Malayalam songwriter Arumughan Venkitangu (65) dies due to age-related ailments
Arumughan Venkitangu, a celebrated folk songwriter who played a pivotal role in the rise of late Malayalam actor Kalabhavan Mani's career, has died at 65. Throughout his career, Venkitangu composed around 350 folk songs. The cause of his death remains undisclosed, but investigators speculate that it may be attributed to age-related ailments. Venkitangu is survived by his wife and children.
Venkitangu faced physical discomfort, was admitted to a private hospital
Per reports, Venkitangu faced physical discomfort on Monday night and he was admitted to a private hospital. Sadly, he passed away in the morning. The funeral took place on Tuesday at the public cemetery in Mullassery, Thrissur, as reported by Mathrubhumi. Known as "Nadanpattukalude Mudichoodamannan" (the uncrowned king of folk songs), Venkitangu wrote and composed hit songs during the cassette tape era.
Early life and career
Venkitangu was born in Thrissur, Kerala. Despite hailing from a financially disadvantaged family, Venkitangu's passion for music was evident from a young age. Per Manorama Online, he initially pursued a career in journalism but had to discontinue it due to financial constraints, turning to farming instead. However, his love for music remained unwavering. He started his professional career by composing music for entertainment groups and country music festivals.
Venkitangu's long association with singer-actor Mani
Venkitangu's long association with Mollywood singer and actor Mani was quite popular in Kerala. He is said to have written over 200 songs for Mani, most of which were well-received by audiences. Some popular songs include Minnaminunge Minnum Minunge, Chaalakudy, Pakalu Muzhuvan, and more. Sadly, Mani, who starred in over 250 films, passed away in 2016 due to excessive alcohol consumption. He was 45.
Venkitangu's other notable works
The songwriter also composed and wrote famous Malayalam songs, such as Kodungaloorambalathil for the 1998 hit film Meenakshi Kalyanam, which starred Mukesh, Mohini, and Jagathy Sreekumar. He further lent his musical talents to films like Mohanlal's Udayon and Chandrolsavam, both released in 2005, as well as The Guard (2001), and Rakshakan (2007).
