Vidyasagar (music director)

Vidyasagar
Born 3 March 1963(1963-03-03)(age 48)
Origin Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India
Genres Film score
Occupations Film composer, music director, Singer
Instruments keyboard/piano,
Years active 1984-present
Website Official Website

Vidyasagar (Telugu: విద్యాసాగర్, Tamil: வித்யாசாகர்) is an award-winning Indian film music director and music composer in the Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi film industry.[1] He is very popular in South Indian music industry and best known for his soulful melodies. His fast numbers to many films have earned him much fame too. He has worked with almost all the leading film makers and leading heroes of his time. Though he is born Telugu, his major hits are in Tamil and Malayalam films. He is also a recipient of the prestigious National Award which is recognized throughout the country.He won also 4 Filmfare Award for Best Music Director (Malayalam)

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Biography

Vidyasagar was born into a Telugu Niyogi Brahmin family of musicians and brought up in Chennai. His father U. Ramachander was a musician who could play eight instruments and his grandfather Varaha Narasimha Murthy was the court 'Vidhwan' for the king of Vijayanagaram Bobili in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Vidyasagar started learning vocal classical music and harmonium from his father at the age of four. When he was eight-years-old Vidyasagar joined Dhanraj Master. In fact both A. R. Rahman and Vidyasagar had joined on the same day. Vidyasagar learnt guitar for 3–4 years there, then the piano. Vidyasagar studied Western classical music at the Trinity College of Music, London.

At age of eleven, Vidyasagar knew how to play a dozen musical instruments and signed up to work as a regular musician for many music directors. Vidyasagar could play for all languages because then, most films had their recording at Chennai. Vidyasagar wanted to then compose his own tunes and have someone else play them. He had assisted various music directors and even done ghost music for some of them. So he had the experience and wanted to compose independently.

1989 to 1996

Vidyasagar became an independent music director with the song "En Anbe" in the 1989 Tamil movie 'Poomanam' directed by Rajasekhar (Robert). Though Vidyasagar started his music career with a Tamil film, recognition in Tamil music industry came to him much later. He shifted base to Telugu and from 1993 to 1996, Vidyasagar became the top music director in Telugu.

In 1994-95, Vidyasagar was picked up by Tamil actor-director Arjun, with whom he worked for many musically acclaimed films like 'Jai Hind', 'Karna', 'Subash', 'Ayutha Poojai' and 'Sengottai'. Vidyasagar composed some of his best music for Arjun's films with some melodic numbers like 'Malare', 'Bhoomiae', and 'Padu Padu' some of which went unnoticed. After a not so impressive start in Tamil film industry Vidyasagar was discovered by Malayalam film industry.

1996 to 2002

From 1996 to 2001 Vidyasagar mainly concentrated on Malayalam films where he became the top music director. In Malayalam right from his first film "Azhagiya Ravanan" to "Meesa Madhavan" he struck the right cord. He has created scores in which ragas and rhythms combined to a good melody, which even bagged him four Kerala State Awards. Vidyasagar's love for melody has made him turn to Malayalam film industry time and again, and the songs in hit films like Azhagiya Ravanan, Indraprastham, Varnapakittu, Meesa Madhavan, Gramaphone, CID Moosa and Kilichundan Mambazham were all well received.

His career best was "Millennium Stars"(1999), in Malayalam, which was a WorldClass soundtrack. Some songs were bilingual, and India's best singers, Dr. K.J. Yesudas and Hariharan rendered these songs together. Songs like "Parayan Njaan Marannu" and "Shravan Gange" in this movie, were truly of the class of the world's top soundtracks.

During this period, Vidyasagar's song compositions in Tamil movies like 1998 Vijay starrer "Nilaave Vaa" and "Uyirodu Uyiraaga" starring Ajith did catch attention and became quite popular but still the bad patch in Tamil films continued for Vidyasagar during this period. Vidyasagar was probably the only composer in South India who has delivered many super hit songs during his early days but was not considered a success. Even today, some of Vidyasagar's prior songs composed for movies are sung by music troupes. But the total success of the film counts ultimately because the music director will be identified with the film.

