Raveendran

Infobox musical artist
Name = Raveendran


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Background = non_performing_personnel
Born = 1943
Died = March 3, 2005
Origin = Kerala, India
Instrument = Harmonium
Genre =
Occupation = Film composer, music director
Years_active = 1985 – 2005
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Associated_acts =
URL = [http://raveendran.8m.com/ A webpage for Raveendran]

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M. Raveendran (also known as "Raveendran master") was a popular Malayalam and South Indian music composer. He was always referred to as the aristocratic music director of Malayalam who had a distinctive style of his own.

He composed more than 150 films primarily for the Malayalam and Tamil film industries. He also composed a few albums including "Vasantha Geethangal". He died in Chennai following a cardiac arrest. He was also suffering from cancer.

Early life

Born in Kulathupuzha in Kollam in 1943, Raveendran joined The Swathy Thirunnal Sangeetha College, Thiruvananthapuram after completing his formal schooling. He learned music along with noted singer K.J. Yesudas. Poverty in the family did not present him any ‘colourful’ days in his childhood. But he took those ‘dismal days’ positively and as a stepping stone for the 'hard' days ahead in his career as a singer and musician.

Kulathoopuzha Ravi (before changing his name to Raveendran) earlier had tested his vocal cords for 30 odd songs under various noted music directors including Baburaj. But he could not go on with the singer tag for long. Lack of opportunities in the field made him a dubbing artist and a singer in an orchestra troop. Then he turned to scoring music.

He has composed many soulful melodies. He started his career as a playback singer in the 1970s and evolved as one of the foremost music directors in South India, composing about 1,500 songs in 450 films, in addition to a number of light music and devotional albums.

Musical career

The famous playback signer K. J. Yesudas, a former classmate, altered the course of Raveendran's life by persuading him to compose songs and thus he become a music director.

Director J.Sasikumar, commissioned Raveendran to score the music for "Choola"(1979). The song "Tharake Mizhiyithalil Kannerumayi…"] , sung by Yesudas, became a superhit. Ever since that time, Raveendran ruled the roost of Malayalam film music with several super-hit songs.

Melody incorporated with the aspects of Carnatic music were the hallmark of his songs. By the release of Thenum Vayambum (1981), Raveendran made his mark in the film field. All the songs in the movie became super hits! The songs, "Thenum Vayambum…", "Ottakambi naadham…" are still highly sought-after songs for Malayalees.

A few among Raveendran’s best songs were in films like ‘Thenum Vayambum’, ‘Amaram’, ‘His Highness Abdullah’, ‘Ayal Kathaezhuthuthukayanu’, ‘Nandanam’ 'Rajashilpi', 'Bharatham'. Especially the song 'pramadavanam veendum' of the movie 'His Highness Abdullah' was one of the most adored songs of that time.

Raveendran has composed many soulful melodies in the 1970's and evolved as one of the foremost music directors in the South India, composing about 800 songs in 150 films, in addition to a number of light music and devotional albums.

His last composition was 'Kalabham'. It was released in 2006 soon after his death.

Awards

A recipient of a National Award for Bharatham, he had also received several state awards.

Famous hits

Raveendran's contributions to the world of Malayalam songs are remarkable. Some of them are:
* Tharake Mizhiyithalil Kannerumayi ( Choola)
* Harimuraleeravam (Aaramthampuran)
* Pramadavanam Veendum...(His Highness Abdulla) ^{[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCmsZbarARE song video]}
* Sree Lathikakal & Sukamo devi...(Sukhamo Devi) ^{[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jn8d4RpRQo&feature=related song video]}
* Gopangane... (Bharatham)
* Ramakadha... (Bharatham)
* Ezhuswarangalum thazhukivarum...(Chirio chiri) [http://www.devaragam.net/vbscript/WimpyPlayer2.aspx?var=,Chiriyo_Chiri_Ezhu_Swarangalum.mp3| ^{Play song}]
* Hari Muraleeravam...(Aaran thampuraan)
* Pularkala Sundaran 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)
* Hridayam oru veenayai...(Thammil Thammil)
* Aalila Manjalil...(Surya gayathri)
* Kalabham tharaam...(Vadakkum nathan)
* Enthinu Veroru Sooryodayam...(Mazhayethum munpea)
* Ragangale...(Tharattu)
* Manja Kiliyude...(Kanmadam)
* Manathaaril Ennum...(Kaliyil Alpam Kaaryam)
* Ethoo Nidrathan...(Ayaal Kathayezhuthukayaanu)
* Moovanthi thazvarayil...(Kanmadam)
* Bharatham, Aaram thampuraan, His highness, Kamaladalam, Kamaladalam, Kizhakkunarum Pakshi, Aham, Rajashilpi, Amaram, Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu, Kanmadam, Nandanam, Venkalam, Champakulam Thachan, Aham, Attakkalasham, Sukamo Devi, Aye Auto and the list is going on and on...

Family

He was married to Shobha and has three sons. His eldest son Naveen Madhav is a playback singer in Tamil film and twin sons Rajan Madhav, a film director and Sajan Madhav, a music composer in the Telugu film industry.

References

* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/03/04/stories/2005030409920400.htm Music director Ravindran dead, Hindu online]
* [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1039981.cms Malayalam music director Ravindran dies, Times of India]
* [http://sify.com/movies/malayalam/fullstory.php?id=13685773 Obituary - Raveendran by sify]
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/lf/2002/10/24/stories/2002102401580200.htm The Hindu, Life and times of a music director]
* Vanitha (February 15-29, 2008) Interview with the Raveendran family