A most versatile playback singer (1922-2013) T.M. Soundararajan
A most versatile playback singer (1922-2013) T.M. Soundararajan T.M. Soundararajan, popularly known as TMS, was an Indian Carnatic musician, playback singer in Tamil cinema, and actor from 1946-2013. Born in Madurai in a poor Sourashtrian Brahmin family, at age seven he began by studying Carnatic music from Chinnakonda Sarangapani Bhagavathar, and later, from Arayakkudi Rajamani Iyengar. Married, and badly needing the income, he started accepting small concerts from the age of 23, and sang in the voice of the then-famous classical singer and actor M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT). His first major Carnatic musical concert was at SathGuru Samajam, Madurai, in 1945, with violinist C. R. Mani and mridangist S. S. Vijaya Ratnam. He emulated MKT for voice modulations; K. B. Sundarambal for perfect pronunciation; M. S. Subbulakshmi for bringing emotion to the voice, and Madurai Mani Iyer for the easy flow of song. The adulation he received encouraged him to try his hand...