| Raveendran രവീന്ദ്ര൯ |
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Raveendran Master with his Harmonium |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kulathupuzha Ravi കുളത്തൂപ്പുഴ രവി |
| Also known as | Raveendran Master, Ravi |
| Born | November 9, 1941 Kulathupuzha, Travancore, British India |
| Origin | Kulathupuzha, Kollam, Kerala |
| Died | March 3, 2005 (aged 63) Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Genres | Carnatic music, Hindistani Classical, Malayalam music, World Music |
| Occupations | Film composer, music director, singer |
| Instruments | Harmonium, Vocals |
| Years active | 1979–2005 |
| Website | harimuraleeravam.info |
M. Raveendran (Malayalam: രവീന്ദ്ര൯), fondly called as "Raveendran Master" was a popular South Indian music composer and Playback singer from Kerala. 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.
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Born in Kulathupuzha in Kollam in 9th November 1941, Raveendran joined the Swathi Thirunal College of Music, 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.
He began his career as a playback singer through the song "Parvanarajanithan" from a Malayalam film, Velliyazhcha. He then became a master and assosciated 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 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. The songs, "Thenum Vayambum…", "Ottakkambi Naadam…", "Pramadhavanam" 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 Kadha Ezhuthukayanu’, Nandanam, Rajashilpi, Bharatham, Aaram Thamburan etc. Especially the song "Pramadhavanam Veendum" from the movie His Highness Abdullah and "Harimuraleeravam" from Aram Thampuran were one of the most adored songs of that time. He shared a close relationship with actor Mohanlal.
Raveendran has composed many soulful melodies in the 1970s 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.
Some of his light music albums and devotional albums, which were most popular in the 1980's and 1990's through All India Radio and Audio Cassettes were Ulsava Gaanangal(Festival songs) (1983,1985), Vasantha Geethangal (1984), Ponnona Tharangini (1992), Amme Saranam Devi Saranam (1994), Sarana Theertham (1997) etc.
For list of Albums by Raveendran, see : Raveendran discography-Studio Albums.
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 in Chennai following a cardiac arrest on 3 March 2005. He was also suffering from lung cancer. His last works Vadakkumnadhan and Kalabham were released posthumously.
Books about Raveendran - 1) Raveendra Sangeetham : by M D Manoj, Olive Publishers on 2010 May. 2) Raveendra sangeetham Kelkatha ragangal : by Shobha(Raveendran Master's wife), on 2011
See Article: Raveendran Discography as a Playback Singer
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