Nowadays Vidya Sagar is the best business consultant of the I-sys school.

2001 to 2010

After a successful Malayalam career he made a come back into Tamil with "Dhill" and "Poovellam Un Vasam". Songs in both of these films were instant hits. Then came " [2] The year 2004 saw Vidyasagar come up with "Ghilli" which was an instant hit with song 'Appadi Podu Podu' ruling the charts in Tamil music world. This was followed by other hits like Madhurey, "London" and "Ji" in 2004-05. In the year 2005 Vidyasagar received National Award for the Telugu movie Swarabhishekam by K. Vishwanath featuring carnatic classical music.[3] Vidyasagar continued his success spree by composing music for Rajnikanth starrer 'Chandramukhi' (he mentions this as a call from God), which was the biggest hit of the year 2005 and a comeback movie for Rajnikanth. The audio of the movie was a best seller and the BGM (Back Ground Music) of the film was also released for the first time in the Indian music industry. He has composed music for the Hollywood movie "Beyond the Soul" directed by Rajeev Anchal. The 2004-05 year also saw him score music for the Hindi movie Hulchul from Priyadarshan. With Mozhi, Vidyasagar once again gave listeners some songs like "Katrin Mozhiye" and "Sevvanam Selaikatti" which were instant hits of 2007. In 2008 Vidyasagar came with chart topping songs for Kuruvi starring Vijay. "Kuruvi"'s music was well received by music critics and Vijay's fans. In 2008-2009, Vidyasagar gave multiple melodious hits for the movie Abhiyum Naanum. The song 'Va Va En Dhevadhaye', which expresses the bond between a father and daughter is considered to be one of the best lilting melodies of the year. Also, his brilliant score for Karunanidhi's novel based Tamil film Ilaignan is considered to be one of the career best scores for its grand orchestrations.

Vidyasagar was now a well known figure in the Tamil film music, often for his hugely popular numbers composed for movies starring Tamil stars Vijay and Vikram. As said by Vidyasagar in an interview about recognition for music, "When success eludes you, nobody is bothered about you, what you know and what you could do. That is why mediocrity succeeds. If you are successful, nobody questions your knowledge.". He is the only person following classical music nowadays. Only two persons have composed pure (with out combination)in the raga called Gambeera Naatai. One being Vidyasagar and the other Raju Krishnamoorthy.

Awards

National Film Awards:

Kerala State Film Awards:

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards:

Andhra Pradesh State Film Awards:

Other Awards:

Upcoming projects (2011)

