Na Muthukumar- A song that met an abrupt end

NA MUTHUKUMAR (1975 �� 2016)
It was a sad day for the Tamil industry , as well-known lyri cist-poet Na Muthukumar breathed his last on Sunday, at his home in Anna Nagar. The talented writer, 41, was suffering from jaundice for some time, and a cardiac arrest on Sunday morning led to his demise. The prolific lyricist needs no introduction -the two times National Award-winning writer, had been instrumental in entertaining music aficionados for more than a decade, with many chart-topping numbers.What made his songs unique, was the philosophical connect it had, giving rise to multiple interpretations. It was Aanandha Yazhai from Thanga Meenkal and Azhage Azhage from Saivam which won him the coveted national recognition. Kattradhu Tamizh, Yaaradi Nee Mohini, Thuppakki, Kadhal Kondein, Ghajini, Saamy, Madrasapattinam, Paiyaa...are some of the notable films that he penned lyrics for.
In an earlier interview to CT, where he had spoken about the secret behind his phenomenal output, he had said, ���I read a lot, both in Tamil and English. I also watch a lot of world cinema and I travel. If I work continuously for 10 days, I take a break for four days to refresh myself. I spend time with my family, play with my son and that rejuvenates me.���
Muthukumar was already a part of more than 100 films in 2016 (including the films that are yet to be released), and the number was set to go higher. ���I don't lay too many conditions while accepting a project. And I remain accessible all the time. To me, it is more about doing my job well and I write based on what the situation demands. But, at the same time, I have my personal code of ethics. I will not write vulgar lines and avoid taking on such songs,��� he added.
A host of celebrities from Kollywood paid their last respects to Na Muthukumar. He is survived by his wife Deepalakshmi, son Adhavan and daughter Yogalakshmi.
THE FILM INDUSTRY EULOGISES MUTHUKUMAR IN THEIR OWN WORDS
This news came to me, just as I was about to call it a day after finishing my work at the studio. I still find it hard to believe that he is no more.We had worked together for many years for several songs.We travelled to many places together, too. He'd penned the lyrics for chartbusters like Suttum Vizhi Sudare, for me. One thing I will always remember about him is that he had never failed to impress the director and the music director of the film that he worked on. His talent was such that he had always delivered whatever we had wanted from him.- HARRIS JAYARAJ, music director
He didn't foray into the industry with the intention of becoming a lyricist -he wanted to be a director. He wanted to write stories and dialogues, and he always nurtured this dream. He was well-versed with world cinema and could talk or debate on any topic, thanks to his voracious reading habit. He was a person who viewed everything from a different perspective, which was one of the reasons why he earned recognition at such a young age-SEEMAN, director
NO WORDS TO EXPRESS THE LOSS I FEEL
He was a good friend of mine. I have no words to express the loss I feel. I'm sure the world of poetry will be darker without the light of his words. May his soul rest in peace. In these dark times, I seek comfort from the words which he had left behind- SELVARAGHAVAN, director
HE WAS ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO I LOOKED UP TO
I can never forget the kind of impact the Ananda Yazhai song has had, not just on me and those involved in the making of the song, but on every single person who has heard it. It was unforgettable poetry at its best, and I know of people who have moved to tears listening to the song. The song is special, because it is the one song for which both Na Muthukumar and I have won plenty of awards for. I remember at the Filmfare awards, he came up to me and said, `I was quite sure you are going to win the National Award for the song. It is a shame you missed it, but I think it was by a close margin only.' There was no need for a person like him, who had won the National Award himself for the very same song to come up to me and tell me that. It was the best praise I have received from him.
Every single time I got an award for the song, I made it a point to thank him, because the song was that memorable. Our association goes back over 10 years, for it was his Suttum Vizhi Sudare, which was a turning point in not just his, but my career, too. He was a philosophical person. A great thinker, he was always someone whom I looked up with admiration- SRIRAM PARTHASARATHY, playback singer
I AM SAD THAT A GOOD SONG HAS ENDED
Idhu saagum vayadhalla. Saadhikkum vayadhu.Than paadalgalukku rendu murai dhesiya virudhugal pettravar. Avar peravendiya moondravathu virudhai kaalam kalavadivittadhu. Oru nalla paattu mudindhu vittathey endru vedhanaipadugiren.(This is not the age to die, this is the age to achieve things in life. He has gotten two National Awards for his songs. Time took away the third award that he was due for. I am sad that a good song has ended abruptly)
- VAIRAMUTHU, lyricist
WE WILL MISS HIM
Ever since my first film, I have worked only with one lyricist and that is Muthukumar. He was an easy and friendly person to work with. His speed of writing songs amazed me. He didn't take more than half an hour, and would come up with optional lyrics as well. There have been times when we would be recording late in the night, and would call him up for suggestions. Even if it was 3am, he would pick up the call and give us inputs.His death is a huge loss to the film industry. We will definitely miss him not only for the work he has done for us, but for the man he was- RAJESH, director
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE LOST HIM SO SOON
I'm yet to come to terms with the fact that he is not with us anymore. After he won the National Award for Thanga Meenkal, I asked him whether he would write songs for the small-budget films which I make, and he immediately expressed his wish to work with me. He penned the lyrics for all the songs in Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe. The `death song' he wrote for the film had various hidden meanings, but I realised it only later. He had incorporated a lot of things conveyed in Bhagawad Gita in a few lines in such a way that any few lines in such a way that anyone could understand it. It is unfortunate that we lost one more person from the industry this early - LAKSHMY RAMAKRISHNAN, actress/director
HE WILL ALWAYS BE A SPECIAL PERSON
Muthukumar will always be a special person for me and my family . One of my personal favourites is Un Perai Sonnale from Dumm Dumm Dumm...he'd written the lyrics for the song and I had sung it. The song Azhage Azhage from Saivam, earned both him and my daughter Uthra, a National Award, and it is a song I will cherish forever. Despite being extemely talented, he was a grounded person. A man of few words; simplicity was his uniqueness and his words often had deep interpretations. The memory of spending time with him still remains intact- UNNIKRISHNAN, playback singer