Malabar Gopalan Nair Sreekumar (born 25 May 1957), better known as M. G. Sreekumar is an Indian

playback singer A playback singer, as they are usually known in South Asian cinema, or ghost singer in Western cinema, is a singer whose performance is pre-recorded for use in films. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and the performers lip-sync the ...

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

music producer A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job involves hands-on oversight of recording sessions; ensu ...

television presenter A television presenter (or television host, some become a "television personality") is a person who introduces or hosts television show, television programs, often serving as a mediator for the program and the audience. It is common for people ...

and film producer, who works predominantly in

Malayalam cinema Malayalam cinema, also referred to as Mollywood, is a segment of Cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to producing films in the Malayalam, Malayalam language, primarily spoken in Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands. It encompasses both th ...

. He has sung more than 2500 songs in various Indian languages including

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

, Tamil, Telugu,

Kannada Kannada () is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the state of Karnataka in southwestern India, and spoken by a minority of the population in all neighbouring states. It has 44 million native speakers, and is additionally a ...

Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...

, and

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

. He owns a music company named KMG Musics and the Saregama School of Music in

Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the Capital city, capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the ...

.In October 2024 he was appointed as the Director of the Music Academy of the UAE Government. Sreekumar has won several awards, including two

National Film Awards The National Film Awards are awards for artistic and technical merit given for "Excellence within the Cinema of India, Indian film industry". Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India ...

, three Kerala State Film Awards and 5

Filmfare Awards South The Filmfare Awards South are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, Malayalam cinema and Kannada cinema. They are presented by ''Filmfare'' magazine of The Times Group. When it was intr ...

. He was also honoured with the Harivarasanam Award by the

Government of Kerala The Government of Kerala (abbreviated as GoK), also known as the Kerala Government, is the administrative body responsible for governing the Indian States and territories of India, state of Kerala. The government is led by a chief minister, who ...

in 2016. His career as a singer spans over 44 years.

Career

Sreekumar made his debut in the Malayalam movie ''

Coolie Coolie (also spelled koelie, kouli, khuli, khulie, kuli, cooli, cooly, or quli) is a pejorative term used for low-wage labourers, typically those of Indian people, Indian or Chinese descent. The word ''coolie'' was first used in the 16th cent ...

'' (1983) Directed by Ashok Kumar. The Malayalam movie '' Chithram'' (1988) directed by

Priyadarshan Priyadarshan Soman Nair (born 30 January 1957) is an Indian film director and screenwriter. He has worked primarily in Malayalam cinema, Malayalam and Hindi cinema, Hindi cinema since 1982, directing over 90 films in multiple Indian languages, ...

, starring

Mohanlal Mohanlal Viswanathan (; born 21 May 1960), known mononymously as Mohanlal, is an Indian actor and filmmaker who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema, Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil cinema, Tamil, Hin ...

, was the first where Sreekumar sang all the songs. He has sung more than 3000 songs for films in

, Tamil,

and Telugu. He worked as music director in Malayalam films such as '' Chathurangam'' (2002) and '' Thandavam'' (2002),

's '' Kanchivaram'' (2008), Mohanlal's ''

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon (; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip ...

'' and '' Oru Naal Varum.'' He anchored a TV show named ''SaReGaMa'' on Asianet and was a judge for the reality show '' Idea Star Singer''. Now he is a judge in Top Singer on Flowers TV. His appointment as chairman of Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Akademi by the LDF government of Kerala sparked controversy due to his close relations with its political rival BJP.

Personal life

Sreekumar was born on 25 May 1957, at Haripad, in

Alappuzha district Alappuzha district (), is one of the 14 Districts of Kerala, districts in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala. It was formed as Alleppey district on 17 August 1957, the name of the district being changed to ''Alapp ...

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

as the younger son of music composer and harmonist Malabar Gopalan Nair and Harikatha exponent Kamalakshi Amma. He is the younger brother of popular music director M. G. Radhakrishnan and popular Carnatic musician Dr. K. Omanakkutty. Sreekumar and Lekha, his future wife, first saw each other in 1988 at Thycaud Dharma Sastha Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, but they met each other only few days later after a concert. Gradually, they developed friendship and later began living together. Sreekumar and Lekha married on 14 January 2000 at the Mookambika Temple, Kollur.

