Veteran music-director dead

Noted music director G Devarajan died of heart attack at his residence in Chennai in the week hours of Wednesday.

Devarajan 78, is survived by wife, a son and daughter.

Devarajan, who rendered music for over 350 Malayalam films in his long career, had been unwell for some time. He was discharged from hospital after a week on Monday. He suffered heart attack at around midnight and died on way to hospital, family sources said.

Some of the popular Malayalam movies for which he had rendered music in the past five decades included 'Nadhi', 'Oru Penninde Katha', 'Swamy Ayyappan and Chemparathi'.

Devarajan carved a niche in Kerala's cultural sphere at a very young age through the tunes he rendered for the plays of pro-Communist Kerala Peoples Arts Club (KPAC).

He first teamed up with lyricist and poet ONV Kurup for KPAC and later with top-notch lyricist Vayalar Rama Varma, making the songs of KPAC dramas ever-lasting hits.

Devarajan entered the film scene in 1955 through 'Kalam Maraunnu' and remained the king of Malayalam film music for five decades.

The 'Vayalar-Devarajan' combine proved the most successful team till the death of Vayalar in the late 1970s.

Hundreds of songs contributed by the team is still part of Malayali's nostalgia. He also rendered music for some hits penned by eminent poet and lyricist P Bhaskaran.

Born in 1927 in Paravur, Devarajan graduated in music and rendered his first classical concert at the age of 18. He was soon attracted to the Communist movement and decided to spend his creative energy for popular music by joining KPAC.

Devarajan received Kerala Government's best music director award for five times and several other honors.

Besides Malayalam, he composed music for 20 Tamil and four Kannada movies. His music in the Tamil film 'Annai Velankanni' received accolades.

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