Filmography

Year Film Language
2011
Vaidooryam Malayalam
Spanish Masala Malayalam
Thambi Vettothi Sundaram Tamil
Makeup Man Malayalam
2010 Magizhchi Tamil
Siruthai Tamil
Ilaignan Tamil
Kaavalan Tamil
Mandhira Punnagai Tamil
Apoorva Ragam Malayalam
Paappi Appacha Malayalam
2009 1977 Tamil
Kanden Kadhalai Tamil
Peranmai Tamil
Ilamai Itho Itho Tamil
Neelathaamara Malayalam
Akasamantha Telugu
2008 Kuruvi Tamil
Pirivom Santhippom Tamil
Mulla Malayalam
Jeyam Kondaan Tamil
Abhiyum Naanum Tamil
Mahesh, Saranya Matrum Palar Tamil
Mere Baap Pehle Aap Hindi
Ali Baba Tamil
Raman Thediya Seethai Tamil
Muniyandi Vilangial Moonramandu Tamil
2007 Periyar Tamil
Majaa Tamil
Kaiyoppu Malayalam
Goal Malayalam
Rock 'n' Roll Malayalam
Arai En 305-il Kadavul Tamil
Mozhi Tamil
2006 Aathi Tamil
Paramasivan Tamil
Thambi Tamil
Poi Tamil
Emmtan-Magan Tamil
Pasa Kiligal Tamil
Bangaram Telugu
Sundarakandam Telugu
Sivappathigaram Tamil
2005 Kana Kandaen Tamil
Chandramukhi Tamil
Ji Tamil
London Tamil
Ponniyin Selvan Tamil
Chandrolsavam Malayalam
Alice in Wonderland Malayalam
Kochirajavu Malayalam
Made in USA Malayalam
Chanthupottu Malayalam
Muddula Koduku Telugu
Satti Telugu
Soori Telugu
Vikram Telugu
2004 Thendral Tamil
Hulchul Hindi
Swarabhishekam Telugu
Varnajalam Tamil
Sullan Tamil
Ghilli Tamil
Rasikan Malayalam
Madhurey Tamil
Love Today Telugu
Sadhurangam Tamil
2003 Anbe Sivam Tamil
Anbu Tamil
Run Telugu
Ottesi Cheputunna Telugu
Kadhal Kisu Kisu Tamil
Pallavan Tamil
Well Done Tamil
Parthiban Kanavu Tamil
Villain Telugu
Power of Women Tamil, Hindi
Iyarkai Tamil
Beyond the Soul English
Aahaa Ethanai Azhagu Tamil
Thithikudhe Tamil
Kilichundan Mampazham Malayalam
Pattalam Malayalam
C.I.D. Moosa Malayalam
Dongodu Telugu
Thirumalai Tamil
Alai Tamil
Joot Tamil
2002 Villain Tamil
Run Tamil
Dhool Tamil
Meesa Madhavan Malayalam
Gramaphone Malayalam
Naaga Telugu
O Chinnadana Telugu
Neetho Telugu
Durga Hindi
Ramanaidu Telugu
Karmegam Tamil
2001 Dhosth Malayalam
Randaam Bhavam Malayalam
Dhill Tamil
Alli Thandha Vaanam Tamil
Vedam Tamil
Thavasi Tamil
Poovellam Un Vasam Tamil
Ladies and Gentlemen Telugu
Sneham Telugu
2000 Daivathinte Makan Malayalam
Raakilipaatu Malayalam
Dreamz Malayalam
Satyam Shivam Sundaram Malayalam
Dubai Malayalam
Madhuranombarakkattu Malayalam
Devadoothan Malayalam
Mr. Butler Malayalam
Chandranudikkunna Dikhil Malayalam
Snehithiye Tamil
Puratchikaaran Tamil
1999 Millennium Stars Malayalam
Niram Malayalam
Ezhupunna Tharakan Malayalam
Ustaad Malayalam
Edhirum Pudhirum Tamil
Poo Parikka Varugirom Tamil
1998 Pranaya Varnankal Malayalam
Uyirodu Uyiraga Tamil
Thayin Manikkodi Tamil
Nilaave Vaa Tamil
Suyamvaram Tamil
1997 Summer in Bethlehem Malayalam
Krishangudiyil Oru Pranayakalam Malayalam
Oru Maravathoor Kanavu Malayalam
Varnapakittu Malayalam
Pudhayal Tamil
Ahaa Yenna Poruththam Tamil
Mahatham Malayalam
Smile Please Tamil
1996 Indraprastham Malayalam
Azhakiya Ravanan Malayalam
Thaali Telugu
Priyam Tamil
Coimbatore Mappillai Tamil
Subash Tamil
Sengottai Tamil
Tata Birla Tamil
Mustafaa Tamil
Nethaji Tamil
1995 Karna Tamil
Vetagadu Telugu
Mr. Madras Tamil
Villathi Villan Tamil
Ayutha Pooja Tamil
Murai Maman Tamil
Pasumponn Tamil
1994 Bangaru Mogudu Telugu
Chilaka Pachakapuram Telugu
Jai Hind Tamil
Mugguru Monagallu Telugu
1993 Allari Pilla Telugu
Hello Darling Lechi Podama Telugu
Manavarali Pelli Telugu
1989 Poomanam Tamil
Rajasekar Tamil
Seetha Tamil
Nila Pennae Tamil
Vaanam Tamil

References

  1. ^ Raaga Album page. Vidysagar Albums Page on Raaga
  2. ^ Gillie. Gillie Review
  3. ^ Chandramukhi Review. Vidaysagar on Chandramukhi

External links