Unni Menon | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Nambalatt Naryanankutty Menon |
Born | Valanchery, Kerala, India | 2 December 1955
Genres | Film score, Devotional |
Occupation(s) | Singer, music director, actor |
Years active | Early 1980s–present |
Website | Official website |
Unni Menon (born 2 December 1955) is an Indian film playback singer. He has recorded over 4000 songs in many Indian languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. [1] In the early part of his career, he spent many years as a low-profile playback singer. [1] The turning point in his career came with the song "Pudhu Vellai Mazhai" from Mani Ratnam's award-winning 1992 Tamil film Roja , composed by A. R. Rahman.
Menon has frequently associated with A. R. Rahman, lending his voice to nearly 27 popular songs from films like Karuththamma (1994) and Minsaara Kanavu (1997).
Menon was born in Temple Town Guruvayur in the Thrissur district of Kerala on 2 December 1955 to V.K.S Menon and Malathy. His father was an officer in Tamil Nadu police and a native of Guruvayoor in Thrissur district. He did his schooling at Guruvayur and at Basel Evangelical Mission Higher Secondary School, Palakkad. [2] Later, he attended the Government Victoria College, Palakkad, from where he graduated with a degree in Physics. He exhibited great talent and enthusiasm for music in childhood, winning many prizes in competitions throughout his school and college days. [3]
Unni Menon is a Malayalam film playback singer. Kunjunni, a violinist for music director Ilaiyaraaja introduced him to B. A. Chidambaranath, a music director, and Unni's musical career was launched in 1981–82. His maiden song "Amudhum Thenum" was never released, but with "Pon maane kobam eno" he became a noted singer in 1984. [1]
He was a track singer and after listening to his tracks for the film, Kadathu, KJ Yesudas asked to the music director, Shyam, to make it straight. And after the huge success of the Kadathu songs ("Olangal Thaalam Thullumbol", "Punnaare Poonthinkale", etc.), Unni became a regular singer for the hit music director, Shyam. Shyam has given him a good number of popular songs like "Maanathe Hoori Pole" (Ee Naadu), "Valakilukkam Oru Valakilukkam" (Munnettam), "Kaayampoo Korthu Tharum" (Aarorumariyaathe) and "Thozhuthu Madangum Sandhyayumetho" (Aksharangal).
After Shyam's decline from the film music field, Unni's career in Malayalam film musicdom also went into shades. During that period, he has given some hit private albums such as Raagageethi and Raaga Lahari, with his contemporary playback singer, Ashalatha. Paanchajanyam, a Hindu devotional audio album on Lord Guruvayurappan, brought him a lot of fame in the Malayalam audio world.
Unni Menon moved to Chennai (then Madras) where he had a job in the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi. Many of the prominent recording studios of South India were located in Chennai. His interest in music led him to visit these studios regularly and formed acquaintances with many prominent artists like the singer K. J. Yesudas and composer Ilayaraaja. Soon he had graduated from singing tracks for prominent singers and was becoming a singer sought after by many music directors. [4]
In 1980s he had few lone hits, "Pon maane kobam eno" in Tamil film 'Oru kaidhiyin dairy', with a nickname Vijay, singing for Ilayaraja. His career got a major boost in 1992 when A. R. Rahman offered him the song "Puthu Vellai Mazhai".
In 2003, Unni Menon added a new dimension to his career when he acted and composed music for the Malayalam film Sthithi besides singing the songs in the film. [5]
Unni menon is the leading Singer in 2009 Malayalam Devotional Album Saranamanthram directed by Kamalan.
