Krishnankoil Venkatachalam Mahadevan (aka Mama) was a South Indian music composer.

Career

K.V.Mahadevan was born in Tamil Iyer family in 1918 in Krishnancoil

Krishnancoil

Krishnancoil is a suburb in Nagercoil, in the District of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India, named after the temple of Lord Krishna situated within. It is situated on National Highway 47, which connects Nagercoil with Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala....

, Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari is a town in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. It is also sometimes referred to as Cape Comorin. Located at the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, it is the geographical end of the Indian mainland. The district in Tamil Nadu where the town is located is called Kanyakumari...

 district. A contemporary of M. S. Viswanathan

M. S. Viswanathan

Manayangath Subramanian Viswanathan , is a Tamil music director. He is popularly known as "Mellisai Mannar" . His major works over the past five decades have been in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films...

, T. K. Ramamoorthy

T. K. Ramamoorthy

T. K. Ramamurthy, Tiruchirapalli Krishnaswamy Ramamurthy, is a popular South Indian Tamil music composer and violinist. He hails from the from a family of violinists. He is popularly known as Mellisai Mannar . His major works are in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. Along with M. S...

, KVM has scored music for over 600 films, spanning four decades, after starting his career in the 1950s with Avan Amaran. Health reasons hastened the end of his career in the mid- nineties. His last film was Swathi Kiranam

Swathi Kiranam

Swathi Kiranam is a 1992 Telugu Musical hit film directed by Dr.K.Viswanath. The movie starred Mammootty, Master Manjunath, and Radhika. The movie is about an egoistic music teacher unable to tolerate the extraordinary talent of his prodigious young disciple.-Plot:The film starts with a shabby old...

 in 1992. During this period he scored music for about 250 Tamil

Tamil cinema

Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...

 and Telugu

Telugu language

Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...

 films.

The special features of his compositions were: giving primary importance to lyrics and composing music that is perfectly suited to lyrics; always keeping a base in the Carnatic music

Carnatic music

Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...

 systems; and giving independence to singers and other assistants to freely contribute ideas for improving his compositions.

Some of the famous Tamil movies for which he composed include Thiruvarutselvar, Adimai Penn, Thiruvilayadal

Thiruvilayadal (1965 film)

Thiruvilayadal is a 1965 Tamil feature film directed by A.P. Nagarajan. The cast included Sivaji Ganesan, R. Muthuraman, Savitri, Nagesh, Manorama, K. B. Sundarambal, T. R. Mahalingam and T. S. Balaiah...

, Vaanampadi

Vaanampadi

Vaanampadi is a Tamil language film released in 1963. It stars Nagesh and Vijayakumari in the lead roles. The film also has Kamal Hassan as a 8 year old son of Sheela....

, Thillaana Moganambal, Kandhan Karunai, Muthalali

Muthalali

Muthalali is a 1965 Malayalam language film directed by M. A. V. Rajendran. It stars Prem Nazir, Adoor Bhasi and Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair...

.

His one of the best compositions is "Mannavan vanthaanadi" song from the film Thiruvarutselvar. That one song is enough to know about K V Mahadevan's musical talent.

His most famous compositions in Telugu were in the movies directed by K. Viswanath like Sankarabharanam

Sankarabharanam

Sankarabharanam is a 1979 Telugu film, directed by Dr. K. Vishwanath and produced by Poornodaya Movie Creations. Its music composed by KV Mahadevan was well received and led to the revival of Indian classical music in South India. The film deals with two main issues - decline in popularity of...

, Saptapadi

Saptapadi

Saptapadi is the most important rite of a Hindu marriage ceremony. The word, Saptapadi means "Seven steps"...

, Sirivennela

Sirivennela

Sirivennela is a 1986 Telugu film based on Arts and was released in India in 1986. The movie was directed by K. Viswanath who is known for his presentation in the classical arts in the current societal status of India.-Plot:...

