M.S. Babu Raj

Mohammad Sabir Baburaj was an Indian 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

Baburaj was born on 9 March 1929 in Kozhikode, then known as Calicut. His early childhood was spent in destitution and poverty. His father, Jan Muhammed Khan, who was a Hindustani musician from Bengal who frequently held concerts in Kerala, deserted his Malayali mother when he was very young, and returned to his native Kolkata. Baburaj thus became fatherless, often singing songs in trains to make a living. But as luck would have it, a policeman, Kunjumuhammed (he was called Kunjumuhammed ika), an enthusiast of music from his native town of Kozhikode, noticing the boy's vocal talents, decided to virtually adopt him.

Music career

One of his greatest achievements was the introduction of Hindustani strains into Malayalam popular music. He successfully composed melodies based on Hindustani Ragas and blended Malayalam lyrics into them. Most of the lyrics were written by eminent Malayalam poets like P. Bhaskaran and Vayalar.

Baburaj learned basic lessons of Hindustani music from his father from a very young age, but he could not learn it for long due to his father's demise. In search of pure music, young Baburaj visited West Bengal, Mumbai and Sri Lanka. He learned to play the Harmonium during this period.

He came back to Kerala to a precarious existence. He sang on the streets of Kozhikode to earn his livelihood. Police constable Kunju Muhammed, who was a fan of Baburaj's father, adopted him and brought him up.

Later he started composing music for the Malayalam dramas in the Malabar region and thus slowly entered the field of music direction. In 1957, he composed music for the Malayalam film ''Minnaminungu'', by Ramu Kariat, thus entering the Malayalam film industry. Then he worked with director P. Venu and composed classic songs like "Anuragaganam Pole", "Ezhuthiyatharanu Sujatha", and "Kalichirimaaratha Penne" for the film ''Udhyogastha'' (1967).

Baburaj was also an accomplished singer and harmonium player.

Baburaj died an early death, on 7 October 1978 at the age of 49. His death occurred in a general hospital in Madras, after suffering from a massive hemorrhagic stroke. He was survived by his wife and children.

Legacy

The Baburaj – P. Bhaskaran – Yesudas combination produced many of the most memorable Malayalam tunes of the 1960s and 1970s. Most of his classic duets were sung by P Leela, K. J. Yesudas and S. Janaki, each recording solo Baburaj compositions as well.
Many of Baburaj's songs remain very popular in Kerala, with songs like "Oru Pushpam Maatram" frequently rendered on stage at various events.

The ''Manorama Music'' company chanced upon an old audio cassette of Baburaj rendering some of his own compositions in a platform of friends' circle. The cassette named 'Baburaj Padunnu' was re-mixed and became an instant hit. The tracks gave Kerala a rejuvenated taste of Baburaj's music with his unique style of soulful singing.
Though a successful composer, Baburaj was never a careerist, but kept his focus on his art. Today, various clubs and musical organisations conduct stage programs in honour of Baburaj ('Babukka' to his friends and acquaintances), and give the proceeds to his family. During his time, money was not easy to come by for artists, and Baburaj never managed to earn much, dying in poverty. "Thrikkakkare theerthakkare" sung by P. Susheela in the 1978 film ''Yagaswam'', directed by Hariharan, was his last recorded song.

Notable songs

* ''Thamasamenthe Varuvan Pranasakhi''
* ''Anuraga Ganam Pole''
* ''Oru Pushpam Mathramen Hridayathil Sookshikkam''
* ''Vaasantha Panjami Naalil''
* ''Ezhuthiyatharanu Sujatha''
* ''Kanneerum Swapnangalum Vilkkuvanaayi Vannavan Njan''
* ''Eeranuduthumkondambaram Chuttunna''
* ''Aadiyil Vachanamundaayi''
* ''Kalichirimaaratha Penne''
* ''Vichana Theerame''
* ''Innale Mayangumbol''
* ''Thankam Vegam''
* ''Chandramimbam Nenjilettum''
* ''Pavada prayathil''
* ''Annu ninte Nunakkuzhi''
* ''Vellichilankayaninjum''
* ''Kadali Vazha Kayyilirunnu''
* ''Surumayezhuthiya Mizhikale''
* ''Pathiravayilla Pournamikanyakku Pathinezhoe Pathinettoe Prayam''
* ''Pottatha Ponnin Kinavu Kondoru Pattunoolonjala Ketti Njan''
* ''Panja Varna Thatha Pole Konji Vanna Penne''
* ''Pranasakhee Njan Verumoru''
* ''Thaliritta Kinakkal Than Thamara Maala vangan''
* ''Thaane Thirinjum Marinjum''
* ''Sooryakanthee... Sooryakanthee...''
* ''Oru Kochu Swapnathin Chirakumayi''
* ''Kadale Neela Kadale''
* ''Akale Akale Neelakasam''
* ''Ikkarayanente Thamasam''
* ''Pottithakarnna kinavinte''
* ''Anjana Kannezhuthi''
* ''Arabi Kadaloru Manavalan''
* ''Kanmani Neeyen''
* ''Kanmaniye Karayathurangu''
* ''Adyathe Kanmani''
* ''Innente Karalile''
* ''Oru Kotta Ponnundallo''
* ''Nadikalil Sundari Yamuna''
* ''Thamarakumbilallo Mama Hrudayam''
* ''Maamalakalkkappurathu''
* ''Thedunnathaare shoonyathayil''
* ''Anuraaga Nadakathin''
* ''Aadanumariyaam''
* ''Jeevitheswarikkekuvaanoru''
* ''Kottum njan keettilla''