Year | Name of Television Show | Role | Network |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Super Singer Season 10 | Guest | Star Vijay |
Film Guidance Society of Kerala Film Awards:
North American Film Awards
Kalaimamani Honour by Tamil Nadu Government
List of tamil songs recorded by Unni Menon
Year | Movie | Song | Music Director | Lyrics | Co-artist(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1985 | Oru Kaidhiyin Diary | "Ponmaane" | Ilaiyaraaja | Uma Ramanan | |
1992 | Roja | "Pudhu Vellai Mazhai" | A. R. Rahman | Sujatha Mohan | |
1993 | Captain Magal | "Vaanambadi" | Hamsalekha | Sujatha Mohan | |
Gokulam | "Sevvanthi Poo" | Sirpy | P. Susheela | ||
Pudhiya Mugam | "Kannuku Mai Azhagu" | A. R. Rahman | |||
"Idhudhaan Vazhkai" | Sujatha Mohan | ||||
Thiruda Thiruda | "Veerapandi Kottayile" | A. R. Rahman | K. S. Chithra, Mano | ||
1994 | Chinna Madam | "Putham Puthu Oorukku" | Sirpy | ||
Karuthamma | "Poraale Ponnuthayi" | A. R. Rahman | Sujatha Mohan | ||
Sindhu Nathi Poo | "Kadavullum Neeyum" | Soundaryan | S. Janaki | ||
Veettai Paaru Naattai Paaru | "Petha Manam" | Deva | |||
1995 | Jameen Kottai | "Manichittu Thaalatile" | Sirpy | ||
Villadhi Villain | "Bombai Maami" | Vidyasagar | Sujatha Mohan | ||
1996 | Kizhakku Mugam | "Iniyenna Pechu"(Male) | Adithyan | ||
Mr. Romeo | "Mel Isaiyae" | A. R. Rahman | Swarnalatha, Srinivas, Sujatha Mohan | ||
Pudhu Nilavu | "Vanna Vanna Pookal" | Deva | |||
Take It Easy Urvashi | "Idhayathil Iruppavale" | Soundaryan | Swarnalatha | ||
Vishwanath | "Jil Endru Veesuthu" | Deva | |||
1997 | Minsara Kanavu | "Mana Madurai" | A. R. Rahman | K. S. Chithra, Srinivas | |
Pudhayal | "Ochamma Ochamma" | Vidyasagar | Uma Ramanan, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | ||
1998 | Uyire | "Poongkaatrilae" | A. R. Rahman | Swarnalatha | |
1999 | Jodi | "Kadhal Kaditham" | A. R. Rahman | S. Janaki | |
Kadhalar Dhinam | "Daandiyaa Aattamumaada" | A. R. Rahman | |||
"Enna Vilaiyazhagae" | |||||
Kudumba Sangili | "Petha Manasu" | Sirpy | Sujatha Mohan | ||
Maanaseega Kadhal | "Signal Kidaikatha" | Deva | Anuradha Sriram | ||
Ninaivirukkum Varai | "Anbe Nee Mayila" | Deva | Sujatha Mohan | ||
Pudhu Kudithanam | "Nilavukku Ennadi" | Deva | Harini | ||
Time | "Ninachapadi" | Ilaiyaraaja | |||
Unnaruge Naan Irundhal | "Poori Poori" | Deva | Swarnalatha | ||
2000 | Aval Paavam | "Ponnanaval" | Pradeep Ravi | ||
Chinna Chinna Kannile | "Chinna Chinna Kannile" | Sampath Selvan | |||
Eazhaiyin Sirippil | "Karu Karu Karupayi" | Deva | Anuradha Sriram | ||
"Sakkaravalli" | |||||
"Purave En"(Version ll) | Sujatha Mohan | ||||
James Pandu | "James Pandu Da" | S. A. Rajkumar | Mano | ||
Mugavaree | "Yeh Nilavae" | Deva | |||
Sathyaseelan | "Don't Miss Sagothara" | Vandemataram Srinivas | |||
Pennin Manathai Thottu | "Kannukkulle" | S. A. Rajkumar | |||
Rhythm | "Nadhiye Nadhiye" | A. R. Rahman | |||
Sabhash | "Paalai Keeley" | Deva | Anuradha Sriram | ||
Seenu | "Kuchalaambaal" | Deva | Harini | ||
Unakkaga Mattum | "Ammaadi Nee Enna" | Bobby Shankar | |||
"Kaadhal Seiya" | Srinivas | ||||
Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven | "Pethava Kanniru" | S. A. Rajkumar | |||
Vaanathaippola | "Mainave Mainave" | S. A. Rajkumar | K. S. Chithra | ||
Vaanavil | "Oh Penne"(Version ll) | Deva | Swarnalatha | ||
2001 | Aanandham | "Gokulathu Radhai" | S. A. Rajkumar | Sujatha Mohan, S. P. Charan | |
"Kalyana Vaanil" | Sujatha Mohan | ||||
Alli Thandha Vaanam | "Kannalay Miya Miya" | Vidyasagar | Sri Vardhini | ||
Kadal Pookkal | "Alai Alai" | Deva | Srinivas, Swarnalatha | ||
Love Channel | "Enge Ennathu Vennila" | Deva | Sujatha Mohan | ||
Poove Pen Poove | "Kannukuley" | Subhas Jawahar | |||
Shahjahan | "Minnalai Pidithu" | Mani Sharma | |||
Star | "Machha Machhiniye" | A. R. Rahman | Ganga Sitharasu | ||
2002 | 123 | "Hey Penne" | Deva | ||
Bala | "Poopoovai" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Ganga Sitharasu | ||
Gummalam | "Yaaro" | Gandhidasan | |||