Discography

As singer

Malayalam (partial list)

The following is a list of films in which M. G. Sreekumar has contributed as a playback singer. If a film has only one song performed by him, it is specified where necessary. * '' Novemberinte Nashtam (1982)'' * ''

'' (1983) * '' Poochakkoru Mookkuthi'' (1984) * '' Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil'' (1985) * '' Pranamam'' (1986) * '' Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi'' (1986) * ''

Thalavattam ''Thalavattam'' () is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written and directed by Priyadarshan, starring Mohanlal, Lizy, M. G. Soman and Karthika. The film is very loosely based on the 1975 movie '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' w ...

'' (1986) * '' Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivarathrikal'' (1987) * '' Anantara'' (1987) * '' Moonnam Pakkam'' (1988) * '' Oru Muthassi Katha'' (1988) * '' Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu'' (1988) * ''Janmandharam'' (1988) * ''

Aryan ''Aryan'' (), or ''Arya'' (borrowed from Sanskrit ''ārya''), Oxford English Dictionary Online 2024, s.v. ''Aryan'' (adj. & n.); ''Arya'' (n.)''.'' is a term originating from the ethno-cultural self-designation of the Indo-Iranians. It stood ...

'' (1988) * '' Chithram'' (1988) * '' Ramji Rao Speaking'' (1989) * ''Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam'' (1989) * ''News'' (1989) * '' Nair Saab'' (1989) * '' Mahayanam'' (1989) * '' Kireedam'' (1989) * '' Dasharatham'' (1989) * '' Vadakkunokkiyanthram'' (1989) * '' Adarvam'' (1989) * ''Varthamana Kalam'' (1990) * ''Rajavazhcha'' (1990) * '' Kadathanadan Ambadi'' (1990) (singer) * '' Indrajaalam (1990) * '' His Highness Abdullah'' (1990) * '' Dr. Pasupathy'' (1990) * '' Appu'' (1990) * '' Akkare Akkare Akkare'' (1990) * ''PavaKoothu'' (1990) * '' In Harihar Nagar'' (1990) * '' Oliyampukal'' (1990) * '' Vishnulokam'' (1991) * '' Ulladakkam'' (1991) * ''Kuttapathram'' (1991) * ''Kilukkampetti'' (1991) * ''

Abhimanyu Abhimanyu (, ) is a character in the ancient Hindu epic ''Mahābhārata''. He was a young and valiant warrior of the Kuru lineage, born to Arjuna—the third Pandava brother—and Subhadra—a Yadava princess. He was also one of the few indivi ...

'' (1991) * '' Godfather'' (1991) * '' Kilukkam'' (1991) * '' Ennathe Programme'' (1991) * ''Chanchattam'' (1991) * '' Advaitham'' (1991) * ''Maanthrika Cheppu'' (1992) * '' Champakulam Thachan'' (1992) * '' Yoddha'' (1992) * Welcome to Kodaikanal(1992) * ''Brahmadathan '' (1993, unreleased) * '' Gardish '' (1993) * '' Vietnam Colony'' (1993) * '' Midhunam'' (1993) * '' Devasuram'' (1993) * Thenmavin Kombath (1994) * '' Pingami'' (1994) * '' Hey Hero'' (1994) * '' Pavithram'' (1994) * '' Kashmeeram'' (1994) * '' Kaalapaani'' (1994) * '' Sadaram'' (1995) * ''Manikya Chempazhukka'' (1995) * '' Nirnayam'' (1995) * ''Madamma'' (1996) * '' Aniyathipravu'' (1997) * Chandralekha (1997) * ''

Superman Superman is a superhero created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, which first appeared in the comic book ''Action Comics'' Action Comics 1, #1, published in the United States on April 18, 1938.The copyright date of ''Action Comics ...

'' (1997) * '' Manthramothiram'' (1997) * '' Lelam'' (1997) * '' Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu'' (1997) * ''The Good Boys'' (1997) * ''Gajaraja Manthram'' (1997) * ''Ekkareyanente Manasam'' (1997) * '' Bhoopathi'' (1997) * '' Chandralekha'' (1997) * ''Mayajalam'' (1998) * '' Mangalya Pallakku'' (1998) * '' Summer In Bethlehem'' (1998) * '' En Swasa Kaatre'' (1999) * '' Ezhupunna Tharakan'' (1999) * Olympian Anthony Adam (1999) * '' Valliettan'' (2000) * '' Dada Sahib'' (2000) * ''

Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal ( ; ; ) is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal Empire, Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his belo ...

