M. K. Arjunan ( ml, എം.കെ. അർജുനൻ; 1 March 1936 – 6 April 2020) was an Indian film and theatre composer, known for his works in

Malayalam cinema Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, '' Elippathaya ...

and the theatre of Kerala. He was fondly referred to as ''Arjunan Master''.

Early life

Arjunan was born at Chirattapalam in

Fort Kochi Fort Kochi, Fort Cochin in English, Cochim de Baixo ("Lower Kochi") in Cochin Portuguese creole, is a neighbourhood of Cochin (Kochi) city in Kerala, India. Fort Kochi takes its name from the Fort Manuel of Cochin, the first European for ...

(now part of India) on 1 March 1936 as the youngest of 14 children born to Kochukunju and Paru, among whom only four survived childhood. He lost his father at a young age and his mother (Parvathi), unable to provide for all her children, sent Arjunan and his brother, Prabhakaran, to Jeevakarunyananda Ashram at

Palani Palani ( or ''Palni'' as in British records, is a town and a taluk headquarters in Dindigul district of the western part of Tamil Nadu state in India. It is located about south-east of Coimbatore and north-west of Madurai, from Kodaik ...

where Arjunan got his first lessons in music. After school, the students would sing

bhajans Bhajan refers to any devotional song with a religious theme or spiritual ideas, specifically among Indian religions, in any language. The term bhajanam ( Sanskrit: भजनम्) means ''reverence'' and originates from the root word ''bhaj'' ...

; his singing led the head of the ashram to give him music lessons. For the next few years Arjunan learned music Kumarayya Pillai. He later learnt music under K.N Vijayarajan Master.

Career and death

After composing music for amateur plays, he became a professional and worked with Changanassery Geedha, People's Theatre, Kalidasa Kalakendram, Desabhimani Theatres, Alleppey Theatres and KPAC. Arjunan went on to compose around 800 songs for 300 plays. Arjunan's first movie as a composer was ''Karuthapurnami'', released in 1968. His association with the leading lyricist

Sreekumaran Thampi Sreekumaran Thampi (born 16 March 1940) is an Indian lyricist, music director, director, producer, and screenwriter in Malayalam cinema. He also writes poetry and is a recipient of the Vallathol Award. In 2017, he was awarded the J. C. Daniel ...

in almost 50 films was one of the most prolific composer-lyricist partnerships in Malayalam film industry. During a career spanning 50 years in cinema, Arjunan scored music for more than 500 songs in over 218 Malayalam films. He is also credited with giving

A. R. Rahman Allah Rakha Rahman (; born A. S. Dileep Kumar; 6 January 1967) is an Indian music composer, record producer, singer and songwriter, popular for his works in Indian cinema; predominantly in Tamil and Hindi films, with occasional forays in int ...

his first musical break by giving him a chance to play keyboards in a film. He died on 6 April 2020, at Kochi, Kerala. His last film was ''Vellaram Kunnile Vellimeenukal'', with songs written by

Rajeev Alunkal Rajeev Alunkal is a prominent poet, lyricist, music director and malayalam orator. He is best known for writing lyrics on romantic and philosophical themes. He has written numerous poems and songs. He is the former Chairman of Kumaranashan Smar ...

. His last music composition was on 2019 December for Sreek Music's three love songs written by lyricist Sreekanth M Girinath He died at his home at 3:30 AM IST on 6 April 2020, aged 84, and was cremated with full state honours at Palluruthy crematorium on the same day. Due to

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quick ...

, his funeral was conducted under strict protocols.

Discography

Awards

48th Kerala State Film Awards The 48th Kerala State Film Awards, presented by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy were announced by the Minister for Cultural Affairs, A. K. Balan in Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram (; ), also known by its former name Trivandrum ...

for

Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director Kerala ( ; ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

- 2017-Bhayanakam *

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards The Kerala Film Critics Association Awards are presented annually by the Kerala Film Critics Association to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Malayalam language film industry of India. The awards were instit ...

2018 - Chalachitra Rathna award *Mazhavil Mango Music Awards - 2018-Lifetime achievement *Thudi cultural forum K Raghavan puraskaram - 2019

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Arjunan, M. K. Indian male composers Malayalam film score composers Malayali people Film musicians from Kerala 2020 deaths 20th-century Indian composers 1936 births Male film score composers 20th-century male musicians