Karmegham | "Etumula Veti Kati" | Vidyasagar | Antara Chowdhury | ||
Maaran | "Aanantham Aanantham" | Deva | Sujatha Mohan | ||
"Kannukulle" | |||||
Unnai Ninaithu | "Ennai Thalattum" | Sirpy | Pa. Vijay | Sujatha Mohan | |
"Yaar Indha Devathai" II | Pa. Vijay | ||||
Varushamellam Vasantham | "Enge Andha Vennila"(Male) | Sirpy | |||
Virumbugiren | "Thodu Thodu" | Deva | |||
2003 | Bheeshmar | "Nadagam Pol Vaazhkaiyila" | S. P. Venkatesh | ||
Chokka Thangam | "Ettu Jilla" | Deva | Anuradha Sriram | ||
Enakku 20 Unakku 18 | "Sandhippoma" | A. R. Rahman | Chinmayi | ||
Priyamaana Thozhi | "Penne Neyum Pennaa" | S. A. Rajkumar | Kalpana Raghavendar | ||
Sena | "Theerathathu Kathal" | D. Imman | Nithyasree Mahadevan | ||
Thennavan | "Vatta Vatta" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Padmalatha | ||
2004 | Autograph | "Ninaivugal Nenjil" | Bharadwaj | ||
Kangalal Kaidhu Sei | "Ennuyir Thozhi" | A. R. Rahman | P. Vijay | Chinmayi | |
2005 | Amudhae | "Anbe Adu Oru Kalam" | Sunil Xavier | Sujatha Mohan | |
Kicha Vayasu 16 | "Sila Neram" | Dhina | |||
Oru Kalluriyin Kathai | "Unakku Endru Oruthi" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Na. Muthukumar | ||
Thavamai Thavamirundhu | "Oru Muraidhan" | Sabesh–Murali | |||
Veeranna | "Manithaney Kalangathey" | Soundaryan | |||
2006 | Kasu | "Nee Oru Paarvai"(Duet) | V S Udhaya | Nirosha | |
"Nee Oru Paarvai"(Solo) | |||||
Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu | "Partha Mudhal" | Harris Jayaraj | Bombay Jayashri | ||
2007 | Achacho | "Pengal" | M K S Narula Khan | Mahathi | |
Rasigar Mandram | "Nilavae" | S P Boopathy | Reshmi | ||
Thirutham | "Kadhal Kanmaniye" | Pravin Mani | K. S. Chithra | ||
2008 | Ezhuthiyatharadi | "Kangalil Vanthathillai" | Sri Mahan | ||
Kadhal Endral Enna | "Margazhi Thimuttavaa" | K Bharathi | |||
Vedha | "Ennai Naan" | Srikanth Deva | |||
2009 | Aarupadai | "Poove Oru Naal" | Azhvar Sri | ||
Mariyadhai | "Yaar Parthathu"(Version ll) | Vijay Antony | |||
Unnai Kann Theduthe | "Kagetha Puveni" | Sirpy | K. S. Chithra | ||
2010 | Thenmerku Paruvakaatru | "Kallikkaattil Pirandha" | N. R. Raghunanthan | ||
2011 | 180 | "Santhikkadha Kangalil" | Sharreth | K. S. Chithra | |
2012 | Eppadi Manasukkul Vanthai | "Muthangal" | A J Daniel | Bombay Jayashri | |
Pathirama Pathukkunga | "Vaadukiren Paadukiren" | Sivaji Raja | |||
2017 | Tube Light | "Mella Vaa" | Indra | Vandana Srinivasan | |
2022 | The Legend | "Maya Maya" | Harris Jayaraj | Bombay Jayashree |
Year | Film | Song | Composer(s) | Co-Singer(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | Donga Donga | "Veera Bobbili" | A. R. Rahman | Mano, K. S. Chithra |
1994 | Vanitha | "Poodota Poochindanta" | A. R. Rahman | Sujatha Mohan |
1997 | 50 - 50 | "O Meghana" | A. R. Rahman | |
Merupu Kalalu | "Ooh La La La" | |||
1999 | Premikula Roju | "Vaalu Kannuladaana" | A. R. Rahman | |
"Dhaandiya" | Kavita Krishnamurthy, M. G. Sreekumar | |||
Time | "Oyyala Pandagochindhi" | Ilaiyaraaja | ||
2000 | Maa Annayya | "Maa Logililo" | S. A. Rajkumar | |
Rhythm | "Dhimtanana Dhimtanana" | A. R. Rahman | ||
2003 | Nee Manasu Naaku Telusu | "Kalusukundhama" | A. R. Rahman | |
2004 | Cheppave Chirugali | "Nannu Laalinchu"(Duet) | S. A. Rajkumar |
Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian playback singer and musician who sings Indian classical, devotional and film songs. He is widely considered one of the greatest singers in the history of Indian music and a cultural icon of Kerala. Yesudas is estimated to have recorded more than 50,000 songs in various Indian languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Tulu, Hindi, Odia, Bengali, Marathi as well as Arabic, English, Latin, and Russian, in a career spanning six decades. He is often referred to as Gaanagandharvan. Yesudas holds the record for singing 11 songs in different languages in a single day. He has also composed a number of Malayalam film songs during the 1970s and 1980s.
