K. Raghavan

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = K. Raghavan

| image = K.raghavan.JPG

| image_size =

| landscape =

| alt =

| caption =

| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

| birth_name = Krishnan Raghavan

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| alias = Raghavan Master

| birth_date = {{birth date|1913|12|2|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Tellicherry, Malabar district, British India
{present-day Thalassery, Kannur district, Kerala, India

| origin =

| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|10|19|1913|12|2|df=yes}}

| death_place = Thalassery, Kerala, India

| genre = Indian classical, light music, mappila songs

| occupation = Musician, composer

| instrument = Tabla, keyboards, thambura, drums, vocals

| years_active = 1950 - 2013

| label = Gramophone Company India

| associated_acts =

| website =

}}

{{Indian name|Raghavan|Krishnan}}Krishnan Raghavan (2 December 1913 – 19 October 2013), also known as Raghavan MasterRaghavan Master, was an Indian music composer primarily known for his work in Malayalam cinema and as a carnatic vocalist. Along with G. Devarajan, V. Dakshinamoorthy and Baburaj, Raghavan is credited with contributing to the renaissance of Malayalam film music, pioneering the creation of Malayalam film songs with their own distinct tunes and styles. Before him, Malayalam film songs often imitated popular Hindi and Tamil film songs and old classical kritis. Raghavan helped establish a new direction and identity for Malayalam film music. He composed around 400 songs in Malayalam cinema over nearly four decades.{{cite news

|work = The Hindu

|title = Evergreen compositions

|url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2007/02/09/stories/2007020900950300.htm

|date = 9 February 2007

|access-date = 23 July 2009

|url-status = usurped

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090808064055/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2007/02/09/stories/2007020900950300.htm

|archive-date = 8 August 2009

|df = dmy-all

}} In 1997, he was honored with the J. C. Daniel Award, the Government of Kerala's highest honor for contributions to Malayalam cinema.

Early life

K. Raghavan was born in Tellicherry near Kannur in the erstwhile Madras Presidency (present-day Kerala) on 2 December 1913, to folk singer M. Krishnan and Narayani.{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Raghavan-Master-is-no-more-his-songs-are-forever/articleshow/24413003.cms | title=Raghavan Master is no more, his songs are forever | newspaper=Times of India | date=20 October 2013 | access-date=20 October 2013}} He began studying classical music in his childhood and also played football. He began his professional career as a tambura player in All India Radio, Madras and in 1950, he was transferred to Calicut, where he became involved with film artists.{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/music-director-raghavan-passes-away/article5252852.ece | title=Music director Raghavan passes away | work=The Hindu | date=19 October 2013 | access-date=20 October 2013}}

Career

Raghavan initiated a new trend in Malayalam film music with the release of the 1954 movie Neelakuyil. Renowned lyricist and Raghavan's friend P. Bhaskaran penned the songs in the film.Neelakkuyil Raghavan also sang one of the songs.Neelakkuyil The song Kayalarikathu valayerinjappol became an instant hit.{{cite news

|work = The Hindu

|title = CHORDS AND NOTES

|url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/02/20/stories/2006022001330400.htm

|date = 20 February 2006

|access-date = 23 July 2009

|url-status = usurped

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090806031636/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/02/20/stories/2006022001330400.htm

|archive-date = 6 August 2009

|df = dmy-all

}}

Music career

During his career spanning over four decades, he scored music for more than sixty Malayalam films, and many of his compositions remain classics.[http://www.malayalasangeetham.info/Composers/K_Raghavan.html MSI Musician Index – K. Raghavan] Raghavan brought folk elements into Malayalam film music, and his melodies replaced the imitation of popular Hindi tunes that prevailed at the time. He also composed songs for plays by groups such as the Kerala People's Arts Club and All India Radio. Most of his songs were written by P. Bhaskaran, and he introduced many new voices to Malayalam film music, including K. J. Yesudas, P. Jayachandran, P.Susheela, Mehboob, K. P. Brahmanandan, M. 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, M. G. Sreekumar, K. S. Chithra and Sujatha Mohan.

As a musician

First Movie Pullimaan (1951)
Number of Movies 65
Number of Songs 405
State Awards 2

Songs

Kayalarikathu...
Ellarum chollanu...
Nazhiyuripalu kondu...
Hrudaythin romancham...
Ekantha Kaamuka Ninte Manoratham ...
Shyamasundara pushpame...
Aattinakkareyakkare...
Poornendumukhiyodambalathil...
Nalikerathinte nattilenikkoru...
Manjani poonilavil...
Kathu sookshichoru...
Appozhe paranjille...
Manathe Mazhamukil malakale...
Anuragakkalariyil angathinu vannavale...
Pambukalkku maalamundu... (KPAC drama song)
Thalayku meethe... (KPAC drama song)

Personal life

Raghavan was married to Yashoda and had five children: three daughters and two sons. He died at the age of 99 on 19 October 2013 in Thalassery.[http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=140820 Mathrubhumi English – Legendary music director Raghavan master passes away] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022051853/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=140820 |date=22 October 2013 }} His younger brother, Lakshmanan, predeceased him.

Awards

Civilian Awards by Govt. of India

2010 – Padma Shri{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}

Kerala State Film Awards

1973 – Best Music Director for Nirmalyam
1977 – Best Music Director – Poojakedukkatha Pookkal.{{cite web |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawares.htm |title=STATE FILM AWARDS 1969 – 2008 |publisher=The Information & Public Relations Department of Kerala |access-date=23 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232254/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawares.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }}
1997 – J. C. Daniel Award from the Government of Kerala

Other Awards

1981 – Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaculture.org/light-music-ksna/459|title=Light Music|publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala|access-date=24 February 2023}}
2000 – Best Lifetime Achievement Award
2006 – Swaralaya Yesudas Award
2011 – M. G. Radhakrishnan Award{{cite web|url=http://www.kottaka.com/blog/2011/07/mg-radhakrishnan-award-goes-to-k-raghavan-master/|title=MG Radhakrishnan Award to Raghavan master|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127145131/http://www.kottaka.com/blog/2011/07/mg-radhakrishnan-award-goes-to-k-raghavan-master/|archive-date=27 November 2011|df=dmy-all}}

References

External links

{{IMDb name|0706481|name=K. Raghavan}}
[http://malayalasangeetham.info/songs.php?tag=Search&musician=K%20Raghavan&limit=405 Complete Listing of K Raghavan's Movie Songs]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20101120064215/http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/12/stories/2010111261050400.htm]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20081209021552/http://www.mysticswara.com/raghavan.aspx Raghavan the folk master]

Category:Malayalam film score composers

Category:Kerala State Film Award winners

Category:People from Thalassery

Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts

Category:1913 births

Category:2013 deaths

Category:20th-century Indian composers

Category:Film musicians from Kerala

Category:21st-century Indian composers

Category:Indian male film score composers

Category:20th-century Indian male singers

Category:20th-century Indian singers