T. M. Soundararajan Biography 
T.M. Soundararajan is an Indian playback singer who focused in Tamil film industry. He also worked as dubbing artist and has lent his voice for many popular actors including M. G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, N. T. Rama Rao, Jaishankar, Nageswara Rao, Nagesh, Gemini Ganesan, etc. He is affectionately called by his fans as TMS.
Soundararajan was born on 24th March 1922 in Madurai in Madras Presidency in Sourashtra Community. He started to train his voice from the age of seven. His first guru in music was Chinnakonda Sarangapani Bhagavathar from whom he learnt Carnatic music. He studied at Sourashtra High School in Madurai. Then he learnt music from Arayakkudi Rajamani Iyengar. He started participating in concerts from his age of 21.
He had to struggle to establish his career in music as he was rejected by the music composers initially. He worked with Sunderlal Natkarni and in 1946, he was given a chance by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu for the film Krishna Vijayam. It was released in 1950 and the son Raathey Ennai Vittu Odathedi was a super hit. This gave him some more chances in that year.
Since he could not get continuous chances in the film industry, he started singing devotional songs. He was excellent in imitating the voices of the heroes and he sang a song for M. R. Radha in the film Kumudam in his voice. He became a regular singer in Sivaji Ganesan’s films.
He has sung for many renowned music composers including S. Rajeswara Rao, R. Sudharsanam, G. Ramanathan, P. Adinayarana Rao, T. R. Papa, T.V. Raju, Ghantasala, M.S. Viswanathan, V. Kumar, Devarajan, Vijaya Bhaskar, T. Rajendar, A. R. Rahman, etc. He has sung with almost all popular playback singers of South India including K. J. Yesudas, P. Susheela, K. B. Sunderambal, Bhanumathi, Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, etc.
In his music career, he has recorded more than 11,000 film songs and 2500 devotional songs in various languages like Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, etc. He also has acted in few Tamil films including Pattinathar, Arunagirinathar, etc.
Due to prolonged illness he died on 25th May 2013 at 3.50 PM at his residence in Chennai. He was 91 years old at the time of his death.
Published: N/A
Updated: May 25, 2013
