Viswaragam – A heartfelt musical tribute to the Melody King M. S. Viswanathan, presented by Sumathi Ram!
“Viswaragam” is a soulful musical homage paid to M. S. Viswanathan, whose timeless melodies have captivated generations in the history of South Indian music. This musical journey, which began twenty years ago, was released as a complete album on January 14, 2026, coinciding with Thai Pongal, the harvest festival that celebrates Tamil traditions and family bonds.
Twenty years ago, Sumathi Ram, a poet and multi-talented artist, traveled from the United States to India and presented her collection of poems to the Melody King M. S. Viswanathan. This meeting, far from being an ordinary event, became the beginning of a lifelong musical journey. The musical seed sown by that legend has blossomed today into a pure love for music, taking the form of the album ‘Viswaragam’. This stands as a symbol of the MSV-Sumathi Ram collaboration and a dedication celebrating his unparalleled artistic legacy.
Currently, poet Sumathi Ram is working on creating an English novel with epic undertones, based on the story of Viswathulasi, incorporating elements of Tamil culture. She is also involved in the creation of “Lajjawathi,” an English musical film that has won over a hundred awards, and a documentary centered around a significant American event. It is noteworthy that Sumathi Ram is serving as the production manager for this film.
Sumathi Ram, who studied English literature, has had 22 of her Tamil poems set to music by M. S. Viswanathan. This is not merely a musical endeavor – it is a tribute to a guru, an expression of gratitude from a student, and a significant milestone in the history of Indian music.
M. S. This was the first time in his long musical journey that Viswanathan collaborated with a female lyricist. This marked a significant advancement for women in the music industry.
Viswaragam – Part 1 Songs
The songs featured in the first part of this album, released through the Audioverse Music label, are:
Veena Bit –
Rajesh Vaidya & M. S. Viswanathan
Om… Like the Wind –
Hariharan,
Shankar Mahadevan,
Unnikrishnan,
Srinivas,
Anantha Narayanan,
Bombay Jayashri,
Sujatha,
Harini,
Kalpana
Manasu Konjam –
M. S. Viswanathan & Bombay Jayashri
Viswaragam –
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Part 2 – Another Musical Tribute
Following this, a tribute album dedicated to S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vani Jairam – Part 2 – will be released.
The remaining songs will be released one by one every month.
Sumathi Ram – A Multi-faceted Artist
Sumathi Ram’s directorial venture, ‘Viswa Thulasi’, is still celebrated as a masterpiece of Tamil cinema. It is noteworthy that composers M. S. Viswanathan and Ilaiyaraaja received the Remi Award for the film’s music.
Currently, she is working on a new album blending Western and traditional music with a Chennai-based composer.
She has also served as a co-producer for the album ‘GANDHI – Mantras of Compassion’.
Her experience working with Ilaiyaraaja, three-time Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi, reflects the pinnacle of her artistic journey. On June 14, 2028, the centenary birthday celebration of M. S. Viswanathan was grandly celebrated in Chennai.
On the same day, the ‘M. S. V. Hospital’ for tribal people was inaugurated.
It is noteworthy that the film ‘GEVI’, which is based on the background of this initiative, has been included in the 2026 Oscar Awards competition, and Sumithra Ram is the production manager for this film.
A musical tribute – an expression of love: ‘Viswaragam’ is not just an album. It is a debt of gratitude to a great king of music, an expression of love from a student, and a tribute to a musical era. The profound respect and artistic humility of a poetess are evident in it.
Acharya Devo Bhava!
Guru Devo Bhava!
PRO R. Mani Madhan
