Vasudevan Nair known as 
Malaysia Vasudevan was a 
Tamil playback singer and 
actor in the Tamil film industry died from heart failure he was , 66.. He was known for singing songs for Indian actor 
Rajnikanth and many more.
(15 June 1944 – 20 February 2011), 
Early life

Malaysia Vasudevan’s parents were from Palakkad. In the early years  of the last century Chattu Nair of Ottappalam, Ammalu of Polpulli along  with their respective families migrated to Malaysia in search of  livelihood. They became labourers in the rubber estates of Klang Valley.  After a few years Chattu Nair and Ammalu became husband and wife in an  arranged marriage. Vasudevan was born on June 15, 1944 as their eighth  child. His surroundings in Malaysia were predominantly Tamil and his  life was lived in Tamil, at school and at home.
Chattu Nair was musically inclined and all his children grew with a  natural ability to sing and appreciate music. Malaysia Vasudevan had  once said that all his family members, except his mother Ammalu, were  singers. He first started learning music from his father and later on,  his brother taught him. Vasudevan started singing on stage when he was  eight. And yes he was interested in acting too.
When Vasudevan grew up he got attached to Tamil drama troupes in  Malaysia as an actor and singer. The producers of one of his plays  ‘Ratha Paei’ wanted to make it as a film. Vasudevan came with the group  to Chennai and acted in the film `Raththa Paei’. He even sang a song for  the film under the baton of G.K. Venkatesh for whom Ilaiyaraja was  working as the assistant..
Professional career
Playback singer
Malaysia Vasudevan's first major song was in the film `Delhi to  Madras' that starred Jaishankar and Srividya. It was a comedy song  ‘Paalu Vikkira Padma Un Paalu Romba Suthhama? for the music director V.  Kumar. This chance was possible because of his friendship with the  film’s producer Pollachi Rathnam. After that he joined Pavalar Brothers  troupe which was run by Ilaiyaraja and his brothers.
During a stage performance, music director MSV heard Vasudevan and  gave him a small piece of a song in `Bharatha Vilas' (he sang for the  Punjabi in ‘Indhiya Naadu En Veedu’) and then a song in `Thalai  Prasavam'. The first big break came when Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan made him  sing ‘Kaalam Seyyum Vilaiyattu’ in `Kumasthavin Magal'. Vasudevan was  rechristened Malaysia Vasudevan by AP Nagarajan in this film.
Later when his good friend Illayaraja stormed the Tamil film industry  with `Annakili', he was made to sing in Annakili and after `Aattukutti  Muttai Ittu' from `16 Vayathinile’ happened, Malaysia Vasudevan never  looked back. Illayaraja backed him until he became a star singer.
Malaysia Vasudevan has sung close to 8000 songs in his three decades  of active career out of which most are for Illayaraja. Illayaraja made  Malaysia Vasudevan sing songs of all kinds and genre. Every song  Malaysia Vasudevan rendered with utmost sincerity and surprised everyone  with the range he had.
Soft romantic songs like ‘Indha Minminikku’(Sigappu Rojakkal), ‘Vaan  Megangalay’ (Puthiya Vaarpukal), ‘Malargale Nadha Swarangal’ (Kizhake  Pogum Rayil), ‘Malargalilay Aaraadhanai’(Karumbu Vil), ‘Kodai Kaala  Kaatray’(Panneer Pushpangal), ‘Poove Ilaya Poove’ (Kozhi Koovuthu)  Thangachangili Minnum Painkili (Thooral Nindru Pochhu), etc must be some  of the timeless favourites of Tamil film music lovers.
Even under the baton of the maestro MS Viswanathan, Malaysia  Vasudevan had sung many illustrious songs. ‘Ezhudhugiral Oru  Pudhukkavithai’ (Saranaalayam),‘Enniyirundhadhu Eadera’ (Andha 7  Naatkal) and the super duper hits from ‘Billa’ are just a few rare gems.
Sensuous songs like ‘Kanna Thorakkanum Saami’, ‘or ‘Nila Kaayudhu’  and Emotional songs like ‘Oru Thanga Rathathhil’(Dharma Yudhham),  ‘Allithhandha Bhoomi Annai Allava’(Nandu), ‘Adi Aadu Poongodiye (Kali),  ‘Vaa Vaa Vasanthamey (Puthu Kavithai), ‘Pattuvanna Rosavam’  (Kannipparuvathile) Ponmaana thedi naanum poovodu (Enga oor Rasathi) all  came easy to Vasudevan and succeeded in showing some other brilliant  facets of the wonderful singer. His largely folksy tunes sung for  Shankar Ganesh are also of inimitable class.
