Kaayalarikathu valayerinjappol vala kilukkiya sundari (Neelakkuyil) and Appozhum paranjille poranda porandaannu (Kadamba). These are just two of the many all-time hits composed by K Raghavan Master, a recipient of this year’s Padmasree award. When we consider the contribution of this outstanding composer to music, this award comes as a belated honour for the maestro.
Raghavan Master paved a track of his own in Malayalam film music by exploring the untapped nostalgia of folk tunes. If Devarajan Master imbibed the popular carnatic ragas for his songs and M S Baburaj gave Hindustani musical wings to his immortal tunes, Raghavan Master breathed life into his songs through a comparatively simple but catchy folk tunes.
“Malayalis are music lovers,” Raghavan Master shared his musical thoughts with Expresso. “Whether it is a religious ceremony, a marriage or harvesting, music is the medium to express our emotions”.
Pulluvanpattu, kalampattu, njaattupattu, vanchipattu, sopanam and oppana are some of them, he said. “They reflect the soul of the performer because his ultimate aim is to express his inner feelings and than showcasing his technical skill”.
There was a time when the music scene of Malayalam filmdom was under the grip of carnatic music. Raghavan’s entry with simple folk tunes breathed fresh air into Malayali minds. “Carnatic music can communicate only with the higher and more intellectual section of the society. But music expressed effectively in simple tunes appeals to all".
We can enjoy the oppana of North Malabar in his famous song Manassinullil mayakkam kollum (Thurakkaatha Vaathil). The divinity of pulluvanpattu comes through in Sree mahadevan thante’ (Nirmalyam). Aattinakkare (Ummachu) echoes the soulful tune of a Kuttanadan vanchipattu.
Though Devarajan and Baburaj scored the poetic songs of Vayalar Rama Varma and P Bhaskaran, Raghavan gave musical wings to the soulful poems of Changampuzha and Edasseri for the celluloid version of Changambuzha’s ‘Ramanan’ and M T Vasudevan Nair’s ‘Nirmalyam’. How can one forget the mellifluous lines like Kaanana chaayayil aadu mekkan or Velllinakshathrame ninne nokki (Ramanan)! Raghavan made his entry into Malayalam cinema music by scoring and singing the immortal lines of P Bhaskaran, Kaayalarikathu.
‘Neelakkuyil’ (1954), the first musical movie in Malayalam, was a joint venture of a group of eminent film personalities like Ramu Kariat, P Bhaskaran, Uroob and A Vincent. Persuaded by poet turned director P Bhaskaran, Raghavan Master composed a handful of memorable melodies including Engine nee marakkum sung by Kozhikode Abdul Khader and Ellaarum chollanu sung by Janamma David.
Almost all songs created by the K Raghavan- P Bhaskaran team appealed to the masses. That list includes songs like the popular Manjani poonilavil (Nagarame Nandi), Annu ninne kandathil pinne anuraagam enthennu njaanarinju (Unniyaarcha).
Many celebrities in Malayalam filmdom made their celluloid entry with the musical wings provided by Raghavan Master. Vayalar Rama Varma, the legendary poet turned lyricist, entered the film music arena through the famous song Thumbee thumbee vaa vaa (Koodapirappu) sung by Santha P Nair. Director G Aravindan chose Raghavan Master to compose music for his debut celluloid venture ‘Uthraayanam’. The slow paced meditating mood provided by him made the song Hrudayathin romaancham sung by K J Yesudas a haunting melody. Writer turned director M T Vasudevan Nair didn’t think twice before selecting Raghavan as the music director of ‘Nirmalayam’. The songs Sree mahadevan thante, Samayamayi samayamaayi and the Swathi padam Panimathi mukhibaale are cherished by music lovers. Singer K P Udayabhanu entered the filmdom through Master’s song in the film ‘Nayaru pidicha pulival’.
It was Raghavan who gave a break to P Jayachandran and Brahmanandan through his film ‘Kallichellamma’. The songs Karimukil kaattile and Maanathe kaayalin manappuranthinnoru are evergreen numbers of the singers. M G Radhakrishnan sang Unni ganapathiye for the same film in a kakkarassinatakam style.
Master proved his talent in composing songs for vadakkan paattu kathakal. How can one forget the sweet melody Maanathe mazhamukil maalakale sung by P Susheela! Yesudas’ Naalikerathinte naattilenikkoru (Thurakkatha Vaathil) amd Shyama sundara pushpame (Yudhakandam) remain fresh in the minds of music buffs.
After a long gap, Master sang for the late P N Menon’s ‘Kadamba’. Within no time Malayalis fell in love with the song Appolum paranjille.
Keralites will cherish his Padmasree as an approval of the music they have always kept close to heart.
kochi@expressbuzz.com