, Chelleli Kapuram

Chelleli Kapuram

Chelleli Kapuram is 1971 Telugu film directed by Kasinadhuni Viswanath. This is the first movie produced by senior actor Mannava Balayya under the banner of Amrutha films. This film has excellent lyrics and music.-The plot:...

, Jeevana Jyothi

Jeevana Jyothi

Jeevana Jyothi is a 1975 Telugu film directed by K. Vishwanath. It stars Vanisri in a double role as mother and daughter. Shoban Babu is the leading man. The director K...

, Swathi Kiranam

Swathi Kiranam

Swathi Kiranam is a 1992 Telugu Musical hit film directed by Dr.K.Viswanath. The movie starred Mammootty, Master Manjunath, and Radhika. The movie is about an egoistic music teacher unable to tolerate the extraordinary talent of his prodigious young disciple.-Plot:The film starts with a shabby old...

, .

He produced many hit songs collaborating with legendary directors K. Viswanath including the multiple national award winning Sankaraabharanam. He is clearly the director with the most number of musical chart busters in more than 60 years of Telugu music and most of his movies went on to create box-office records as he was a part of the best technical teams of highly successful directors as Adurthi Subba Rao

Adurthi Subba Rao

Adurthi Subba Rao is a prominent old-time director of Telugu & Hindi Films. He also produced few films.-Early life:...

, K. Viswanath, , V. Madhusoodana Rao, V. B. Rajendra Prasad, K. S. Prakash Rao, Bapu

Bapu (artist)

Bapu is an Indian film director, known for his works in Telugu cinema.He is a music artist, painter, cartoonist, and designer...

, Balachander, K. Bapaiah to name a few. He also composed music for actress Hema Malini

Hema Malini

Hema Malini is an Indian actress, director and producer, as well as a Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer. Making her acting debut in Sapno Ka Saudagar , she went on to appear in numerous Bollywood films, most notably those with actor and future-husband Dharmendra. She was initially promoted as...

's TV serial Noopur along with composers K. Pukazhenti and Ravindra Jain

Ravindra Jain

Ravindra Jain is an Indian music composer and lyricist. He won the Filmfare Best Music Director Award in 1985.-Early life:...

.

He is known as one of the very few to bring the purity of classical music into the masses. His songs gave primary importance to lyrics, an important attribute that made the songs stand out time. His lyricists included all-time greats such as Acharya Atreya, Arudra, CNR, Sirivennela

Sirivennela

Sirivennela is a 1986 Telugu film based on Arts and was released in India in 1986. The movie was directed by K. Viswanath who is known for his presentation in the classical arts in the current societal status of India.-Plot:...

, Veturi

Veturi

Veturi Sundararama Murthy , popularly known as Veturi, was a Telugu writer mostly popular for his film songs. His career in the Telugu film industry spanned more than four decades.-Early life:...

, Kosaraju, Dasaradhi

Dasaradhi

Dasaradhi Krishnamacharyulu mononymously known as Dasaradhi was an Indian poet and political activist. He was a great pundit in the Telugu, Sanskrit, and Tamil languages and puranas .-Early life:...

, Srirangam Srinivasa Rao, Devulapalli

Devulapalli

Devulapalli is one of the Indian surnames.* Devulapalli Amar is an Indian journalist.* Devulapalli Krishnasastri was a Telugu poet He is famously known as Andhra .* Devulapalli Subbaraya Sastry, was famous Telugu poet....

 and Mysore Vasudevachar. He regularly directed maestro singers Ghantasala

Ghantasala (singer)

Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao was a famous & popular Indian Playback Singer and music composer of Telugu films and many other languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi. He is the recipient of the Padmashree award, India's fourth highest civilian award. For nearly a quarter of a...

, P. Suseela and Leela.

He was very reserved with the usage of singers thus giving numerous opportunities in grooming greats such as S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam is a multilingual Indian playback singer, actor, music director, voice actor and a film producer. He is referred to as S. P. B. or Balu by the media. He has won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer six times closely following K. J. Yesudas...

