M. M. Keeravani
Koduri Marakathamani Keeravaani (born 4 July 1961), professionally known as M. M. Keeravani, is an Indian music composer, record producer, singer and lyricist, who predominantly works in Telugu cinema. His accolades include, eleven Nandi Awards, eight Filmfare Awards, two National Film Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a LAFCA Award and a Critics' Choice Movie Award. In 2023, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri for his contributions towards Indian cinema.[1]
M. M. Keeravani | |
|---|---|
Keeravani in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Koduri Marakathamani Keeravaani |
| Also known as | Maragathamani (Tamil, Malayalam) M. M. Kreem (Hindi) |
| Born | 4 July 1961 Kovvur, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Labels | |
| Spouse(s) | M. M. Srivalli |
Keeravani also worked for a few Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam films. He is best known for his compositions in works such as Kshana Kshanam (1991), Gharana Mogudu (1992), Allari Priyudu (1993), Criminal (1994), Subha Sankalpam (1995), Pelli Sandadi (1996), Devaraagam (1996), Annamayya (1997), Zakhm (1998), Student No.1 (2001), Jism (2003), Paheli (2005), Sri Ramadasu (2006), Magadheera (2009), Eega (2012), Baahubali (2015 and 2017), and RRR (2022).[2][3]
Early and personal life edit
Keeravaani was born into a Telugu speaking family in Kovvur of West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh to Koduri Siva Shakthi Datta, a lyricist and screenwriter.[4][2] He is the cousin of director S. S. Rajamouli, music composers M. M. Srilekha, Kalyani Malik, and writer S. S. Kanchi. He is the nephew of screenwriter V. Vijayendra Prasad.[4]
His wife M. M. Srivalli works as a line producer in films. His elder son, Kaala Bhairava, is a singer and has sung for his father's numerous compositions ("Dandalayya" song). His younger son, Sri Simha, made his debut with Mathu Vadalara (2019).[4]
Career edit
Keeravani first began his career as an assistant music director with Telugu composer K. Chakravarthy and Malayalam composer C. Rajamani in 1987.[5] He assisted in movies such as Collectorgari Abbayi and Bharathamlo Arjunudu in the late 1980s. During this time, he also sought the guidance of the veteran lyricist Veturi for over a year.[6]
Keeravani's first big break as an independent musician came with the film Kalki in 1990, but the film never got released and the soundtrack also went unnoticed.[2] It was director Mouli's 1990 film Manasu Mamatha that brought him to the limelight and was considered his first released movie. However, it was Ram Gopal Varma's blockbuster film Kshana Kshanam (1991) that made Keeravani an established music director.[2] All the songs of this movie went on to become top chartbusters and Keeravani was flooded with offers from all across south Indian film industries. His first major Hindi film was Criminal (1994).[7]
Keeravani mentions Ilaiyaraaja, John Williams and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan as composers who influenced him. Some of the films which inspired his music include Fiddler on the Roof (1971), Coming to America (1988), and Phone Booth (2002).[8]
Discography edit
Awards and nominations edit
Keeravani won the Oscar Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for "Naatu Naatu" for the 2022 Telugu film RRR.[9] He received a National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the 1997 Telugu film Annamayya. He is also a recipient of eight Filmfare Awards, eleven Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Awards, and a Tamil Nadu State Film Award.[10] He was also nominated for Saturn Award for Best Music for Baahubali: The Beginning (2015).[11][3]
Civilian Honours
- 2023 – Padma Shri, Government of India,[12]
- 45th - National Film Award for Best Music Direction (Songs) for Annamayya (1997)
- 69th - National Film Award for Best Music Direction (Background Score) for RRR (2022)
International Awards
| Year | Award[a] | Category | Film | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Academy Awards | Best Original Song for "Naatu Naatu" (Shared with Chandrabose) | RRR | Won | |
| Austin Film Critics Association | Best Original Score | Nominated | |||
| 2022 | Boston Society of Film Critics | Won | |||
| Chicago Film Critics Association | Nominated | ||||
| 2023 | Critic's Choice Movie Awards | Best Song for "Naatu Naatu" | Won | ||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Original Song for "Naatu Naatu" (Shared with Chandrabose) | Won | |||
| Georgia Film Critics Association | Best Original Song for "Naatu Naatu" (Shared with Kaala Bhairava, Rahul Sipligunj) | Runner-up | |||
| 2022 | Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Best Original Score in an Independent Film (Foreign Language) | Nominated | ||
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | Best Music | Won | [13] | ||
| 2023 | Satellite Awards | Best Original Song for "Naatu Naatu" (Shared with Kaala Bhairava, Rahul Sipligunj) | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Saturn Awards | Best Original Score | Baahubali: The Beginning | Nominated |
| Year | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Best Music Director – Telugu | Kshana Kshanam | Won | [14] |
