Madhavan Raveendran ( ml, മാധവൻ രവീന്ദ്രൻ ), (born Kulathupuzha, Kollam, 9 November 1943 – died

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

, Tamil Nadu, 3 March 2005), fondly known as ''Raveendran Master'', was a popular

South India South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union territ ...

music 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 ...

and playback singer from

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a 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 regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

. He composed songs for more than 150 films primarily for the

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 2 ...

and

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

film industries. He also composed a few albums, including ''Vasantha Geethangal'', ''Ponnonatharangini'' and ''Rithugeethangal''. Raveendran successfully composed melodies based on Hindustani Ragas also.

Early life

Raveendran was born on 9 November 1943, in Kulathupuzha, a small village in the present-day

Kollam district Kollam district (), (formerly Quilon district) is one of 14 List of districts in Kerala, districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Lac ...

. He is the seventh child (of nine children) of Late Madhavan and Late Lakshmi. His early life was filled with poverty, and he tried hard to complete his education. After his school days, he went to Swathi Thirunal Music College in

Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram (; ), also known by its former name Trivandrum (), is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the most populous city in Kerala with a population of 957,730 as of 2011. The encompassing urban agglomeration populati ...

, where he met K. J. Yesudas, and soon began a great friendship. Later, he went to

(Then Madras) to fulfill his wish to be a playback singer. He then changed his name as Kulathupuzha Ravi.

Musical career

He began his career as a playback singer with the song "Parvanarajanithan" from a Malayalam film, ''Velliyazhcha''. He then became a

master Master or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles * Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans *Grandmaster (chess), National Master ...

and associated with many Malayalam composers. He also dubbed voices for films during this time. The great playback singer K. J. Yesudas, a former classmate, altered the course of Raveendran's life by persuading him to compose songs and thus he became a music director. Director

J. Sasikumar Nambiathusseril Varkey John (14 October 1927 – 17 July 2014), better known by his stage name, screen name Sasikumar, was an Indian film director who worked in Malayalam cinema. He has directed more than 141 films in his career which began in ...

, commissioned Raveendran to compose the music for ''

Choola ''Choola'' is a 1979 Cinema of India, Indian Malayalam language, Malayalam film, directed by J. Sasikumar. The film stars M. G. Soman, Manavalan Joseph, Bhavani, P. J. Antony and Sankaradi in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Raveen ...

'' (1979). The song "Tharake Mizhiyithalil Kannerumayi ...", sung by Yesudas, became a hit. Ever since, Raveendran led Malayalam film music with several hit songs. Melody incorporated with the aspects of Carnatic music were the hallmark of his songs. He successfully composed melodies based on ''

Hindustan ''Hindūstān'' ( , from '' Hindū'' and ''-stān''), also sometimes spelt as Hindōstān ( ''Indo-land''), along with its shortened form ''Hind'' (), is the Persian-language name for the Indian subcontinent that later became commonly used by ...

i'' ragas also. In 1981 he composed songs and background score for the movie ''

Thenum Vayambum ''Thenum Vayambum'' () is a 1981 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by Ashok Kumar and written by John Paul, starring Nedumudi Venu, Prem Nazir and Sumalatha, along with Mohanlal and Ranipadmini. The film features music composed by Raveend ...

'' directed by Asok kumar. All songs including "Thenum vayambum", "Ottakkambi nadham" and "Manasoru kovil" became superhits. With the release of ''

'' (1981), Raveendran made his mark in the film field. In the same year he composed music and background score for the movie '' Chiriyo Chiri'' directed by Balachandramenon. The song "Ezhu swarangalum" from the movie ''Chiriyo Chiri'' is considered as a pathbreaking semi classical song in Malayalam. In 1982, for his close friend, director

P. Venu P. Venu (8 November 1940 – 25 May 2011), was an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, and lyricist with over 20 films to his name.His directorial venture Udhyogastha in 1967 was the first-ever multi-star cast film of the south Indi ...

he dubbed for actor Shankar in his film ''Aranjyanam'' and later composed music for his movie ''Thacholi Thankappan''. A few of Raveendran's best songs were in films like ''

'', '' Chiriyo Chiri'', '' Sukhamo Devi'', '' Aattakalasam'', ''

Yuvajanotsavam ''Yuvajanotsavam'' is a 1986 Indian Malayalam romantic comedy film written, directed, and produced by Shrikumaran Thampi. It stars Mohanlal, Urvashi, Menaka and Ashokan. The music and background by Raveendran The film marks the return of S ...

