Mahesh Mahadevan

Early life Mahesh learnt classical guitar under Dhanraj at the age of eleven. During his college days, he was part of a band called The Versatiles. He then lost with music and went on to work as manager at Hindustan Polymers at Bombay (now Mumbai) and as deputy general manager in marketing at India Pistons at Madras (now Chennai). He returned to music in 1990 after he was affected by cancer and was going through a depressive phase. On the insistence of his wife and friends, he started writing ad jingles with Allwyn refrigerators being his first ad. It was the jingle for Regaul brand that made him hugely popular. He accepted to compose music for Nammavar before that he turned down nine films including Roja (1992).

Personal life and death

In the decade before his death, Mahesh was actively involved in cancer counselling and in motivating other cancer patients to approach treatment with a positive attitude.

He died in October 2002 due to cancer.

Upon his death, The Mahesh Memorial Trust (MMT) was formed in 2002 by friends of Mahesh. MMT committed itself to building a paediatric Ward in the Cancer Institute premises at Adyar, Chennai. The required funds were raised with the help of friends and well wishers. The Trustees personally committed their time in overseeing the entire execution of the project from design through construction to completion.

Discography YearFilmLanguageNotes 1994 Nammavar Tamil National Film Award – Special Mention 1995 Kuruthipunal Tamil 1996 Drohi Telugu 1997 Preminchukundam Raa Telugu 1998 Pelladi Choopistha Padutha Theeyaga 2001 Aalavandhan Tamil Only background score Abhay Hindi Only background score Moonnilonnu Malayalam 2004 Vaanam Vasappadum Tamil Mahesh's last film before his demise Kanavu Meippada Vendum Posthumous release