Madhavan Raveendran (born Kulathupuzha, Kollam, 9 November 1943 – died Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 3 March 2005), fondly known as “Raveendran Master”, was a popular South Indian music composer and playback singer from Kerala. He was 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.
Early life
Raveendran was born on 9 November 1943 in Kulathupuzha, a small village in the present-day Kollam district, as the seventh child (of nine children) of (both late) Madhavan and Lakshmi. His early life was filled with poverty, and he tried hard to complete studies. After his school days, he went to Swathi Thirunal Music College in Thiruvananthapuram, where he met with K. J. Yesudas, thus starting a great friendship. Later, he went to Chennai (Then Madras) for fulfilling his wish to be a playback singer, and 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 and associated with many Malayalam composers. He also dubbed voices for films during this time.
The famous 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, commissioned Raveendran to compose the music for Choola (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. With the release of Thenum Vayambum (1981), Raveendran made his mark in the film field. In 1982, for his close friend, director P. Venu 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 Thenum Vayambum, Amaram, His Highness Abdullah, Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu’, Nandanam, Rajashilpi, Bharatham 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.
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).
Personal life
He was married to Shobha and has three sons. His youngest 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 Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil films.
He died at his home in Chennai following a cardiac arrest on 3 March 2005, aged only 61. He was suffering from throat cancer for a long time. His last works Vadakkumnadhan and Kalabham were released posthumously in 2006.
Selected discography
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As a playback singer
He started his career as a playback singer for the 1969 movie Velliyazhcha for which the songs were composed by M. S. Baburaj. His first song was titled “Parvana rajanithan”. For a decade, he struggled to get songs and even become a dubbing artist for films. As a music director, he sang some of his songs.
Major awards
National Film Awards:
- 1992 – Special Mention – Bharatham
Kerala State Film Awards:
- 1991 – Best Music Director – Bharatham
- 2002 – Best Music Director – Nandanam
Filmfare Awards South:
- 1990 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam – His Highness Abdullah[1]
- 1991 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam – Bharatham [2]
- 1995 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam – Mazhayethum Munpe
- 2006 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam – Vadakkumnadhan
Asianet Film Awards:
- 2006 – Best Music Director –Vadakkumnadhan
Notable songs
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