Music director Kaithapram Viswanathan Namboothiri (58) passed away at a private hospital in Kochi at noon on Wednesday. The younger brother of noted musician and lyricist Kaithapram Damodharan Namboothiri was under treatment for cancer for quite some time.

Hailing from Kaithapram, near Pilathara in Kannur, Viswanathan had around 25 films to his credit including Kannaki, Thilakkam, Deshadanam, Ekaantham, and Madhyavekanal. His well-known songs are Karineelakannazhakee (Kannaki), Kayyathum Doore Oru Kuttikaalam (Ekantham), Neeyoru Puzhayayi, and Sare...sare...sambaare... (both in Thilakkam).

Viswanathan entered movies assisting his brother Kaithapram Damodharan in the Jayaraj-directed movie Deshadanam in 1996. After five years, he became an independent music director through Jayaraj's Kannaki for which he had bagged the State award for best background score.

He is survived by his wife Gouri and children Aditi, Narmada, and Keshav.