| M. S. Baburaj | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Mohammad Sabir Baburaj |
| Also known as | Baburaj, Babukka |
| Born | March 9, 1929 Kozhikode, Kerala, India |
| Died | October 7, 1978 (aged 57) |
| Genres | Film score |
| Occupations | Composer, singer, instrumentalist, |
| Years active | 1957–1978 |
Mohammad Sabir Baburaj (Malayalam: എം.എസ്. ബാബുരാജ്), also known as M. S. Baburaj, was a Malayalam music composer. He is often credited for the renaissance of Malayalam film music.[1] Baburaj has rendered music to many evergreen Malayalam film songs.[2]
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Baburaj was born on 9th march 1929 at Calicut(kozhikode). His early childhood was spent in destitution and poverty. His father, Jan Muhammed Khan, who was a Hindustani musician from Bengal who frequently held concerts in Kerala, deserted his Malayali mother when he was very young, and returned to his native Kolkata. Baburaj thus became a semi-orphan, often singing songs in trains to make a living. But as luck would have it, a policeman, Kunjahammed (he was called Kunjahammed ka), an enthusiast of music, from his native town of Kozhikode, noticing the boy's vocal talents, decided to virtually adopt him.
One of his greatest achievements was the introduction Hindustani strains into Malayalam popular music. He successfully composed melodies based on Hindustani Ragas and blended Malayalam lyrics in them. Most of the lyrics were written by eminent poets of Kerala like P. Bhaskaran and Vayalar.[3]
Baburaj learned basic lessons of Hindustani music from his father from a very young age.But he could not learn it for long for his father went back to Bengal.In search of his father he went to Bengal and studied Harmonium there. He came back to Kerala but his life was miserable then. He sang on the streets of Calicut to earn his livelihood.
Later he started composing music for the malayalam dramas in the Malabar region and thus slowly entered into the field of music direction. In 1957, he composed music for the Malayalam film “Minna minungu”, thus entered the Malayalam film industry.
Baburaj was also an excellent singer and harmonium player.
The talented music director died on 7 October 1978 at the age of 57.
Baburaj-P. Bhaskaran-Yesudas was a Glittering Combination in the 60's and 70's. Most of his immortal classics were sung by K. J. Yesudas.
Some of his songs are considered as evergreen hits of Malayalam film music.
Baburaj though a successful composer, was never a careerist. Today, various clubs and musical organisations conduct many stage programs in honor of Baburaj (Babukka as known to his friends and acquaintances[4]), and their earnings are handed over to his family. The Manorama Music company, chanced upon an old audio cassette of Baburaj rendering some of his own compositions. It was recorded during those heady musical evenings that Baburaj and his friends occasionally indulged in during the 1960s. The cassette was re-mixed and became an instant hit.
Most of Baburaj’s great songs came in the years around 1967. Geniuses mostly go through their paths only. He never liked to walk on the professional path. He was addicted to liquor. But his non-professional attitude was his undoing. He became a pauper. In those days where money was not immense for the artists, his earnings were spent and he was again poor. He was living his sorrow tunes in his own world. ‘Thrikkakkare theerthakkare’ in the 1978 film ‘Yagaswam’ was his last main song. He was found unconscious near a railway track. He died an early death. While his songs were revered, the poverty of his family made news.
But the geniuses never complain. They are satisfied with their way of life. His songs are the most beloved songs of every Malayali. Hear it again and again and you will notice something new in it every time. So the Malayalis never stopped listening to it. Baburaj represents nostalgia.
The following is a incomplete list of movies that Baburaj had composed songs for. All the films are in Malayalam.