalistic and creative skills in writing an easy paced dedicated biography in English; the book awaits publication. In keeping with the times, Youtube links of 15 ‘unmissable tracks’ of TMS’ songs find a place in the book. Three among them (1). Paattum Naane Bhaavamum Naane, I am the song, I am the emotion from the movie Thiruvilayadal (2) Adho Andha Paravai Pola Vazhavendum from Ayarathil Oruvan and (3) Enge Nimmadhi, Enge Nimmadhi from Pudhiya Paravai….The readers would of course want to make their own list. The author comments on the musicality of the songs with great relish making me want to listen to them again.

For the record, Vamanan has worked in The Hindu, Indian Express and the Tamil edition of India Today. He polished his skills in delving and breathing life into the lives of the cinema heroes and heroines of the past while writing features on them.

Even as a beginner in journalism, his obit on lyricist Kannadasan written in 1981 was well received. His series on ‘Tamil Isai Sadhanaiyalargal’ written in Cinema Express was expanded and published in five volumes and a sixth omnibus edition. Vamanan’s ultimate tribute to TMS is employing his poetic and musical talent to write and sing a song about him. Its link: https://youtu.be/vBv-OZX3Hgs?si=MgIdGMUT8IJfYme0

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