K. Raghavan
Encyclopedia
K. Raghavan is a Malayalam music composer. Along with Baburaj
, Raghavan is often credited for the renaissance of Malayalam film music. K.Raghavan gave a new direction and identity to Malayalam film music.As he searched for the right tune for the lyrics, little did K. Raghavan realize that he was about to compose history.He had composed around 400 songs in Malayalam Cinema
in the last active 4 Decades.
, Kannur
to M. Krishnan and Narayani in 1914. He started studying classical music from his childhood and was also a good football player. His professional career was started as a Thambaru player in All India Radio
, Chennai
. In 1950 he got transferred to Calicut and there he got involved with film artists.
had penned the songs in Neelakkuyil. Raghavan himself has rendered his voice for one of the songs in Neelakkuyil. The song
Kayalarikathu valayerinjappol went on to become an instant hit.
and All India Radio
. And he dared try out a variety of voices to Malayalam film music, many of them were new. Mehboob, Brahmanandan, Balamuralikrishna, M.L. Vasanthakumari, A.P. Komala, Gayathri Srikrishnan, Santha P. Nair, A. M. Rajah
, K.P. Udayabhanu, M.G. Radhakrishnan, P.B. Sreenivas, Vani Jayaram
, Jikki, V.T. Murali, G. Venugopal
... they have all sung for him.
Kerala State Film Awards
Other Awards
Baburaj
Mohammad Sabir Baburaj , also known as M. S. Baburaj, was a Malayalam music composer. He is often credited for the renaissance of Malayalam film music. Baburaj has rendered music to many evergreen Malayalam film songs.-Early years:...
, Raghavan is often credited for the renaissance of Malayalam film music. K.Raghavan gave a new direction and identity to Malayalam film music.As he searched for the right tune for the lyrics, little did K. Raghavan realize that he was about to compose history.He had composed around 400 songs in Malayalam Cinema
Malayalam cinema
The Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...
in the last active 4 Decades.
Early life
He was born in ThalasseryThalassery
Thalassery , also known as Tellicherry, is a city on the Malabar Coast of Kerala, India. This is the second largest city of North Malabar in terms of population. The name Tellicherry is the anglicized form of Thalassery. Thalassery municipality has a population just less than 100,000. Established...
, Kannur
Kannur
Kannur , also known as Cannanore, is a city in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the District of Kannur and 518km north of state capital Trivandrum. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its old name Cannanore, which is still in...
to M. Krishnan and Narayani in 1914. He started studying classical music from his childhood and was also a good football player. His professional career was started as a Thambaru player in All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
, 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...
. In 1950 he got transferred to Calicut and there he got involved with film artists.
Career
Raghavan set a new trend in Malayalam film music with the release of the 1954 movie Neelakuyil. Renowned lyricist and Raghavan's friend P. BhaskaranP. Bhaskaran
Pulloottupadathu Bhaskara Menon , better known as P. Bhaskaran, was a famous Malayalam poet and lyricist of Malayalam film songs. He penned more than 3000 songs for about 250 films. He also directed 44 Malayalam feature films and 3 documentaries, produced 6 feature films and acted in several movies...
had penned the songs in Neelakkuyil. Raghavan himself has rendered his voice for one of the songs in Neelakkuyil. The song
Kayalarikathu valayerinjappol went on to become an instant hit.
Music career
In a career spanning over four decades, he has scored music for more than sixty Malayalam films and many of his compositions remain ever green classics in Malayalam. Raghavan infused the folk element into Malayalam film music and his rustic melodies replaced the then prevailing trend of imitations of popular Hindi tunes of the day.He also composed songs for plays like Kerala People's Arts ClubKerala People's Arts Club
Kerala People's Arts Club is a theatre movement in Kerala, India. It was formed in the 1950s by a group of individuals having close ties with Left-wing politics parties of Kerala. This political theatre was very influential in propagating communist ideas in Kerala.In 1951 KPAC staged its first...
and All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
. And he dared try out a variety of voices to Malayalam film music, many of them were new. Mehboob, Brahmanandan, Balamuralikrishna, M.L. Vasanthakumari, A.P. Komala, Gayathri Srikrishnan, Santha P. Nair, A. M. Rajah
A. M. Rajah
Aemala Manmatharaju Rajah was a South Indian playback singer-music composer popular in the 1950s and the early 1960s in South India. He was popularly known as A. M. Rajah or Rajah. His songs were featured in numerous Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films in the 1950s, early 1960s and early...
