Vedha (S. S. Vedhasalam) was an Indian composer[1] who started working in Sinhala films during the early 1950s when they were being produced in Madras. Then he worked mainly in Tamil films. He was active in the field for about 25 years since 1952.

He composed music for many films produced by Modern Theatres. He was popularly known to adapt Hindi tunes to Tamil songs.

Career

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He started his career by assisting music directors in films. He was a co-music director in the 1955 film Menaka along with T. G. Lingappa and C. N. Pandurangan.

The first film he was in-charge of as music director is Marma Veeran released in 1956. The song Thudikkum Vaalibame sung by R. Balasaraswathi Devi in this film was a big hit. Usually R. Balasaraswathi was known for singing lullaby songs but this song is full of romantic love known as Sringaram.

Nadakkaadhu Jambam Palikkadhu a song sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela in the 1958 film Manamalai was a popular number in Radio Ceylon for a long time.

He composed music for another film in the same year. Anbu Enge was a successful film, music being one of the factors.[2] Particularly, the number Dingiri Dingale sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela separately as two versions, was a mega hit. The tune is of Baila genre.

The song "Oraayiram Paarvaiyile" from the 1965 film Vallavanukku Vallavan was also a very popular number. Though the tune was lifted from Hindi, the lyrics by Kannadasan and the mesmerising voice of T. M. Soundararajan gave it a Tamil flavour.

A song from the 1966 film Vallavan Oruvan, "Palinginaal Oru Maaligai" was an apt number for L. R. Eswari's singing talent. Her voice combined with Vedha's music took audience to great heights.

Singers

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The singers who sang for his composition are: T. M. Soundararajan, A. M. Rajah, Thiruchi Loganathan, K. J. Yesudas, T. A. Mothi, S. C. Krishnan, J. P. Chandrababu, Sirkazhi Govindarajan, V. N. Sundaram, A. L. Raghavan, S. V. Ponnusamy, Ghantasala, Mohideen Baig, Eddie Jayamanne, P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari, R. Balasaraswathi Devi, K. Jamuna Rani, (Radha) Jayalakshmi, P. Leela, Jikki, K. Rani, A. G. Rathnamala, B. Vasantha, M. S. Rajeswari, Mabel Blythe, Rukmani Devi and Manorama.

Lyricists

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Lyricists who wrote lyrics for Vedha's compositions include Kannadasan, Sundar Kannan, A. L. Narayanan, Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, Villiputhan, A. Maruthakasi, Vaali, Karunaidasan, Nallathambi, Alangudi Somu and Panju Arunachalam.

Filmography

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Year Film Language Director Production Company
1952 Umathu Vishvasaya Sinhala B. A. W. Jayamanne Ceylon Theatres
1953 Kele Handa Sinhala B. A. W. Jayamanne Ceylon Theatres
1954 Irangini Sinhala B. A. W. Jayamanne Ceylon Theatres
1955 Menaka Tamil V. C. Subburaman Kasturi Films
1956 Dingiri Menika Sinhala A. S. A. Sami Heladiva Film Arts
1956 Marma Veeran Tamil T. R. Raghunath Jubilee Arts
1957 Jeevitha Satana Sinhala Shanthi Kumar Ceylon Theatres
1958 Anbu Enge Tamil D. Yoganand Jubilee Arts
Manamalai Tamil Ch. Narayanamurthi Janatha Pictures
1959 Minnal Veeran Tamil Jampanna TNR Productions
1960 Parthiban Kanavu Tamil D. Yoganand Jubilee Films
1962 Kannadi Maaligai Tamil N. N. C. Sami Rani Pictures
1963 Alapiranthavan Tamil Nanabhai Bhatt
Konjum Kumari Tamil G. Viswanathan Modern Theatres
Pen Manam Tamil K. Somu Mokeshvar Chitra
1964 Amma Engey Tamil G. Viswanathan Modern Theatres
Chitrangi Tamil R. S. Mani
Pasamum Nesamum Tamil D. Yoganand Alankar Pictures
Veeranganai Tamil A. S. A. Sami Oriental Pictures
1965 Sarasa B. A. Tamil D. Yoganand Ganesh Films
Oru Viral Tamil C. M. V. Raman Salvandar Fernandez
Vallavanukku Vallavan Tamil T. R. Sundaram Modern Theatres
1966 Aame Evaru? Telugu B. S. Narayana P. S. V. Pictures
Iru Vallavargal Tamil K. V. Srinivasan Modern Theatres
Monagallaku Monagadu Telugu S. D. Lal
Vallavan Oruvan Tamil T. R. Sundaram
Yaar Nee? Tamil Satyam P. S. V. Pictures
1967 Adhey Kangal Tamil A. C. Tirulokchandar AVM Productions
Ave Kallu Telugu A. C. Tirulokchandar
Ethirigal Jakkirathai Tamil T. R. Sundaram Modern Theatres
Kadhalithal Podhuma Tamil K. V. Srinivasan
1968 Evaru Monagadu Telugu T. R. Sundaram
1969 Naangu Killadigal Tamil L. Balu
Manasatchi Tamil T. N. Balu Vijaya Balaji Movies
Ulagam Ivvalavudhan Tamil Vedantam Raghavayya Pandi Amman Movies
Ponnu Mappillai Tamil S. Ramanathan P. S. V. Pictures
Rajya Kanksha Telugu G. Viswanathan Bharadwaja Films
1970 CID Shankar Tamil T. R. Sundaram Modern Theatres
1971 Justice Viswanathan Tamil G. R. Nathan
Nenu Manishine Telugu G. V. R. Seshagiri Rao

References

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  • Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers.
  • G. Neelamegam. Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition December 2014.
  • G. Neelamegam. Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 2 (in Tamil). Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition November 2016.
  1. ^ Guy, Randor (3 July 2016). "Yaar Nee? (1966) TAMIL". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  2. ^ Randor Guy (17 May 2014). "Blast from the Past — Anbuengey 1958". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.