'', '' Amaram'', '' His Highness Abdullah'', ''

Kamaladalam ''Kamaladalam'' () is a 1992 Indian Malayalam-language musical drama film written by A. K. Lohithadas and directed by Sibi Malayil, starring Mohanlal, Murali, Vineeth, Nedumudi Venu, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Monisha, Parvathy Jayaram ...

'', '' Kizhakkunarum Pakshi'', ''

Champakulam Thachan ''Champakulam Thachan'' is a 1992 Malayalam film. Directed by Kamal, this film has Madhu, Vineeth, Murali, Monisha, Rambha and Nedumudi Venu in leading roles. The music and background score is by Raveendran. It was written by Sreenivasan ba ...

'', '' Dhanam'', ''

Aayirappara ''Aayirappara'' is a 1993 Malayalam film directed by Venu Nagavalli, starring Mammootty, Urvashi and Madhu in the lead roles. The movie was produced by Sreekanth and Ashok under the banner of Gauridarshana and it has been distributed by Mak Rel ...

'', ''

Kalippattam ''Kalippattam'' (English: ''Toy'') is a 1993 Malayalam film written and directed by Venu Nagavalli and starring Mohanlal, Urvashi, Thilakan, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Jagathy and Nedumudi Venu. Mohanlal also sang a song ("Vazhiyoram") with Chithra ...

'', '' Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu'', ''

Nandanam Nandanam is a neighborhood in Chennai, India. It is a busy location and is home to many commercial institutions. This locality also offers a calm residential location. Nandanam Arts College was established in 1901. Nandanam Junction, on the a ...

'', ''Rajashilpi'', ''

Bharatham ''Bharatham'' is a 1991 Indian Malayalam-language musical drama film written by A. K. Lohithadas and directed by Sibi Malayil. It stars Mohanlal, Urvashi, Nedumudi Venu, Lakshmi, and Murali. The film was produced by Mohanlal through his produc ...

'' and '' Aaraam Thampuran''. The songs " Pramadhavanam Veendum" from the movie ''His Highness Abdullah'' and " Harimuraleeravam" from ''Aaraam Thampuran'' were among the most adored songs of that time. He shared a close relationship with the actor

Mohanlal Mohanlal Viswanathan (born 21 May 1960), known mononymously as Mohanlal, is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, film distributor, and director who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically app ...

. He also composed songs and background score for 8 Tamil films like ''Hemavin kadhalargal'', ''Rasigan oru rasigai'', ''Kanmaniye pesu'', ''

Dharma devathai ''Dharma Devathai'' () is a 1986 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by S. P. Muthuraman for AVM Productions, starring Vijayakanth, Raadhika and Pallavi. It is a remake of the 1986 Telugu film ''Prathidhwani''. The film was releas ...

'', ''Pottu vacha neram'', ''Lakshmi vandhachu'', ''Thaye nee thunai'' and ''Malare kurinji malare''. Almost all major lyricists of his era penned lyrics for his songs, like O. N. V. Kurup,

Sreekumaran Thampi Sreekumaran Thampi (born 16 March 1940) is an Indian lyricist, music director, director, producer, and screenwriter in Malayalam cinema. He also writes poetry and is a recipient of the Vallathol Award. In 2017, he was awarded the J. C. Daniel ...

, Bichu Thirumala, Poovachal Khader, Chunakkara Ramankutty,

Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri Padma Shri Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, popularly known as Kaithapram, is a Malayalam lyricist, poet, music director, actor, singer, screenwriter, music therapist and performer of Carnatic music. He debuted with the movie Ennennum Kannet ...

Gireesh Puthenchery Girish Puthenchery (1961–2010) was a noted Malayalam Lyricist, Poet, Scriptwriter and Screenwriter. He was always referred to as the aristocratic lyricist of Malayalam who had a distinctive writing style of his own. He also served as the dire ...

Shibu Chakravarthy Shibu Chakravarthy is an Indian lyricist, screenwriter, and poster designer who works in Malayalam cinema. His ancestors were the rulers of Kurukkanmoola Dynasty, hence the name ''Chakravarthy'' (). His birthname was Shibu Rajav, later chang ...

, etc. Most of his songs were sung by K. J. Yesudas and K. S. Chithra.