, K.P. Udayabhanu, M.G. Radhakrishnan, P.B. Sreenivas, 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...
, Jikki, V.T. Murali, G. Venugopal
G. Venugopal
G. Venugopal is an Indian playback singer, active mainly in Malayalam films. He also has Tamil and Telugu songs to his credit. Venugopal started his career in the film Odarathammava Aalariyam and has sung in more than 280 films and over 250 albums since then.G. Venugopal is a graduate of Kerala...
... they have all sung for him.
As a Musician
- First Movie Pullimaan in (1951). For Songs -http://www.malayalasangeetham.info/php/createSongIndex.php?txt=Pullimaan&stype=movie&submit=Find+Songs
- Last Movie GulmoharGulmohar (film)Gulmohar is a 2008 Malayalam film written by Deedi Damodaran and directed by Jayaraj, starring Ranjith, Siddique, Augustine, and Neenu Mathew.- Plot :...
in (2008). For Songs -http://www.malayalasangeetham.info/php/createSongIndex.php?txt=Gulmohar&stype=movie&submit=Find+Songs - Number of Movies 63
- Number of Songs 399
- State Awards 2
Immortal songs
Some of the unforgettable songs composed by K. Raghavan:- Kayalarikathu...
- Nazhiyuripalu kondu...
- Hrudaythin romancham...
- Maanathe mazhamukil...
- Shyamasundara pushpame...
- Aattinakkareyakkare...
- Poornendumukhiyodambalathil...
- Nalikerathinte nattilenikkoru...
- `Manjani poonilavil...
- Kathu sookshichoru...
Awards
Civilian Awards by Govt. of India- 2010 - Padma ShriPadma ShriPadma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
Kerala State Film Awards
- 1973 - Best Music DirectorKerala State Film Award for Best Music DirectorThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director winners:-Trivia:* In 1994, G. Devarajan returned all the awards won by him in protest against the jury who selected Berny-Ignatious for that year's award. According to Devarajan, none of the songs composed by the duo for Thenmavin Kombath were...
- 1977 - Best Music DirectorKerala State Film Award for Best Music DirectorThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director winners:-Trivia:* In 1994, G. Devarajan returned all the awards won by him in protest against the jury who selected Berny-Ignatious for that year's award. According to Devarajan, none of the songs composed by the duo for Thenmavin Kombath were...
- Poojakedukkatha Pookkal. - 1997 - Kerala State Film Award for Lifetime Achievement - J. C. DanielJ. C. DanielJ. C. Daniel was the first film-maker from Kerala, India. He produced, directed, wrote, photographed, edited and acted in the first film made in Kerala, named Vigathakumaran meaning the Lost Child. He also established the first film studio in Kerala, named The Travancore National Pictures. It was...
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Government of Kerala
Other Awards
- 2000 - Best Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2006 - Swaralaya Yesudas AwardSwaralaya Yesudas AwardSwaralaya Yesudas award is a prestigious award for music artists in recognition to their outstanding performance. The award is instituted jointly by Swaralaya, an organization that promotes music and Kairali Channel, based at Trivandrum, India. Awards have been given annually since 2000. Dr. K. J...
- 2011 - M. G. RadhakrishnanM. G. RadhakrishnanM. G. Radhakrishnan was a senior music director and Carnatic vocalist from Kerala. He is highly regarded as one of the most successful light music and film music composer in Malayalam.- Personal life :M. G...
Award
External links
- http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/12/stories/2010111261050400.htm
- Raghavan the folk master