Viji Manuel, the keyboard player par excellence, is dead

Infusing global touches in terms of elements and style, Viji was part of music director Ilayaraja’s troupe for four decades.

Viji Manuel (64), the keyboard player who was part of music director Ilayaraja’s troupe for four decades, died here on Saturday.

Viji was the son of late pianist Handel Manuel who was instrumental in popularising classical music in Chennai in a big way.

“The keyboard solos and sounds he played for Maestro Illayaraja is a part of South Indian people’s soundtrack. His dad Handel Manuel and he will never be forgotten,” said music director A.R. Rahman, who had played alongside Vjii for Ilayaraja.

Explaining his contribution to Tamil film music work, Pianist Anil Srinivasan said Viji infused global touch in terms of elements and style.

“Musically he is more informal than formal. He can play any complicated music effortlessly and also without referring to the notations. In hundreds of songs of Ilayaraja, you can listen to his contribution,” said Mr Srinivasan.

A self-taught man when it came to music, Viji was a bass guitarist and drummer before switching over to keyboard. In 1971, he won the best drummer award at an all-India contest. He used to say that he changed the way bass was played till then. He had worked with M.S. Viswanthan and K.V. Mahadevan. His introduction to Ilayaraja happened when he joined another music director G.K. Venkatesh.

Whether it is the song ‘Darling darling darling’ in the film Priya or Nee Partha Paravi in Hey Ram or the theme music for the film Raja Parvai , Viji’s musical magic manifests itself.

Cello player V. Sekar, who had worked with Viji for over 25 years, said he was a rare combination of a great musician and a human being. Viji had even played for the film Melnaatu Marumagal , for which music was scored by Sekar’s father Kunnakudi R. Vaidhyanathan.

“His name became synonymous with manual playing of guitar and keyboard. He was a hyper-sensitive musician. His physical ailments never came in the way of his music. He was humorous and there would be always fun in the studio when he was around,” said Mr Sekar.