Filmography

The list of Malayalam films for which songs were composed by Baburaj

* Minnaminugu (1957)
* Umma (1960 film), Umma (1960)
* Kandam Becha Kottu (1961)
* Mudiyanaya Puthran (1961)
* Laila Majnu (1962 film), Laila Majnu (1962)
* Palattu Koman, Palattu Koman (Konkiyamma) (1962)
* Bhagyajathakam (1962)
* Ninamaninja Kalpadukal (1963)
* Moodupadam (1963)
* Thacholi Othenan (1964)
* Kuttikkuppayam (1964)
* Karutha Kai (1964)
* Bhargavi Nilayam (1964)
* Bharthavu (1964)
* Subaidha (1965)
* Kadathukaran (1965)
* Porter Kunjali (1965)
* Ammu (1965 film), Ammu (1965)
* Kuppivala (1965)
* Thankakudam, Thankakkudam (1965)
* Kattuthulasi (1965)
* Mayavi (1965 film), Mayavi (1965)
* Chettathi (1965)
* Thommante Makkal (1965)
* Sarppakkaadu (1965)
* Maanikyakottaram (1966)
* Penmakkal (1966)
* Koottukar (1966 film), Koottukar (1966)
* Kaattumallika (1966)
* Anarkali (1966 film), Anarkali (1966)
* Tharavattamma (1966)
* Poochakkanni (1966)
* Kanakachilanga (1966 film), Kanakachilanga (1966)
* Iruttinte Athmavu (1967)
* Agniputhri (1967)
* Balyakalasakhi (1967 film), Balyakalasakhi (1967)
* Udhyogastha (1967)
* Karutha Rathrikal (1967)
* Khadeeja (1967)
* Anweshichu Kandethiyilla (1967)
* Collector Malathy (1967)
* Pareeksha (1967 film), Pareeksha (1967)
* Manaswini (1968)
* Inspector (1968 film), Inspector (1968)
* Kaarthika (1968)
* Lakshaprabhu (1968)
* Love in Kerala (1968)
* Midumidukki (1968)
* Anchu Sundarikal (1968)
* Sandhya (film), Sandhya (1969)
* Velliyazhcha (1969)
* Virunnukari (1969)
* Saraswathi (film), Saraswathi (1970)
* Anadha (1970)
* Olavum Theeravum (1970)
* Bheekara Nimishangal (1970)
* Vivaham Swargathil (1970)
* Ambalapravu (1970)
* Priya (1970 film), Priya (1970)
* Cross Belt (film), Cross Belt (1970)
* Kuttyedathi (1971)
* Manpeda (1971)
* Lora Neeyevide (1971)
* Rathrivandi (1971)
* Puthenveedu (1971)
* Ernakulam Junction (film), Ernakulam Junction (1971)
* Panimudakku (1972)
* Pulliman (1972 film), Pulliman (1972)
* Sambhavami Yuge Yuge (1972)
* Azhimukham (1972)
* Mappusakshi (1972)
* Bhadradeepam (1973)
* Aaradhika (1973)
* Ladies Hostel (1973)
* Soundaryapooja (1973)
* Manassu (1973)
* Chuzhi (1973)
* Kaamini (1974)
* Nathoon (1974)
* Swarnna Malsyam (1975)
* Bhaaryaye Aavashyamundu (Samarppanam) (1975)
* Criminals (film), Criminals (Kayangal) (1975)
* Njaan Ninne Premikkunnu (1975)
* Sthreedhanam (1975)
* Appooppan (Charithram Aavarthikkunnilla) (1976)
* Srishti (film), Srishti (1976)
* Pushpasharam (1976)
* Allahu Akbar (film), Allahu Akbar (1977)
* Dweepu (1977)
* Yatheem (1977)
* Gaandharvam (Kanakam) (1978)
* Bhrashtu (1978)
* Yagaswam (1978)
* College Beauty (1979)
* Krishnatulasi (1979)

See also

* List of Indian composers

References

Sources

ബാബുരാജ് കരഞ്ഞു; വേദനയില്‍ അവസാനത്തെ ഈണം പിറന്നു...Baburaj, through his wife’s eyesbaburaj chudukanneeralen jeevithakatha : Editor:Mustafa Desamangalam : 9788187474753 : Read @ JustBooksclc.ചുടുകണ്ണീരാലെന്‍ ജീവിതകഥ

External links

babukka.in
*
M. S. Baburaj the genius
*
* MS Baburaj a
Malayalachalachithram.com
*MS Baburaj a
Malayalasangeetham.info
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baburaj, M.S
Indian male composers
Malayalam film score composers
Musicians from Kozhikode
1929 births
1978 deaths
Harmonium players
20th-century Indian composers
Film musicians from Kerala
20th-century organists
Male film score composers
20th-century male musicians