Non-cinematic albums

Some of his light music albums and devotional albums, which were most popular in the 1980s and 1990s through All India Radio and audio cassettes were ''Tharanginiyude Ulsava Gaanangal'' (festival songs) (1983, 1985), '' Vasantha Geethangal'' (1984), ''Ponnona Tharangini'' (1992), ''Amme Saranam Devi Saranam'' (1994), ''Sarana Theertham'' (1997) and '' Uthradapoonilave'' (2001). Raveendran did orchestration for Deepam Makaradeepam (1980) composed by BichuThirumala.

Personal life

He was married to Shobha and has three sons. His youngest son, Naveen Madhav, is a playback singer in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada film and twin sons

Rajan Madhav Rajan Babu (born Chennai, India, 31 May 1975) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, working predominantly in Tamil cinema based in Chennai. Having born into a family that appreciates all forms of cinema, he has imbibed the quality to breath ...

, a film director, and Sajan Madhav, a music composer in Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil films. Yakshiyum njanum was the debut movie of Sajan Madhav as composer in Malayalam. Earlier he composed orchestration for the songs of Kalabham and also helped in orchestration of many songs composed by Raveendran. Raveendran died suddenly at his home in

following a cardiac arrest on 3 March 2005, aged only 61. He was suffering from

throat cancer Head and neck cancer develops from tissues in the lip and oral cavity (mouth), larynx (throat), salivary glands, nose, sinuses or the skin of the face. The most common types of head and neck cancers occur in the lip, mouth, and larynx. Symptoms ...

for a long time, and was under treatment when his end occurred. His last works '' Vadakkumnadhan'' and ''Kalabham'' were released posthumously in 2006.

Filmography

As a playback singer

He started his career as a playback singer for the 1969 movie ''

Velliyazhcha ''Velliyazhcha'' is a 1969 Indian Malayalam film, Vellikizhamai (Friday) story written in Tamil by Swathi and translated in Malayalam by S. L. Puram Sadandan, directed by M. M. Nesan and Swathi Ranga Chary and produced by Solar Pictures owned by ...

'' for which the songs were composed by

M. S. Baburaj 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 Kozhikod ...

. His first song was titled "Parvana rajanithan". For a decade, he struggled to get songs and even become a dubbing artist for films. He dubbed for actor Shankar in the movie

Aranjaanam ''Aranjaanam'' is a 1982 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by P. Venu and produced by P. K. Gopi. The film stars Shankar, Rajkumar, Subhashini and Sumalatha. The film has musical score and songs composed by K. J. Joy. Cast * Shankar a ...

directed by

. As a music director, he sang some of his songs. In 1978 Raveendran sung a song (sandhya vandana geethikaluyarum sanyasikalude asramavadam) with Yesudas in the movie "AVAKASAM" directed by '' A B Raj''.(Then he was called as kulathuppuzha Ravi) Music direction by '' M K Arjunan'' and Lyrics by '' Gopi Kottarappat''.

Major awards

National Film Awards: * 1992 – Special Mention – ''

'' Kerala State Film Awards: * 1991 – Best Music Director – ''Bharatham'' * 2002 – Best Music Director – ''

'' Filmfare Awards South: * 1990 –

Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam The Filmfare Best Music Director Award is given by the ''Filmfare'' magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Malayalam films. Superlatives Winners References External links {{DEFAULTSORT:Filmfare Award for Best Music Dir ...

– '' His Highness Abdullah'' * 1991 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam – ''Bharatham'' * 1995 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam – ''

Mazhayethum Munpe ''Mazhayethum Munpe (Before the Rain Comes)'' is a 1995 Malayalam romantic drama film directed by Kamal and written by Sreenivasan. The film stars Mammootty, Shobhana, Annie and Sreenivasan in the lead roles. The plot is centered upon a coll ...

'' * 2006 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam – '' Vadakkumnadhan''

Kerala Film Critics Award The Kerala Film Critics Association Awards are presented annually by the Kerala Film Critics Association to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Malayalam language film industry of India. The awards were instit ...

* Best Music Director - ''Bharatham''

Asianet Film Awards The Asianet Film Awards is an award ceremony for films presented annually by Asianet, a Malayalam-language television network from the south-Indian state of Kerala. Asianet says that awards ceremony has been instituted to honour both artis ...

