Taking guru-sishya relationship to great heights

The studio housed a lot of other production banners including popular Jupiter Pictures who made films like Kannagi and Rajakumari during late 1940s. They launched a new movie and while trying tunes with a known composer, the maker of the film was not happy and left the place at night saying that they would meet the next day.

One of the office boys who was doing errand jobs like getting tea, cleaning the place and pooja room took out the harmonium that night and composed a tune. The other boy said, ‘wow’.

The next day when the composer came, he was upset with the harmonium box being shifted from its original place. He was shouting as to who touched his harmonium. The second boy faithfully pointed to the first one. The composer though was angry called him by his side and asked him to create the tune. He also did. For a moment there was a stoic silence.

The composer said, ‘OK, do not tell anyone that you composed this tune’. But he passed it as if he did that. That song was a huge hit. One more tune composed by the boy was used by the composer for the film which also was welcomed hugely. The composer also took advantage of the boy’s innocence and used three of his songs in his next film. But the title for music was credited to the composer and there was no appreciation from the composer.

A day came when Jupiter Pictures shifted base to Chennai. They carried all their belongings and set pieces with them when the composer came running saying, ‘Sir, you can leave anything here but this boy. He is as precious as gold and diamond. He is the one who gave chartbuster songs in your recent films.’ Not able to control himself, the boy cried and fell at his guru’s feet. That boy was none other than M.S.Viswanathan and the composer was none other than then top S.M. Subbaiah Naidu. MSV took care of his mentor S.M. Subbaiah Naidu and his wife during their last days and did their final rites. On request from actor/singer Chandrababu, MSV also performed the actor’s last rites.