'' (2000) * '' Thenkasipattanam'' (2000) * '' Narasimham''(2000) * '' Vasanthiyum Lakshimiyum Pinne Njanum'' (2001) * '' Karumadikkuttan'' (2001) * '' Kakkakuyil'' (2001) * '' Megasandesam'' (2001) * '' Ee Parakkum Thalika'' (2001) * '' Akasthile Paravakal'' (2001) * ''

Ravanaprabhu ''Raavanaprabhu'' () is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film written and directed by Ranjith (director), Ranjith in his directorial debut. It is a sequel to the 1993 film ''Devaasuram'' written by Ranjith (director), Ranjith, d ...

'' (2001) * '' Videsi Nair Swadesi Nair'' (2002) * '' Valkannadi'' (2002) * '' Pranyamanithooval'' (2002) * '' Mazhathullikkilukkam'' (2002) * '' Jagathi Jagathish in Town'' (2002) * '' Meesa Madhavan'' (2002) * '' Kalyanaraman'' (2002) * '' Chronic Bachelor'' (2003) * '' Swapnam Kondu Thulabharam'' (2003) * '' Pattalam'' (2003) * '' Hariharan Pillai Happy Aanu'' (2003) * '' Ammakilikkoodu'' (2003) * '' Pattanathil Sundaran'' (2003) * '' Chakram'' (2003) * ''Relax'' (2003) * '' Vamanapuram Bus Route'' (2004) * '' Thekkekara Super Fast'' (2004) * Natturajavu (2004) * '' Jalolsavam'' (2004) * '' Vettam'' (2004) * ''

Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

'' (2004) * Naran (2005) * '' Thanmathra'' (2005) * '' Vadakkumnadhan'' (2006) * ''

Prajapathi ''Prajapathi'' () is a 2006 Malayalam-language action drama film written and directed by Ranjith (director), Ranjith. It stars Mammootty, Siddique (actor), Siddique, Sreenivasan, Nedumudi Venu, and Thilakan. The music was by Tej Manoj. The fil ...

'' (2006) * '' Keerthi Chakra'' (2006) * '' Classmates'' (2006) * '' Hallo'' (2007) * ''

Chocolate Chocolate is a food made from roasted and ground cocoa beans that can be a liquid, solid, or paste, either by itself or to flavoring, flavor other foods. Cocoa beans are the processed seeds of the cacao tree (''Theobroma cacao''); unprocesse ...

'' (2007) * '' Bhool Bhulaiyaa'' (2007) * '' College Kumaran'' (2008) * ''

Innathe Chintha Vishayam ''Innathe Chinthavishayam'' () is a 2008 Indian Malayalam-language family drama film written and directed by Satyan Anthikad. The film, produced by Antony Perumbavoor through Aashirvad Cinemas, stars Mohanlal and Meera Jasmine. The film's sc ...

'' (2008) * '' Kurukshetra'' (2008) * '' Sagar alias Jacky Reloaded'' (2009) * '' In Ghost House Inn'' (2010) * ''

'' (2010) * '' Oru Naal Varum'' (2010) * ''

Kandahar Kandahar is a city in Afghanistan, located in the south of the country on Arghandab River, at an elevation of . It is Afghanistan's second largest city, after Kabul, with a population of about 614,118 in 2015. It is the capital of Kandahar Pro ...

'' (2010) * '' Living Together'' (2011) * ''

Chinatown Chinatown ( zh, t=唐人街) is the catch-all name for an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, O ...

'' (2011) * '' 1993 Bombay, March 12'' (2011) * '' Oru Marubhoomikkadha'' (2011) * '' Ninnishtam Ennishtam 2'' (2011) * '' Kunjaliyan'' (2012) * '' Simhasanam'' (2012) * '' Husbands in Goa'' (2012) * '' Karmayodha'' (2012) * '' Geethaanjali'' (2013) * '' Aamayum Muyalum'' (2014) * '' Ottayaan'' (2015) * '' Oppam'' (2016) * '' 1971: Beyond Borders'' (2017) * '' Velipadinte Pusthakam'' (2017) * '' Panchavarnathatha'' (2018) * '' Odiyan'' (2018) * '' Neerali'' (2018) * '' Madhaveeyam'' (2019) * '' Nithyaharitha Nayakan'' (2019) * ''

Pathinettam Padi ''Pathinettam Padi'' () is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language coming of age drama film, written and directed by Shankar Ramakrishnan and produced by Shaji Nadesan under the banner of August Cinema.The film Stars Akshay Radhakrishnan, Ashwin Go ...