, Yesudas, Janaki

Janaki

Janaki is a name of the Hindu Goddess Seeta.* Janaki Ballabh Patnaik or J. B. Patnaik, is leader of Indian National Congress and a former chief minister of Orissa* Janaki Ramachandran was an Indian Tamil actress and politician...

, Chithra & Vani Jayaram

Vani Jayaram

Vani Jayaram , the unmatched nightingle of India, is a prominent Indian female playback singer. She has recorded more than 8,000 songs in 14 different languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi and Hindi...

, some winning the national award for best playback singing multiple times with his songs.

Awards

• National Film Award for Best Music Direction
  National Film Award for Best Music Direction
  The National Film Award for Best Music Direction are given annually. In years 1994, 1995 and 2010, an award for Best Background Score was instituted by the Jury, which was won by Johnson and by Ilaiyaraaja . Ilaiyaraaja and A. R...
  
  (1967) - Kandan Karunai
  Kandan Karunai
  Kandan Karunai is a Tamil cinema, which was released in 1967 and was directed by A.P. Nagarajan. It was his 8th film in the Tamil cinema industry. It starred Sivaji Ganesan, Sivakumar and Savithri...
  
  
• National Film Award for Best Music Direction (1980) - Sankarabharanam
  Sankarabharanam
  Sankarabharanam is a 1979 Telugu film, directed by Dr. K. Vishwanath and produced by Poornodaya Movie Creations. Its music composed by KV Mahadevan was well received and led to the revival of Indian classical music in South India. The film deals with two main issues - decline in popularity of...
  
  

Filmography

List of some of the movies for which Mahadevan scored music:

Year	Film	Language	Remarks
1962	Manchi Manasulu Manchi Manasulu Manchi Manasulu is a 1962 Telugu Drama film directed by Adurthi Subba Rao.It is a musical hit film with score composed by K. V. Mahadevan and voiced by Ghantasala, P. Susheela and others. The song Aho Andhra Bhoja .....	Telugu
1963	Mooga Manasulu Mooga Manasulu Mooga Manasulu or Moogamanasulu is a 1963 Telugu Drama film directed by Adurthi Subba Rao. The film based on the concept of reincarnation. It is ever lasting musical hit film; all the songs are heard even today. They are combined effort of Atreya, K. V. Mahadevan, Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, P.... http://www.24by7music.com/home.aspx?Album=Mooga%20Manasulu&Language=Telugu	Telugu
1965	Thiruvilayadal Thiruvilayadal (1965 film) Thiruvilayadal is a 1965 Tamil feature film directed by A.P. Nagarajan. The cast included Sivaji Ganesan, R. Muthuraman, Savitri, Nagesh, Manorama, K. B. Sundarambal, T. R. Mahalingam and T. S. Balaiah...	Tamil
1965	Veerabhimanyu Veerabhimanyu Veer Abhimanyu or Veerabhimanyu is a 1965 Telugu film based on the life of Mahabharata warrior Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna. It is a big hit film at Box-office with some memorable songs.-Cast:-Songs:...	Telugu
1966	Aastiparulu Aastiparulu Aastiparulu is a 1966 Telugu Drama film directed by V. Madhusudhan Rao and starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jaggaiah, Gummadi Venkateswara Rao and Jayalalitha.-Cast:-Soundtrack:There are about 10 songs and poems in the film....	Telugu
1966	Antastulu Antastulu Antastulu or Anthasthulu is 1966 Telugu Drama film directed by V. Madhusudan Rao.It is a Musical film with some melodious songs by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, P. Susheela and Bhanumathi Ramakrishna. The Music score is provided by K. V...	Telugu
1966	Saraswati Sabatham	Tamil
1966	Thali Bhagyam Thali Bhagyam -Plot:Families of Nallasivam and Murugan are neighbours for generations. Nallasivam is nurturing his wish to give his daughter Valli in marriage to Murugan....	Tamil
1967	Kandan Karunai Kandan Karunai Kandan Karunai is a Tamil cinema, which was released in 1967 and was directed by A.P. Nagarajan. It was his 8th film in the Tamil cinema industry. It starred Sivaji Ganesan, Sivakumar and Savithri...	Tamil	Won: National Film Award for Best Music Direction National Film Award for Best Music Direction The National Film Award for Best Music Direction are given annually. In years 1994, 1995 and 2010, an award for Best Background Score was instituted by the Jury, which was won by Johnson and by Ilaiyaraaja . Ilaiyaraaja and A. R...
1967	Private Master Private Master Private Master is a 1967 Telugu Drama film directed by Kalatapasvi K. Vishwanath. The Private Master role is played by Rammohan, while Ghattamaneni Krishna acted in a negative role.The film title "Private Master" is an English language one...	Telugu
1967	Saakshi	Telugu
1968	Undamma Bottu Pedata Undamma Bottu Pedata Undamma Bottu Pedata is a 1968 Telugu drama film directed by K. Viswanath and produced by Babu Movies.It is a musical film with lyrics written by Devulapalli Krishnasastri and score by K. V...	Telugu
1969	Ekaveera Ekaveera Ekaveera is an Indian novel written by Kavi Samrat Viswanatha Satyanarayana in Telugu language. It was penned between 1925–29 and was published in Bharathi magazine in 1935. Originally written in Telugu, it has since been translated into various Indian languages. In 1969, a film version was...	Telugu	Musical film Musical film The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...  with many melodious songs
1971	Chelleli Kapuram Chelleli Kapuram Chelleli Kapuram is 1971 Telugu film directed by Kasinadhuni Viswanath. This is the first movie produced by senior actor Mannava Balayya under the banner of Amrutha films. This film has excellent lyrics and music.-The plot:...	Telugu
1971	Premnagar Premnagar (1971 film) Premanagar or Prema Nagar is a 1971 Tollywood blockbuster, Drama film produced by D. Ramanaidu and directed by K. S. Prakash Rao. The story is based on the Prema Nagar novel written by Koduri Kausalya Devi. The film's cast includes Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Vanisree, Gummadi Venkateswara Rao, and...	Telugu
1971	Sampoorna Ramayanam Sampoorna Ramayanam Sampoorna Ramayanam is a 1971 Telugu mythological film directed by Bapu. It is based on the Valmiki Ramayanam. It is a commercial hit film with artistic picturisation and good songs particularly Ramaya Tandri.-Story:...	Telugu
1972	Badi Panthulu Badi Panthulu Badi Panthulu is a 1972 Telugu Drama film directed by P. Chandrasekhara Reddy and starring N. T. Rama Rao and Anjali Devi. This is the first film of popular actress Sridevi....	Telugu
1972	Vasantha Maligai Vasantha Maligai Vasantha Maligai is a 1972 Tamil film, directed by K.S. Prakash Rao. It is a remake of the hit Telugu film, Prem Nagar. It ran for nearly 750 days in the theatres and Sivaji Ganesan and Vanisri were both praised well for their acting. The producer D. Ramanaidu made the same films in three languages...	Tamil
1973	Anbu Sagodharargal	Tamil
1973	Andala Ramudu Andala Ramudu (1973 film) Andala Ramudu is a 1973 film directed by Bapu. The story is based on the "Janata Express" story of Mullapudi Venkata Ramana. The film won Nandi Award for Best Feature Film in 1973. Recent film Godavari by Sekhar Kammula enthusiastically made on this classic family entertainment film...	Telugu
1974	Chakravakam Chakravakam (film) Chakravakam is a 1974 Telugu Drama film based on the novel entitled "Chakravakam" written by Koduri Kausalya Devi.-Cast:* Shobhan Babu* Vanisree* Chandrakala* S. V. Ranga Rao* Nagabhushanam* Allu Ramalingaiah* Krishna Kumari* Rajasulochana...	Telugu
1974	O Seeta Katha O Seeta Katha O Seeta Katha was a 1974 Telugu film directed by K. Viswanath. Based on this movie K. Balachandar made "Moondru Mudichu " in tamil starring Kamal Hasan, Rajanikath, and Sridevi and was released on 22 October 1976.-Story:...	Telugu
1974	Shri Ramanjaneya Yuddham Shri Ramanjaneya Yuddham Shri Ramanjaneya Yuddham is a classical Telugu cinema directed by Bapu . The movie was released in the year 1974...	Telugu
1975	Jeevana Jyothi Jeevana Jyothi Jeevana Jyothi is a 1975 Telugu film directed by K. Vishwanath. It stars Vanisri in a double role as mother and daughter. Shoban Babu is the leading man. The director K...	Telugu
1975	Muthyala Muggu Muthyala Muggu Muthyala Muggu is a 1975 film adaption of Uttara Ramayana from the writer-director duo of Ramana and Bapu. The film stars Sreedhar, Sangeetha, Rao Gopal Rao, Mukkamala, Allu Ramalingaiah and Nutan Prasad. The movie introduced Sangeetha and Rao to the Telugu screen...	Telugu
1975	Soggadu Soggadu (1975 film) Soggadu is a 1975 blockbuster Telugu drama film directed by K. Bapaiah. It was remade as Dildaar in Hindi in 1977, starring Jeetendra and Rekha.-The plot:...	Telugu
1976	Seetha Kalyanam	Telugu
1976	Sita Swayamvar Sita Swayamvar Sita Swayamvar is a 1976 Bollywood film directed by Bapu. The film stars are Ravi Kumar and Jayapradha.-Cast:* Ravi Kumar ... Bhagwan Shri Vishnu / Bhagwan Shri Ram* Jayapradha ... Devi Maa Lakshmi / Devi Maa Sita...	Hindi
1977	Adavi Ramudu	Telugu
1978	Mana Voori Pandavulu	Telugu
1978	Seetamalakshmi Seetamalakshmi Seetamalakshmi is a 1978 Telugu film written and directed by K. Viswanath. Talluri Rameswari won Nandi Award in her debut film. It is made into Hindi as Sitara in 1980 starring Mithun Chakraborty and Zarina Wahab.-The plot:...	Telugu
1978	Siri Siri Muvva Siri Siri Muvva Siri Siri Muvva is a 1978 Telugu film from director K. Viswanath, producer Edida Nageshwara Rao, dialogues by Jandhyala. The stars are Jayapradha and Chandra Mohan. The director K...	Telugu
1979	Gorintaku Gorintaku (1979 film) Gorintaku is a 1979 Telugu film directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. It is family sentimental film starring Shobhan Babu and Sujatha. The title song Gorinta Poochindi Komma Lekunda written by Devulapalli Krishnasastri casting Savitri is remembered even today....	Telugu
1979	Sankarabharanam Sankarabharanam Sankarabharanam is a 1979 Telugu film, directed by Dr. K. Vishwanath and produced by Poornodaya Movie Creations. Its music composed by KV Mahadevan was well received and led to the revival of Indian classical music in South India. The film deals with two main issues - decline in popularity of...	Telugu	Won: National Film Award for Best Music Direction National Film Award for Best Music Direction The National Film Award for Best Music Direction are given annually. In years 1994, 1995 and 2010, an award for Best Background Score was instituted by the Jury, which was won by Johnson and by Ilaiyaraaja . Ilaiyaraaja and A. R...
1981	Radha Kalyanam Radha Kalyanam Radha Kalyanam is a 1981 Telugu Drama film written by Mullapudi Venkata Ramana and directed by Bapu. It is considered to be one of the best Telugu movies by film critics...	Telugu
1982	Subhalekha Subhalekha Subhalekha is a 1982 Telugu film which stars Chiranjeevi in the lead role and was made by K. Viswanath. It was the first time they worked together; after this success they went on to make two more movies: Swayamkrushi in 1987 and Aapathbandhavudu in 1992...	Telugu
1986	Sirivennela Sirivennela Sirivennela is a 1986 Telugu film based on Arts and was released in India in 1986. The movie was directed by K. Viswanath who is known for his presentation in the classical arts in the current societal status of India.-Plot:...	Telugu
1987	Srutilayalu Srutilayalu Sruthilayalu or Sruthi Layalu is a Telugu movie based on Indian Classical Music and was released in India in 1987. The movie was directed by K. Viswanath who is known for his presentation in the Classical Arts of the current societal status of India...	Telugu
1991	Pelli Pusthakam Pelli Pusthakam Pelli Pustakam is a 1991 Telugu comedy|drama film produced by Mullapudi Venkata Ramana and starring Rajendra Prasad, Divyavani. It was directed by Bapu and music was scored by K. V. Mahadevan....	Telugu
1992	Swathi Kiranam Swathi Kiranam Swathi Kiranam is a 1992 Telugu Musical hit film directed by Dr.K.Viswanath. The movie starred Mammootty, Master Manjunath, and Radhika. The movie is about an egoistic music teacher unable to tolerate the extraordinary talent of his prodigious young disciple.-Plot:The film starts with a shabby old...	Telugu

