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M. K. Arjunan

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M. K. Arjunan
എം. കെ. അർജുനൻ
Background information
Born. 1936-August.25.
Kerala, India
Died2020-April.06.
Kochi, Kerala, India
GenresFilm Music, Stage Play Music
Occupation(s)Film composer, music director
InstrumentHarmonium
Years active1950–present

M. K. Arjunan (Template:Lang-ml) (fondly called as Arjunan Master) was a Kerala State Award winning Malayalam music composer from Kerala, India. He is known for composing many melodies for Malayalam cinema [1].

Early Life

Losing his father (Kochukunju) at a young age, the burden of looking after a big family fell on his mother (Parvathi). Unable to provide for all her children she sent Arjunan and his brother, Prabhakaran, to Jeevakarunyananda Ashram at Palani. It was here that Arjunan got his first lessons in music. Every evening, after school, Arjunan would join the other children in singing bhajans. Noticing something different in the young boy, the head of the ashram decided to give him music lessons. For the next few years Arjunan began learning music under Kumarayya Pillai. [2]He later learnt music under K.N Vijayarajan Master.[3]

Career

During his youth, composing music was another turn in Arjunan's life. After attempts in small-time amateur plays, music composing grew into a serious hobby. Arjunan was soon sought after by almost every amateur troupe. He then graduated to the professional stage and was soon associated with top names like Changanassery Geedha, People's Theatre, Kalidasa Kalakendram, Desabhimani Theatres, Alleppey Theatres and KPAC. Arjunan Master went on to compose around 800 songs for 300 plays. This association grew into an intimate bond, which he maintains even today. [4]

The next step was cinema. At a time when stalwarts like K. Raghavan, G. Devarajan and M. S. Baburaj ruled the roost, Arjunan managed to break into the scene and establish an identity of his own. "karuthapurnami' was his debut movie as a composer which was released in 1968. His association with the leading lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi in almost 50 films was one of the most prolific composer-lyricist partnership in Malayalam film industry.[5]

During a career spanning 50 years in film field, Arjunan Master has scored music for more than 500 songs in over 218 Malayalam films.[6]

He is also credited with giving A. R. Rahman his first musical break by giving him a chance to play keyboards in a film.[7] [8]

Awards

References

  1. ^ "'You need to be lucky in the world of films': M. K. Arjunan". The Hindu.
  2. ^ "The Original Master of Melody". The Hindu.
  3. ^ "Half a century, not out". The Hindu. 6 February 2006. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Kerala State Awards: The master composer is rewarded after 50 years". The New Indian Express.
  5. ^ "Sweet end to a long wait". Deccan Chronicle.
  6. ^ "A long musical journey". The Hindu. 28 April 2006. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  7. ^ "Film fraternity hails Rahman, Pookutty for win". The Indian Express. India. 23 February 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Exclusive Interview with M K Arjunan master about A R Rahman". Malayala Manorama.


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