'' (2019) * '' Pattabhiraman'' (2019) * '' Ittymaani: Made in China'' (2019) * '' School Diary'' (2019) * '' Big Brother'' (2020) * '' Marakkar Arabikadalinte Simham'' (2021) * '' Minnal Murali''(2021) * '' Bro Daddy'' (2022) * '' Aarattu'' (2022) * '' Pappachan Olivilanu'' (2023) * '' Thudarum'' (2025)

Tamil

Telugu

Hindi

As composer

Beside films, Sreekumar has composed many devotional albums. Majority of his songs are written by Rajeev Alunkal and Gireesh Puthenchery.

Television

Awards

: * 1990 – Best Male Playback Singer – '' His Highness Abdullah'' (Song: "Nadha Roopini") * 1999 – Best Male Playback Singer – '' Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum'' (Song: "Chanthu Pottum") Kerala State Film Awards: * 1989 – Best Male Playback Singer – '' Kireedam'' (Song: "Kanneer Poovinte") and ''

Vadakkunokkiyantram ''Vadakkunokkiyantram'' () is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language black comedy film written and directed by Sreenivasan, who also stars in the film along with Parvathy. The film is about the marital discord caused by a husband's Othello syndrome ...

'' (Song: "Mayamayooram Peeliveeshiyo") * 1991 – Best Male Playback Singer – '' Kilukkam'' (Song: "Kilukil Pambaram") and ''Thudarkkadha'' (Song: "Aathiravaravayi") * 1992 – Best Playback Singer – Different films Kerala Film Critics Awards"കേരള ഫിലിം ക്രിട്ടിക്‌സ് അവാര്‍ഡ് 1977 - 2012"
Kerala Film Critics Association. Retrieved 29 January 2023. * 1998 – Best Male Playback Singer — '' Kottaram Veettile Apputtan'', '' Punjabi House'', '' Summer in Bethlehem'' * 1999 – Best Male Playback Singer — '' Megham'', '' Chandranudikkunna Dikkil'', '' Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum'' * 2000 – Best Male Playback Singer — ''Kattu Vannu Vilichappol'' * 2001 – Best Male Playback Singer — '' Achaneyanenikkishtam'', '' Praja'' * 2002 – Best Male Playback Singer — '' Nandanam'' * 2005 – Best Male Playback Singer — '' Mayookham'', ''Balyam'' * 2006 – Best Male Playback Singer — '' Keerthi Chakra'', '' Pothan Vava'' * 2011 – Best Music Director — '' Oru Marubhoomikkadha''

: * 2016 – Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Malayalam – Oppam – "Chinnamma" Asianet Film Awards: * 2003 – Best Male Playback Singer – '' Manassinakkare'' * 2005 – Best Male Playback Singer – '' Thanmathra'', '' Ananthabhadram'' * 2008 – Best Male Playback – ''

'' * 2010 – Best Music Diaward r – '' Oru Naal Varum'' Surya TV Awards: * 2008 – Best Playback Singer – ''

'' * 2010 – Best Playback Singer – '' Oru Naal Varum'' Other awards: * 2008 – Raju Pilakkattu Memorial Award * 2008 – Jeevan TV – P. Jayachandran Award * 2010 – Asiavision Movie Award for Best Music Director – '' Oru Naal Varum'' * 2011 – Swaralaya Kairali Yesudas Award * 2016 – Harivarasanam Award * 2016 – Asiavision Award for Best Male Singer - ''Minungum Minnaminunge'' from the movie " Oppam" * 2016 – Mazhavil

Mango A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree '' Mangifera indica''. It originated from the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South and Southeast As ...

Music Awards - Special Jury Award - ''Chinnamma'' from the movie "Oppam" * 2023 – V. M. Kutty Award instituted by the Ishal Samskarika Samithi

References

External links

Official website
* *
MG Sreekumar's Hit Songs

M. G. Sreekumar in MSI

If I had tried to imitate Yesudas, I would have reached nowhere: M G Shreekumar

Singer MG Sreekumar to make his acting debut!
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sreekumar, M. G. Living people Indian male playback singers Film musicians from Kerala Kerala State Film Award winners Tamil playback singers Malayalam playback singers Malayalam film score composers People from Alappuzha district 20th-century Indian singers 21st-century Indian singers Best Male Playback Singer National Film Award winners Singers from Kerala Indian male film score composers 20th-century Indian male singers 21st-century Indian male singers 1957 births Kerala Film Critics Awards winners