K. Raghavan, popularly known as Raghavan master, was 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 realise that he was about to compose history.He had composed around 400 songs in Malayalam Cinema in the last active 4 Decades.

Early life

He was born in Thalassery, Kannur, Kerala to M. Krishnan and Narayani in 1913. He started studying classical music from his childhood and was also a good footballplayer. His professional career was started as a Tambura player in All India Radio, Chennai. In 1950 he got transferred to Calicut and there he got involved with film artists. He was passed away at a private hospital 19 October 2013 on Saturday morning. He was 99.

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. Bhaskaran 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 Club 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.

As a musician

• First Movie Pullimaan in (1951).
• Number of Movies 65
• Number of Songs 405
• 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 Shri

Kerala State Film Awards

• 1973 – Best Music Director
• 1977 – Best Music Director – Poojakedukkatha Pookkal.
• 1997 – Kerala State Film Award for Lifetime Achievement – J. C. Daniel Lifetime Achievement Award from the Government of Kerala

Other Awards

• 2000 – Best Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2006 – Swaralaya Yesudas Award
• 2011 – M. G. Radhakrishnan Award

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Raghavan (99) was keeping unwell for some time and was admitted to the Co-operative hospital here a few days back, family sources said.

Eminent music director K Raghavan, who infused Malayalam cinema music with a local flavour through his popular numbers, died in a hospital here in Thalassery.

Raghavan (99) was keeping unwell for some time and was admitted to the Co-operative hospital here a few days back, family sources said.

Known as Raghavan Master among colleagues and fans, he shot to fame through the 1950s hit "Neelakkuyil", an early realistic movie directed jointly by Ramu Karyat and P Bhaskaran. Raghavan himself sang one of the most popular songs in that film. He had been working in the industry for more than five decades.

Since then he had rendered music for over 400 films, which included milestone Malayalam movies like 'Nirmalyam', 'Utharayanam', 'Nagaramendi', 'Unniyarcha', 'Ramanan' and 'Kallichellamma.'

His partnership with lyricist P Bhaskaran resulted in a large number of hits which helped many movies in the 1960s and 70s become big hits.

A staff artist of All India Radio for long, he had also made significant contributions to Malayalam light music and drama.

He was the recipient of several honours, including Padma Shree and Kerala Government's highest film honour JC Daniel award.

http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/1905543/report-malayalam-music-legend-k-raghavan-passes-away