| 1993 | Allari Priyudu | Won | [15] | |
| 1994 | Criminal | Won | [15][16] | |
| 1995 | Subha Sankalpam | Won | [15] | |
| 1996 | Pelli Sandadi | Won | [15] | |
| 2005 | Chatrapathi | Nominated | ||
| 2009 | Magadheera | Won | [15] | |
| 2010 | Vedam | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | Rajanna | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Eega | Nominated | [17] | |
| 2015 | Baahubali: The Beginning | Nominated | [18] | |
| 2017 | Baahubali 2: The Conclusion | Won | [19] | |
| 2017 | Best Lyricist – Telugu | Baahubali 2: The Conclusion | Won | [19] |
| Year | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Best Music Director | Rajeswari Kalyanam | Won | [20] |
| 1993 | Best Music Director | Allari Priyudu | Won | [20] |
| 1995 | Best Music Director | Pelli Sandadi | Won | [20] |
| 2001 | Best Male Playback Singer | Student No.1 | Won | [20] |
| 2002 | Best Music Director | Okato Number Kurradu | Won | [20] |
| 2005 | Best Music Director | Chatrapathi | Won | [20] |
| 2009 | Best Music Director | Vengamamba | Won | [21] |
| 2010 | Best Male Playback Singer | Maryada Ramanna | Won | [22] |
| 2012 | Best Music Director | Eega | Won | [23] |
| 2015 | Best Music Director | Baahubali: The Beginning | Won | [24] |
| 2015 | Best Male Playback Singer | Baahubali: The Beginning | Won | [24] |
- 1991 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director for Azhagan - Won
- 2003 – Santosham Best Music Director Award for Gangotri – Won
South Indian International Movie Awards
- 2018 – SIIMA Award for Best Music Director (Telugu) for Baahubali 2: The Conclusion – Won[25]
- 2021 – SIIMA Award for Best Lyricist (Telugu) for NTR: Kathanayakudu – Nominated
See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ Awards, festivals and organizations are in alphabetical order.
References edit
- ^ Aparna Banerjea (25 January 2023). "Padma Awards 2023 | 'RRR' fame composer MM Keeravaani honoured with Padma Shri". Moneycontrol.com. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d "MM Keeravani turns 58: Peppy chartbusters composed by the legendary Pan-Indian musician". The Times of India. 4 July 2019. from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Golden Globes 2023: Naatu Naatu's Pan-Indian 'mystery composer' and his six iconic Hindi film songs". Moneycontrol.com. 11 January 2023. from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ a b c "Keeravani: సాహోరే... కీరవాణీ". Eenadu (in Telugu). 22 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ "Interview with composer Keeravani | Onam Special Programme". from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ Stars : Star Interviews : Interview with M M Keeravani 13 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Keeravani's music for a Bollywood film
- ^ "After winning a Golden Globe award for Naatu Naatu, MM Keeravani says 'My inspiration comes from John Williams, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan…'". The Indian Express. 11 January 2023. from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "M.M. Keeravani on 'Naatu Naatu' Oscars win: It's just the beginning of everything". The Hindu. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ "Keeravani presented Rotary Vocational Excellence Award". The Hindu. 4 November 2012. from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ^ The man in demand | Deccan Chronicle 15 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "MM Keeravani, SM Krishna, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, KM Birla: Full list of 2023 Padma Awardees". The Indian Express. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
- ^ Feinberg, Scott (15 January 2023). "L.A. Film Critics Awards: 'Everything Everywhere' and 'Tár' Celebrated, Honorees Clap Along to 'RRR' Song "Naatu Naatu"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "39th Annual Filmfare Telugu Best Music Film Actress Winners : Santosh…". Archived from the original on 7 February 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "M.M. KEERAVANI AWARDS". The Times of India. from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "42nd filmfare awards south Telugu & Malayalam winners : Santosh : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". 4 February 2017.
- ^ . Filmfare. 4 July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ Hooli, Shekhar H. (8 June 2016). "63rd Filmfare Awards (South) 2016 nominations list revealed: 'Baahubali,' 'Srimanthudu' lead Telugu movies list". International Business Times, India Edition. from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ a b "65th Jio Filmfare Awards South 2018: Complete winners' list". The Times of India. 17 June 2018. from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2020.(in Telugu)
- ^ "Nandi Film Awards G.O and Results 2009". APFTVTDC. from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Nandi Film Awards G.O and Results 2010". APFTVTDC. from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Nandi Film Awards G.O and Results 2012". APFTVTDC. from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Nandi Film Awards G.O and Results 2015". APFTVTDC. from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ . SIIMA. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.