KOZHIKODE: Noted music director
Kaithapram Viswanathan Namboothiri
who gave many memorable and melodious songs despite composing music for only a limited number of films, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 58.
According to family sources, he had been under treatment for cancer for some time and died at the MVR Cancer Centre in the afternoon. He is the younger brother of renowned lyricist Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri.
Born in 1963, at the Kaithapram village in Kannur to Keshavan Namboothiri (Kannadi Bhagavathar) and Adithi Antharjanam,
Viswanathan
studied music at the Swathi Thirunal College of Music in Thiruvananthapuram and worked as a music teacher at the Rajas High School in Kannur.
He made his foray into the world of cinema by assisting his brother in the film Desadanam and other films like
Thalolam
and Karunyam.
He made his mark as independent music director in the film Kannaki directed by Jayaraj, which won critical and popular acclaim for songs like Karineela Kannazhaki, Iniyoru Janmamundenkil and Ennu Varum Nee becoming super hits. In 2001, he won the state award for background score for the film. Viswanathan infused classical and folk music elements while composing music for the film.
CM Pinarayi Vijayan condoled Viswanathan's death, saying that his untimely demise was extremely painful.
He is survived by wife Gowri and three children.