Raveendran

M. Raveendran (fondly called as "Raveendran Master") was a popular South Indian music composer 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.

Early life

Born in Kulathupuzha in Kollam in 1943, Raveendran joined The Swathy Thirunnal Sangeetha College, 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.

Musical career

He began his career as a playback...
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