His last hit song was ‘Puli Urumudhu’ from the 2009 film Vettaikaaran . And now, seven years later, the focus is back on Ananthu — for his rendition of the melodious ‘Maya Nadhi’ in Rajinikanth’s Kabali . Not many know that Ananthu was late music composer M.S. Viswanathan’s man Friday for more than a couple of decades.
“It’s his training and blessings that have brought me so far… and also helped me deliver the intricate notes in ‘Maya Nadhi’,” he says, “If you’ve learned from MSV, you can adapt to any environment.”
In Santhosh Narayanan’s studio, a place familiar to him (he sang a part in ‘Manidhi’ from Iraivi earlier), he did exactly that. Along with Pradeep Kumar and Shweta Mohan, he rendered a melody that would later be clubbed along with faster songs like ‘Neruppu Da’ in the album. “Santhosh Narayanan is a singer-friendly composer and gives us the freedom to bring our own musical touch to the tunes,” says Ananthu, who has also been featured in Telugu and Hindi soundtracks.
The singer’s experience in assisting MSV from 1995 till 2015 — MSV passed away on this day last year — is something he cherishes. Being a fan, he went to him seeking opportunities in singing, but MSV made him a composing assistant — one who sometimes acts as a bridge between the composer and singer, teaching the latter the essence and soul of the song.
In 2011, Ananthu presented a show featuring popular songs, that he remembers till date — it had singers like Balamuralikrishna and S.P. Balasubrahmanyam heaping praise on him. “SPB openly appreciated me; that was an unforgettable moment for me,” he says. Also present that day was M.S. Viswanathan, his guru.
Ananthu hopes to present a tribute to MSV, either in the form of an album or a book. “Everybody knows about his musical genius, but there are many things that I have observed about him, thanks to our interactions. I’d like to share that with the world,” he signs off.
