K. Raghavan

K. Raghavan (Malayalam: കെ. രാഘവന്‍) (2 December 1913 – 19 October 2013), popularly known as Raghavan Master, was a Malayalam music composer. Along with G. Devarajan, V. Dakshinamoorthy and Baburaj, Raghavan was often credited for the renaissance of Malayalam film music. He was the pioneer in contributing Malyalam film songs with its own tunes and styles. Till then, Malayalam film songs were in the tunes of popular Hindi and Tamil film songs and old classical kritis. K. Raghavan gave a new direction and identity to Malayalam film music. As he searched for the right tune for the lyrics, little did K. Raghavan realise that he was about to compose history. He had composed around 400 songs in Malayalam Cinema and was active in Malayalam film industry for nearly four decades.

Personal life
Raghavan was born to folk singer M Krishnan and Narayani in Thalassery on 2 December 1913.
He died at the age of 99 on 19 October 2013 in Thalassery.

Early life
Raghavan was born in Thalassery, Kannur in the Indian state of Kerala to M. Krishnan and Narayani in 1913. He started studying classical music from his childhood and was also a good football player. His professional career was started as a tambura player in All India Radio, Chennai. In 1950 he got transferred to Kozhikode and there he got involved with film artists.

Music career
In a career spanning over four decades, he has scored music for more than sixty Malayalam films and many of his compositions remain ever green classics in Malayalam. Raghavan infused the folk element into Malayalam film music and his rustic melodies replaced the then prevailing trend of imitations of popular Hindi tunes of the day.He also composed songs for plays like Kerala People's Arts Club and All India Radio. And he dared try out a variety of voices to Malayalam film music, many of them were new. Mehboob, K. P. Brahmanandan, Balamuralikrishna, M. L. Vasanthakumari, A. P. Komala, Gayathri Srikrishnan, Santha P. Nair, A. M. Rajah, K. P. Udayabhanu, M.G. Radhakrishnan, P. B. Sreenivas, Vani Jayaram, Jikki, V. T. Murali, and G. Venugopal... they have all sung for him.

Awards
Civilian Awards by Govt. of India

2010 – Padma Shri
Kerala State Film Awards

1973 – Best Music Director
1977 – Best Music Director – Poojakedukkatha Pookkal.
1997 – Kerala State Film Award for Lifetime Achievement – J. C. Daniel Lifetime Achievement Award from the Government of Kerala
Other Awards

2000 – Best Lifetime Achievement Award
2006 – Swaralaya Yesudas Award
2011 – M. G. Radhakrishnan Award