Baburaj

For actor, see Baburaj (actor).

M. S. Baburaj
Birth name	Mohammad Sabir Baburaj
Also known as	Baburaj, Babukka
Born	March 9, 1929(1929-03-09) Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Died	October 7, 1978(1978-10-07) (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. Baburaj has rendered music to many evergreen Malayalam film songs.

Early years

Baburaj was born on 9 March 1929 in 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.

Music career

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.

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 Cali cut 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 49.

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.

Many 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), 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 the end 1960s. The cassette was re-mixed and became an instant hit.Those audios gave audience a new impact on baburaj's compositions.

Most of Baburaj’s great songs came in the years around 1960s. Geniuses mostly go through their paths only. He never liked to walk on the professional path. But his non-professional attitude was his undoing. In those days where money was not immense for the artists, his earnings were spent and he had no savings. He was living his sorrow tunes in his own world. ‘Thrikkakkare theerthakkare’ in the 1978 film ‘Yagaswam’ directed by Hariharan_(director) was his last recorded song. He died an early death. While his songs were revered and they are immortal.

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.Baburaj was not a fertilized artist.He was and is a genius of his own.

Notable Songs

• Thamsamenthe Varuvan Pranasakhi (Why so late, my dear)
• Oru Pushpam Mathramen Hridayathil Sookshikkam (Only a flower do I treasure in my heart)
• Vaasantha Panjami Naalil (On that night of the full moon)
• Kaneerum Swapnangalum Vilkkuvanaayi Vannavan Njan (Tears and dreams have I come to offer you)
• Eeranuduthumkondambalam Chuttunna
• Surumayezhuthiya Mizhikale
• Pathiravayilla Pournamisandhyakku Pathinezhoe Pathinettoe Prayam
• PottathaPonnin Kinavu Kondoru Pattunoolonjala Ketti Njan
• Panja Varna Thatha Pole Konji Vanna Penne
• Pranasakhee Njan Verumoru
• Thaliritta Kinakkal Than Thamara Maala vangan
• Thaane Thirinjum Marinjum
• Sooryakanthee... Sooryakanthee...
• Oru Kochu Swapnathin Chirakumayi
• Anuraga Ganam Pole
• Kadale Neela Kadale
• Akale Akale Neelakasam
• Ikkarayanente Thamasam
• Anjana Kannezhuthi
• Arabi Kadaloru Manavatti
• Adyathe Kanmani
• Innente Karalile
• Nadikalil Sundari Yamuna
• Thamarakumbilallo Mama Hrudayam
• Ezhuthiyatharanu Sujatha
• Maamalakalkkappurathu
• Thedunnathaare shoonyathayil
• Anuraaga Nadakathin
• Innale Mayangumbol
• Aadanumariyaam

Partial filmography

The following is a incomplete list of movies that Baburaj had composed songs for. All the films are in Malayalam.

• Aaraadhika 1973
• Adyathe Kanmani 1995
• Agniputhri 1967
• Allahu Akbar 1977
• Ambalapraavu 1970
• Ammu 1965
• Anaadha 1970
• Anaarkali 1966
• Anchusundarikal 1968
• Anweshichu Kandethiyilla 1967
• Appooppan (Charithram Aavarthikkunnilla) 1976
• Azhimukham 1972
• Baalyakaalasakhi 1967
• Bhaagyajaathakam 1962
• Bhaaryaye Aavashyamundu (Samarppanam) 1975
• Bhadradeepam 1973
• Bhargaveenilayam 1964
• Bharthaavu 1964
• Bheekara Nimishangal 1970
• Bhrashtu 1978
• Chettathi 1965
• Chuzhi 1973
• Collector Malathi 1967
• College Beauty 1979
• Criminals (Kayangal) 1975
• Cross Belt 1970
• Dweepu 1977
• Eranakulam Junction 1971
• Gaandharvam (Kanakam) 1978
• Inspector 1968
• Iruttinte Aathmaavu 1967
• Kaamini 1974
• Kaarthika 1968
• Kaattumallika 1966
• Kaattuthulasi 1965
• Kadathukaaran 1965
• Kanakachilanka 1966
• Kandambecha Kottu 1961
• Karutha Kai 1964
• Karutha Raathrikal 1967
• Khadeeja 1967
• Koottukaar 1966
• Krishna Thulasi 1979
• Kuppivala 1965
• Kuttikkuppaayam 1964
• Kuttyedathi 1971
• Ladies Hostel 1973
• Laila Majnu 1962
• Lakshaprabhu 1968
• Lora Nee Evide 1971
• Love In Kerala 1968
• Maanikyakottaram 1966
• Maappusaakshi 1972
• Maayaavi 1965
• Manassu 1973
• Manaswini 1968
• Manpeda 1971
• Midumidukki 1968
• Minnaminungu 1957
• Moodupadam 1963
• Mudiyanaaya Puthran 1961
• Nathoon 1974
• Ninamaninja Kaalppaadukal 1963
• Njaan Ninne Premikkunnu 1975
• Olavum Theeravum 1970
• Paalaattu Koman (Konkiyamma) 1962
• Panimudakku 1972
• Pareeksha 1967
• Penmakkal 1966
• Poochakkanni 1966
• Porter Kunjaali 1965
• Priya 1970
• Pullimaan 1972
• Pushpasharam 1976
• Puthanveedu 1971
• Raathrivandi 1971
• Sambhavaami Yuge Yuge 1972
• Sandhya 1969
• Saraswathi 1970
• Sarppakkaadu 1965
• Soundarya Pooja 1973
• Srishti 1976
• Sthreedhanam 1975
• Subaida 1965
• Swarnna Malsyam 1975
• Thacholi Othenan 1964
• Thankakkudam 1965
• Tharavaattamma 1966
• Thommante Makkal 1965
• Udyogastha 1967
• Umma 1960
• Velliyaazhcha 1969
• Virunnukari 1969
• Vivaaham Swargathil 1970
• Yaagaaswam 1978
• Yatheem 1977

See also

• List of Indian composers

External links

• M.S. Baburaj at the Internet Movie Database
• M. S. Baburaj the genius
• Unforgettable Baburaj - The Hindu
• Baburaj singing Thane thirinjum marinjum...[1]
• MS Baburaj at MSI