: * 2006 – Best Music Director -''Vadakkumnadhan''

Notable songs

* Tharake Mizhiyithalil ( Choola) * Chandanamani vathil pathi Chari ( Marikkunnilla Njan) * Thengum hrudayam... (''Aattakkalasham'') * Nirangale... (''Aham'') * Harimuraleeravam... (''Aaraam Thampuran'') * Pramadhavanam...( ''His Highness Abdulla'') * Devasabhathalam...( ''His Highness Abdulla'') * Sree Lathikakal & Sukamo devi...('' Sukhamo Devi'') * Gopangane... (''Bharatham'') * Ramakadha... (''Bharatham'') * Sayanthanam...(''Kamaladalam'') * Premodhaaranay...(''Kamaladalam'') * Ezhuswarangalum thazhukivarum...(''Chirio chiri'') * Pularkala Sundara Swapnathil..........(''Oru Maymasa pulariyil'') * Azhake...(''Amaram'') * Vikara Naukayumai...(''Amaram'') * Kandu njan mizhikalil...(''Abhimanyu'') * Vanambaadi etho theerangal...(''Desadanakili Karayaarilla'') * Thenum vayambum...(''Thenum vayambum'') * Madhumasa Ponnila Choodi...(''Kuttettan'') * Innumente Kannuneeril...(''Yuvajanotsavam'') * Puzhayorazhakullapennu... (''Ente Nadinikkuttikku'') * Hridayam oru veenayai...(''Thammil Thammil'') * Aalila Manjalil...(''Surya gayathri'') * Kalabham tharaam...(''Vadakkumnadhan'') * Enthinu Veroru Sooryodayam...(''Mazhayethum munpea'') * Ragangale...(''Tharattu'') * Manja Kiliyude...(''Kanmadam'') * Manathaaril Ennum...(''Kaliyil Alpam Kaaryam'') * Etho Nidrathan...(''Ayaal Kathayezhuthukayaanu'') * Moovanthi thazhvarayil...(''Kanmadam'') * Vaarmukile vaanil...... (''

Mazha ''Mazha'' () is a 2000 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written and directed by Lenin Rajendran based on the short story ''Nashtappetta Neelambari'' by Madhavikkutty. It stars Biju Menon, Samyuktha Varma and Lal. The music was composed by ...

'') * Kaarmukil varnante.....(''

Nandanam (film) Nandanam () is a 2002 Indian Malayalam-language romantic film written, co-produced, and directed by Ranjith. Starring Navya Nair and Prithviraj Sukumaran with Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Revathi, Aravind Akash, Siddique and Sai Kumar in supporting r ...

'') * Deenadayalo Raama... (''Arayannangalude Veedu'') * Thalam Thettiya... (''Thalam Thettiya Tharattu'') * Aalilathaliyumay...(''Mizhi Randilum'') * Poovinullil Poo Viriyum (''Tharattu'') * Olikkunnuvo Mizhikkumbilil....(''Champakulam Thachan'') * Devasandhya Gopurathil.... (''Kalabham'') * Deepam Deepam... (''Neelakkadambu'') * Kudajaadriyil Kudikollum * Ganga...... (''Vadakkumnathan'') * Sindhura sandhyyakku Mownam (''Choola'')

Bibliography

*M D Manoj ''Raveendra Sangeetham'', Olive Publishers May 2010 *Sobha (Raveend's wife) ''Raveendra sangeetham Kelkatha ragangal'', 2011

References

Raveendran Website
* , ''The Hindu''
"Malayalam music director Ravindran dies"
''The Times of India''
"Obituary – Raveendran"
Sify * , ''The Hindu''

''Paadheyam'' *

Vanitha ''Vanitha'' () is an Indian magazine published fortnightly by the ''Malayala Manorama'' group. It is the largest magazine in India by circulation according to Audit Bureau of Circulations, with average qualifying sales of 687,915 copies (as of ...

( 15–29 February 2008) Interview with the Raveendran family

External links

Raveendran's profile on www.malayalasangeetham.info
{{Authority control Malayalam film score composers Tamil film score composers 1943 births 2005 deaths 20th-century classical composers 21st-century classical composers Indian male playback singers Kerala State Film Award winners Musicians from Kollam Singers from Kerala Deaths from lung cancer in India Filmfare Awards South winners University of Kerala alumni Film musicians from Kerala 20th-century Indian composers 21st-century Indian composers Special Mention (feature film) National Film Award winners 20th-century Indian singers 21st-century Indian singers Indian male film score composers 20th-century Indian male singers