Renowned music composer Kaithapram Viswanathan Namboothiri who had been battling cancer passed away at a private hospital on Wednesday. He was 58. He is survived by his wife Gauri and three children. Known for his unique music scores in a handful of Malayalam movies, was the younger brother of renowned lyricist-musician Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri.

Viswanathan composed music for over 20 movies including “Kannaki”, “Thilakkam” and “Daivanamathil”. ‘Karineelakannazhaki’, ‘Kayyettum Doore Oru Kuttikkalam’, ‘Neeyoru Puzhayayi’, ‘Enikkoru Pennunde’, ‘Saare Saare Sambare’, ‘Adedi Adadedi Alilakkiliye’ are some of his popular songs. “Kannaki” won him the Kerala state film award in 2001.

Viswanathan attained the ‘ganabhooshanam’ title from the Swathi Thirunal Music College in Thiruvananthapuram. He had also worked as a music teacher in a local school and later started his own institution for learning music before stepping into the world of cinema.