L. Vaidyanathan

Lakshminarayana Vaidyanathan (Tamil: லக்ஷ்மிநாராயண வைத்தியநாதன்; Kannada: ಎಲ್.ವೈದ್ಯನಾಥನ್; April 9, 1942 - May 19, 2007) was an acclaimed musicologist, music director and composer,^[1] trained in the classical Carnatic music tradition. Vaidyanathan was born to V.Lakshminarayana, and Seethalakshmi, both accomplished musicians; he was also the elder brother of accomplished violinist duo L. Shankar and L. Subramaniam.^[2] All three brothers received their musical training from their father.^[3]

Vaidyanathan started his career as an Assistant music director to G. K. Venkatesh and composed the score for over 170 films in languages including Tamil and Kannada.His notable works include Pesum Padam, Ezhavathu Manithan, Dasaratham and Marupakkam in Tamil and Aparichita, Ondu Mutthina Kathe in Kannada. He was one of the best music arrangers in the country and was known for his use of rare and unknown instruments, subtly mixing sounds from the mandolin, flute and violin with various folk percussion instruments before the advent of present day technological advances in sound mixing.^[3] He collaborated with C.Ashwath and composed music for many Kannada movies in the name Ashwath-Vaidi. One catchy and enduring composition of his would be, the Opening and Closing Score 'Thaana na nana' of Shankar Nag's Malgudi Days (TV series)

In 2003, the Government of Tamil Nadu awarded Vaidyanathan with the Kalaimamani for contributions to cinema.^[4]

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