Introducing Vidyasagar
Vidyasagar the national award winning music director is presently one of the most sought after music composers in Tamil and Malayalam film industry. From ever green melody 'Nee Katru' to soulful 'Orey Manam', from fast numbers like 'Appadi Podu' to classical numbers like 'Anandam Anandam' or 'Kana Kandenadi', Vidyasagar has done it all. The master of melodies and playful numbers has been forced of late to cater to the masses with fast and peppy numbers composed by him for movies starring Tamil superstars Vijay and Vikram proving big hits. Still, the master manages to come up with some surprisingly simple and easy on ears music as in 'Sadhurangam' and 'Thendral'. This website will try to introduce the 'Isai Sagar' and some of his best music to the audience.
With his grandpa a court 'Vidhwan' for the king of Vijayanagaram, his father a musician who could play eight instruments, it was but expected that Vidyasagar would enter the music scene. This he did it at the age of four, when he began learning vocal classical music. An Andhraite, brought up in Chennai, Vidyasagar however found his slot in Tamil and in Malayalam where he has been extremely popular and has won four state awards and one national award. He has since composed for more than 200 films, including Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. There is another feather to his cap: Vidyasagar is the first South Indian composer to score music for a Hollywood film.
Vidyasagar and his Music
At the age of four Vidyasagar learnt vocal classical music and harmonium from his father. At the age of eight, Vidyasagar started learning to play guitar and piano from Dhanraj Master. Then he did his seventh grade in theory. At an early age of eleven, Vidyasagar knew how to play a dozen musical instruments and he was an assistant to many music directors based in Chennai.
Vidyasagar signed his first film in Tamil in 1989 titled 'Poomanam' directed by Rajasekhar (Robert). However, success was to elude Vidyasagar for many more years in the Tamil film industry. From 1993 to 1996, Vidyasagar became the top music director in Telugu. Upon returning to Tamil film world in 1995, Vidyasagar developed a good rapport with actor-director Arjun, and composed for many of his earlier Tamil films many of which became quite popular.
From 1997 to 2001, Vidyasagar gained widespread recognition in the Malayalam film industry. He made a comeback to Tamil music industry again in 2001 and the much-deserved recognition in Tamil cinema came only during his second major stint with movies like "Dhil", "Parthipan Kanavu", "Allithantha Vanam", "Run" and "Dhool". Presently Vidyasagar is one of the most sought after music directors after his music for movies starring Tamil super stars Vikram and Vijay proved to be big hits. To read more about Vidyasagar click here.
The Music for Vidyasagar
Vidyasagar loves soft melody numbers, as he puts it - "they come straight from one's heart". In all his films, one melody number becomes very popular like "Un Samayalarayil..Naan" in "Dhill", "Malaikatruvandhu Tamizh" in "Vedam" or the "Poi Sollak" and "Panikkaatrae... " in "Run". Also for him, lyrics are more important than the tune. Vidyasagar wants his music to be melodious and the listeners to enjoy them. He is one of rarer class of present day music directors who prefers setting tune to lyrics already written.
Vidyasagar has introduced not less than 28 singers so far, singers like Harish Raghavendra, Pushpa Sriram, Sriram Parthasarathy, Gopal Rao, Manickam Vinayagam, Srinivas, Vithu Prabakar, Paravai Muniamma, Sadhana Sargam (in Tamil), Chinmayi, Malathi Laksman, Prathapchandran, Madhushree, Malathi and Srivardhini.
Vidyasagar was probably the only composer in South India who has delivered many super hit songs but was not considered a success. Even today, some of Vidyasagar's earlier songs composed for movies starring Arjun are sung by music troupes. But the total success of the film counts ultimately because the music director will be identified with the film.
Vidyasagar says he hopes to come out with better music with each film and wants to be remembered in future as a music director who has produced some memorable music.
Vidyasagar and Success
- A melody that goes into the soul of a listener, a good orchestra and the presentation!
- As far as music is concerned, you have to create an identity for yourself. If you are yourself, you will be accepted. Vidyasagar never tried to be someone else.
- Success is never a destination; it is only a part of the journey. God has given me many pleasant surprises and I hope to achieve something with His grace.
- I always aim high because there is nothing wrong in building castles in the air. I am a practical dreamer. More than a dreamer, I am imaginative. I have to be creatively imaginative.
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