M. G. Radhakrishnan

Malabar Gopalan Nair Radhakrishnan (29 July 1940 – 2 July 2010) was an Indian music director and Carnatic vocalist from Kerala.

M.G. Radhakrishnan
M.G. Radhakrishnan
Background information
Birth nameMalabar Gopalan Nair Radhakrishnan
Born(1940-07-29)29 July 1940
Haripad, Kerala, India
Died2 July 2010(2010-07-02) (aged 69)
GenresMusic Director
Carnatic music
Composer
Occupation(s)Music Director
Years active1978–2010

Personal life

M. G. Radhakrishnan was born on 29 July 1940 at Haripad, in Alappuzha district, Kerala as the elder son of music composer and Harmonist Malabar Gopalan Nair and Harikatha exponent Kamalakshi Amma.[1] He was the eldest of their three children. He had his college education from the S. D. College, Alappuzha, and took Ganabhooshanam from Swati Tirunal Music Academy. Prominent singer K. J. Yesudas was one of his classmates there. His younger brother M. G. Sreekumar is a leading playback singer in Malayalam and Tamil cinema[2] and his younger sister K. Omanakutty is a famous carnatic vocalist and academician. He died on 2 July 2010 in a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram due to liver disease, less than a month short of his 70th birthday. He was later cremated with full state honours at Santhikavadam crematorium in Thaycaud, Thiruvananthapuram.

Career

M. G. Radhakrishnan was a disciple of Sree Vidyadhiraja Hridayanjali,[3] an Indian ascetic, and composed music for the ascetic's lyrics,[3] which was sung by his younger sister Dr. K Omanakutty,[3] a Carnatic vocalist. In his official capacity, Radhakrishnan worked as a staff and become the senior music composer (Grade 1) in Akashvani, Trivandrum. In 1962, he joined All India Radio as music composer. He used to conduct a 15-minute light music class through AIR, which made him music lovers' favourite.

He made his debut in cinema as a playback singer through "Unniganapathiye..." from Kallichellamma (1969), which had music composed by K. Raghavan. His famous songs as a vocalist include "Sharike Sharike" from Sharashayya, "Pallanayattin Theerathu" from Ningalenne Communist Aakki etc. Some of his notable concert performances were at N S S Headquarters at Changanassery and at Karrikkakom Chamundeswary Temple at Thiruvananthapuram. He then focussed at composing light music with most of them becoming big hits. Singers Sujatha, G. Venugopal etc. were first introduced through his non-filmy songs.

His debut film as a music director was G. Aravindan's Thampu (1978). The songs were fairly noticed, however the first notable work by M.G. was Thakara (1980). Songs from this film, Mouname Mouname and Kudayolam Bhoomi won him several accolades and fame. The other major works by him include Adwaitham, Devasuram, Manichithrathazhu, Rakkuyilin Rajasadassil and Ananthabhadram, which was his last work.

He has also composed the poems of Kamala Surayya, a famous Indian writer, through the album Surayya Padunnu.[4]Radhakrishnan introduced K. S. Chithra, a singer and a student of Omanakutty, to the film and music industry by employing her in the film Attahaasam.[5][6]

Death

Radhakrishnan died from liver cirrhosis on 2 July 2010 at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.[7] He was admitted there a week ago after his condition worsened, and was in ventilator since then. He was less than a month short of his 70th birthday when he died. He was cremated with full state honours at Thaikkad Santhikavadam electronic crematorium on the next day. He is survived by his son M. R. Rajakrishnan (who is famous on his own right as a sound recordist), daughter Karthika, granddaughters Nandana and Gowriparvathi, sister Dr. K. Omanakutty and brother M. G. Sreekumar. His wife Padmaja, who outlived him for nearly ten years, died on 15 June 2020 after suffering a heart attack.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards

Asianet Film Awards

Filmography

# Film Film director Year
1 Thampu G Aravindan 1978
2 Thiranottam Ashok Kumar 1978
3 Thakara Bharathan 1980
4 Aaravam Bharathan 1980
5 Njan Ekananu P Chandrasekhar 1982
6 Poochakkoru Mookkuthi Priyadarshan 1984
7 Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya Priyadarshan 1985
8 Rakkuyilin Ragasadassil Priyadarshan 1986
9 Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi Priyadarshan 1986
10 Geetham Sajan 1986
11 Sarvakalashala Venu Nagavally 1987
12 Jaalakam Harikumar 1987
13 Nombarathi Poovu Padmarajan 1987
14 Vellanakalude Nadu Priyadarshan 1988
15 Adhwaytham Priyadarshan 1992
16 Manichithrathazhu Fazil 1993
17 Devaasuram I. V. Sasi 1993
18 Ammayane Satyam Balachandra Menon 1993
19 Kashmeeram Rajiv Anchal 1994
20 Agnidevan Venu Nagavally 1995
21 Thakshashila Sreekumar Krishnan Nair 1995
22 Rakthasakshikal Sindabad Venu Nagavally 1998
23 Stalin Sivadas T S Suresh Babu 1999
24 Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu T. K. Rajeev Kumar 1999
25 Pilots Rajiv Anchal 2000
26 Narasimham Shaji Kailas 2000
27 Praja Joshi 2001
28 Meghasandesham Rajasenan 2001
29 Nariman K. Madhu 2001
30 Kattu Vannu Vilichappol Sasi Paravoor 2001
31 Achaneyanenikkishtam Suresh Krishna 2002
32 Yanam Sanjay Nambiar 2004
33 Ananthabhadram Santhosh Sivan 2005

References

  1. "Harippad honed his talents". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  2. Singing from the soul; Saraswathy Nagarajan, The Hindu, 2005-06-24; Retrieved: 2007-09-03
  3. Chords & Notes Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine; The Hindu, 2002-11-28; Retrieved: 2007-09-03
  4. Poetic songs of Kamala Suraiyya; NJ Nair, The Hindu, 2005-06-10; Retrieved: 2007-09-03
  5. K.S Chitra's Melodious Voice Archived 2007-09-11 at the Wayback Machine; Dhanyasree .M, One India Retrieved: 2007-09-03
  6. A pleasant surprise; The Hindu, 2005-01-28; Retrieved: 2007-09-03
  7. "Music director M G Radhakrishnan passes away". Oneindia. 3 July 2010. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
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