Vedha

Vedha (S. S. Vedhachalam) was an Indian composer who started working in Sinhala films during the early 1950s when they were being produced in Madras. Then he worked mainly in Tamil films. He was active in the field for about 25 years since 1952.

He composed music for many films produced by Modern Theatres. He was popularly known to adapt Hindi tunes to Tamil songs.

Career He started his career by assisting music directors in films. He was a co-music director in the 1955 film Menaka along with T. G. Lingappa and C. N. Pandurangan.

The first film he was in-charge of as music director is Marma Veeran released in 1956. The song Thudikkum Vaalibame sung by R. Balasaraswathi Devi in this film was a big hit. Usually R. Balasaraswathi was known for singing lullaby songs but this song is full of romantic love known as Sringaram.

Nadakkaadhu Jambam Palikkadhu a song sung by T. M. Soundararajan and Jamunarani in the 1958 film Manamalai was a popular number in Radio Ceylon for a long time.

He composed music for another film in the same year. Anbu Enge was a successful film, music being one of the factors. Particularly, the number Dingiri Dingale sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela separately as two versions, was a mega hit. The tune is of Baila genre.

The song "Oraayiram Paarvaiyile" from the 1965 film Vallavanukku Vallavan was also a very popular number. Though the tune was lifted from Hindi, the lyrics by Kannadasan and the mesmerising voice of T. M. Soundararajan gave it a Tamil flavour.

A song from the 1966 film Vallavan Oruvan, "Palinginaal Oru Maaligai" was an apt number for L. R. Eswari's singing talent. Her voice combined with Vedha's music took audience to great heights.

Singers The singers who sang for his composition are: T. M. Soundararajan, A. M. Rajah, Thiruchi Loganathan, K. J. Yesudas, T. A. Mothi, S. C. Krishnan, J. P. Chandrababu, Sirkazhi Govindarajan, V. N. Sundaram, A. L. Raghavan, S. V. Ponnusamy, Ghantasala, Mohideen Baig, Eddie Jayamanne, P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari, R. Balasaraswathi Devi, K. Jamuna Rani, (Radha) Jayalakshmi, P. Leela, Jikki, K. Rani, A. G. Rathnamala, B. Vasantha, M. S. Rajeswari, Mabel Blythe, Rukmani Devi and Manorama.

Lyricists Lyricists who wrote lyrics for Vedha's compositions include Kannadasan, Sundar Kannan, A. L. Narayanan, Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, Villiputhan, A. Maruthakasi, Vaali, Karunaidasan, Nallathambi, Alangudi Somu and Panju Arunachalam.

Filmography

Year Film Language Director Production company 1952 Umathu Vishvasaya Sinhala B. A. W. Jayamanne Ceylon Theatres 1953 Kele Handa Sinhala B. A. W. Jayamanne Ceylon Theatres 1954 Irangini Sinhala B. A. W. Jayamanne Ceylon Theatres 1955 Menaka Tamil V. C. Subburaman Kasturi Films 1956 Dingiri Menika Sinhala A. S. A. Sami Heladiva Film Arts 1956 Marma Veeran Tamil T. R. Raghunath Jubilee Arts 1957 Jeevitha Satana Sinhala Shanthi Kumar Ceylon Theatres 1958 Anbu Enge Tamil D. Yoganand Jubilee Arts Manamalai Tamil Ch. Narayanamurthi Janatha Pictures 1959 Minnal Veeran Tamil Jampanna TNR Productions 1960 Parthiban Kanavu Tamil D. Yoganand Jubilee Films 1962 Kannadi Maaligai Tamil N. N. C. Sami Rani Pictures1963 Alapiranthavan Tamil Nanabhai Bhatt Konjum Kumari Tamil G. Viswanathan Modern Theatres Pen Manam Tamil K. Somu Mokeshvar Chitra 1964 Amma Engey Tamil G. Viswanathan Modern Theatres Chitrangi Tamil R. S. Mani Pasamum Nesamum Tamil D. Yoganand Alankar Pictures Veeranganai Tamil A. S. A. Sami Oriental Pictures1965 Sarasa B. A. Tamil D. Yoganand Ganesh Films Oru Viral Tamil C. M. V. Raman Salvandar Fernandez Vallavanukku Vallavan Tamil T. R. Sundaram Modern Theatres1966 Aame Evaru? Telugu B. S. Narayana P. S. V. Pictures Iru Vallavargal Tamil K. V. Srinivasan Modern Theatres Monagallaku Monagadu Telugu S. D. Lal Vallavan Oruvan Tamil T. R. Sundaram Yaar Nee? Tamil Satyam P. S. V. Pictures1967 Adhey Kangal Tamil A. C. Tirulokchandar AVM Productions Ave Kallu Telugu A. C. Tirulokchandar Ethirigal Jakkirathai Tamil T. R. Sundaram Modern Theatres Kadhalithal Podhuma Tamil K. V. Srinivasan 1968 Evaru Monagadu Telugu T. R. Sundaram 1969 Naangu Killadigal Tamil L. Balu Manasatchi Tamil T. N. Balu Vijaya Balaji Movies Ulagam Ivvalavudhan Tamil Vedantam Raghavayya Pandi Amman Movies Ponnu Mappillai Tamil S. Ramanathan P. S. V. Pictures Rajya Kanksha Telugu G. Viswanathan Bharadwaja Films 1970 CID Shankar Tamil T. R. Sundaram Modern Theatres1971 Justice Viswanathan Tamil G. R. Nathan Nenu Manishine Telugu G. V. R. Seshagiri Rao