Meesai Murugesan

Meesai Murugesan (13 January 1930 – 8 November 2014) was a veteran actor and musician who appeared in Tamil films. He starred in more than 100 films, as well as having supporting roles in various films.^[3]

Meesai Murugesan
Born	I. S. Murugesan (1930-01-13)13 January 1930[1] Idikarai, Coimbatore[2]
Died	8 November 2014(2014-11-08) (aged 84)[3] Vadapalani, Chennai, India
Occupations	Actor, musician
Spouse	Kannama[2]
Children	3
Parent(s)	Subramaniam Mudaliar,[3] Ponnammal[1]

Music career

He started his career by playing the "Kottankuchi" (coconut shell), alongside great musicians such as K. P. Sundarambal, M. K. T. Bhagavathar, T. M. Soundararajan and Seerkazhi Govindarajan. He was popular for creating shrill sound effects in Nenjam Marappathillai and the footfall of the horse in the "Rajavin Paarvai Raniyin Pakkam" song in MGR-Saroja Devi's Anbe Vaa.^[2] He played instruments for music directors including M. S. Viswanathan, Ilayaraja and Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan.^{[citation needed]}

He was a carnatic artist and had learned to play more than 25 instruments. He also ran a one-man band called "Apoorva Thalavaithiyangal" and held several concerts across the world including Europe, Canada, the United States and Russia.

Film career

His career spanned more than 100 films and he was famous for his roles in Vijay's Poove Unakkaga, Kamal Haasan's Unnal Mudiyum Thambi, Sathyaraj's Amaidhi Padai, Pandiarajan's Aan Paavam, and many others. He earned the name "Meesai Murugesan" after he sported a thick moustache in his first film Sugamana Raagangal.

Awards

He was conferred Kalaimamani by the Tamil Nadu State government for his contribution to the cinema.^[4]

Partial filmography

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1985	Sugamana Raagangal
	Aan Paavam	Murugesan
	Janani	Janani's father
	Kalyanam Oru Kaalkattu
1986	Kadaikan Paarvai
	Thazhuvatha Kaigal
	Aayiram Pookkal Malarattum
	Oomai Vizhigal
	Police Officer		Telugu
	Uyire Unakkaga	Murugesan Mudaliar
1987	Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi
	Meendum Mahaan
	Mangai Oru Gangai
	Paasam Oru Vesham
1988	Unnal Mudiyum Thambi	Anjayya
	Kalyana Paravaigal
	Sigappu Thali
	Paimarakappal
	Thanga Kalasam
1989	Athaimadi Methaiadi
	Radha Kadhal Varadha
	Sakalakala Sammandhi	Body Building Trainer
1990	Pudhu Padagan	Kunjithapatham
	Salem Vishnu	Vishnu's father
	Vaazhkai Chakkaram
	Sila Sasanam		Telugu
	Vetrimalai
1991	Ennarukil Nee Irunthal	Vaidyar
1993	Senthoorapandi	Meena's suitor's father
1994	Amaidhi Padai
	Sevvanthi
	Killadi Mappillai
1995	Chellakannu
	Maaman Magal
	Padikira Vayasula
	Puthiya Aatchi
1996	Poove Unakkaga	Velangiri
1997	Kadavul
	Pudhalvan
	Thedinen Vanthathu
1998	Kannathal
2002	Gemini
2008	Pirivom Santhippom	Natesan

Death

He died due to ill health and blood clots in his brain on 8 November 2014.^[4] He was 84 years of age and was survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.