• Athiparasakthi
• Avan Amaran
• Vietnam Veedu
• Padikkatha Methai
• Vaanambaadi
• Thiruvarutselvar
• Thillana Mohanambal
• Adrushtavantulu
• Dasara Bullodu
• Bangaru Babu
• Dagudu Mootalu
• Trisoolam
• Nari Nari Naduma Murari
• Budhimantudu
• SeethaRamaKalyanam
• SrinivasaKalyanam
• Janaki Ramudu
• Muvva Gopaludu
• Muddula Mavayya
• Mooga Manasulu
• Aatmabanduvu
• Dasara Bullodu
• Mangamma Gaari Manavadu
• Subhodayam
• Mayadari Malligadu
• Lakshminivaasam
• Kanchu Kota
• Adrushtavantulu
• Manchi Rojulu Vachchaayi
• Dabbuki Lokam Daasoham
• Buddhimantudu
• Paadipantalu
• Manchi Manasulu(old), Janaki Ramudu
• Manchivaadu
• KD number 1
• Bangaaru manishi
• Bharyabiddalu
• Manushulu Maaraali
• Illaalu
• Srinivasa Kalyaanam
• Bangaru Babu
  Bangaru Babu
  Bangaru Babu is 2009 Telugu film directed by J. Sreenivasa Rao. The film stars Jagapathi Babu and Meera Jasmine in lead roles. Most of the scenes in the film has been shot extensively in Jammu Kashmir. The film is made under Sowbhagya Media Limited banner....
  