Some of the best songs of Malaysia Vasudevan happened at the time  when he was considered the voices of Sivaji Ganesan and Rajinikanth. Who  can forget the songs of ‘Mudhal Mariyathai’ which were rendered with a  rare spirit of genius? And for the Super Star? From Pothuvaga en mansu  thangam (Murattukalai) to Aasai Nooru vagai (Adutha Varisu) to many  others and there are too many.
Malaysia Vasudevan is like TMS who was content with the popularity  achieved only in Tamil. He was of the notion that to sing in other  languages he should have known well the nuances of other languages. At a  time when not knowing the language is the first preferred criterion to  sing in Tamil, Malaysia Vasudevan’s resolve may sound funny to many  today.
Malaysia Vasudevan, an iconic singer of the 80s and 90s is no more. Vasudevan worked with many music directors such as 
M. S. Viswanathan, 
Ilaiyaraja, Shankar-Ganesh, 
Deva, 
A. R. Rahman, and 
Vidyasagar. After 
T. M. Soundararajan, he was called as ghost voice for 
Sivaji Ganesan. His first song was for the film 
Delhi to Madras.  He has sang over 8,000 in Tamil and over 4,000 songs in various other  South Indian languages. He has also sung few songs in Hindi.
Malaysia Vasudevan has sung a lot of songs for 
Rajnikanth.  Some of his notable songs for Rajnikanth were Ennama Kannu Sowkiyama  (Mr. Bharat) Singamondru Purapattadhe (Arunachalam), Yejaman Kaladi  Manneduthu (
Yejaman), Agaya gangai,oru thanga rathathil (
Dharma Yutham)and many others.
He has also lended voice for a few albums, the most notable among them is 
Disco Disco (1987), a collaboration with composer Dilip (A R Rahman) and playback singer 
K. S. Chithra. The album is noted for being the first album production of 
A. R. Rahman.
[2] Though it didn't become much popular, 
Disco Disco Vol 2 was also released later.
[edit] Acting career
Malaysia Vasudevan has also acted in nearly 85 films. Veteran Tamil  director A.P. Nagarajan christened him as "Malaysia Vasudevan". Some of  his notable films include 
Mudhal Vasantham (with 
Sathyaraj), 
Oomai Vizhigal (with 
Vijayakant), 
Kathanayagan (with Pandiyarajan), 
Oru Kaidhiyin Diary (with 
Kamal Hassan), 
Jallikattu, 
Thiruda Thiruda, 
Amaidhippadai, 
Povae Unnakaga, 
Punnagai Desam, and 
Kokki. Besides acting in films, he has acted in a good number of tele serials.
Writer
Malaysia Vasudevan wrote a book of poems called 
"Ennam Thondriyathu Ezhutha Thoondiyathu" in the year 2010.
Last Projects
Last Song, "HAPPY" in the year 2010 for the movie Bale Pandiya in the  music of Devan Ekambaram. Last movie as an actor, "Ithanai Naalaai  Engiruthaai" yet to be released. Last song written, "DEVATHAIYE" for the  movie "BALAM" in the music of his son Yugendran Vasudevan Nair in the  year 2009.
Personal life
Malaysia Vasudevan married Annaporani also known as Usha Vasudevan on  26th January, 1976. Malaysia Vasudevan has three children Yugendran,  Prashanthini and Pavithra. His son 
Yugendran Vasudevan Nair has acted in many films in Tamil and other languages. He is also a playback singer in Tamil. His daughter 
Prashanthini is a playback singer. She has sung songs like "Mundhinam" in the movie 
Vaaranam Ayiram  and many more. Malaysia Vasudevan has four grand children. Visashan  Naarayan and Kishan Naarayan born to Yugendran, Sai Narayan born to  Pavithra and Rithvik son of Prashanthini.
Awards
- He has been awarded Kalaimamani by the Tamil Nadu Government. Tamilnadu State Award for Best singer.
 
Death
Malaysia Vasudevan died on 20 February 2011 at 1.00 PM at Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
[3][4][5
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