  
• Pellichoopulu
• Desoddhaarakulu
• Khaidi Babaayi
• Kannemanasulu
• Seetaramakalyaanam
• Trisoolam
• Pogarubotu
• Judgegaari kodalu
• Swargaaniki nichchenalu
• Jeevita Nouka
• Assembly rowdy
• Goranta Deepam
• Suputrudu
• Sumangali
• Bangaaru Bommalu
• Muddula Mamayya
• Gaajulakistayya
• Kumara Raja
• Koduku Kodalu
• Illu-Illalu
• Vichitrabandham
• Subhalekha
  Subhalekha
  Subhalekha is a 1982 Telugu film which stars Chiranjeevi in the lead role and was made by K. Viswanath. It was the first time they worked together; after this success they went on to make two more movies: Swayamkrushi in 1987 and Aapathbandhavudu in 1992...
  
  
• Maayani mamata
• Chillara Devullu
• Nari Nari Naduma Murari
• Sneham
• Saptapadi
  Saptapadi
  Saptapadi is the most important rite of a Hindu marriage ceremony. The word, Saptapadi means "Seven steps"...
  
  
• Mandey Gundelu
• Raajaadhi Raaju
• Aadaallu meeku johaarlu
• Daagudu Mootalu
• Muvva Gopaludu

Death

K.V. Mahadevan breathed his last on June 21, 2001 in Chennai

Chennai

Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...

when he was 83. Mr. Mahadevan was ailing for a week. He complained of ``breathing problems in the morning and succumbed later.