Kerala music has a complex history distinct from Malayalam poetry, with which it is often associated. Though it is often driven by poetry, Kerala also has its roots in Carnatic music. Songs have always been a significant part of early Malayalam literature dating back to the 9th century CE. The significance of music in Kerala's culture can be deduced from the musical poetry that developed in the Malayalam language long before prose. As music evolved in the region, various branches emerged from it
Hariharan Anantha Subramani is an Indian playback, bhajan and ghazal singer who predominantly sings in Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi and Telugu languages. He has also sung over 15,000 notable songs in 10+ languages including Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Sinhala, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Odia, Bengali, Sanskrit, Gujarati and English. He is an established ghazal singer and one of the pioneers of Indian fusion music. Hariharan is widely regarded as one of the greatest playback singers in Indian cinema.
Paliyath Jayachandran is an Indian playback singer and actor from Kerala. He has worked with many composers including G. Devarajan, M. S. Baburaj, V. Dakshinamoorthy, K. Raghavan, M. K. Arjunan, M. S. Viswanathan, Ilaiyaraaja, Koti, Shyam, A. R. Rahman, M. M. Keeravani, Vidyasagar and M Jayachandran. He has sung more than 16000 songs in total in different languages. He also acted in few films.
Madhavan Raveendran, alsoknown as Raveendran Master, was a South Indian music composer and playback singer from Kerala. He composed songs for more than 150 films primarily for the Malayalam and Tamil film industries. He also composed a few albums, including Vasantha Geethangal, Ponnonatharangini and Rithugeethangal. Raveendran composed melodies based on Hindustani Ragas also.
Swarnalatha was an Indian playback singer. In a career spanning almost 22 years, she recorded over 10,000 songs in many Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Oriya, Punjabi, and Badaga. Her beautiful voice is the reason behind her title “Queen of Tones In India”.
Harini is an Indian film playback and classical singer born and raised in Chennai. She sings predominantly in Tamil films, besides other language films such as Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films. She was first noticed by music director A. R. Rahman at a school competition where she was one among the winners. Eventually, she was signed in to record the song "Nila Kaigiradhu" for the film Indira (1995) when she was 15. The song went on to become one of the popular songs of the year and Harini began to get singing offers from other leading film composers.
Vani Jairam was an Indian playback singer in Indian cinema. She is fondly referred to as the "Meera of modern India" Vani's career started in 1971 and has spanned over five decades. She did playback for over one thousand Indian movies recording over 20,000 songs. In addition, she recorded thousands of devotionals and private albums and also participated in numerous solo concerts in India and abroad.
Sujatha Mohan is an Indian playback singer who is popular for singing in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu movies. She has also sung for Kannada, Badaga, Hindi and Marathi and more languages movies. As of 2021, she had recorded more than 18,000 songs. She is celebrated as the Melody Queen of South India, she is known by various affectionate titles: Bhava Gayika in Kerala, and Innisai Kuyil in Tamil Nadu. She was affectionately known as "Kavikkuyil Sujatha" in Ceylon due to her association with the hit song from the movie Kavikkuyil. She is also known for her extensive history of collaboration with music composers like A. R. Rahman, Ilaiyaraja, M. M. Keeravani, Koti, Vidyasagar, Mani Sharma, and with the playback singers K. J. Yesudas and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, over the years. Her husky voice and versatile singing style have garnered her a massive fan base.
Parakkal Unnikrishnan is an Indian Carnatic vocalist and playback singer.
Vasudevan, popularly known as Malaysia Vasudevan, was a prolific Malaysian Tamil playback singer and actor. Born in the town of Kuala Selangor in the Federated Malay States, he moved to Chennai, Tamil Nadu to work in the Kollywood film industry, where he rose to prominence. His voice was recently revived using AI in the song 'Manasilaayo' from the 2024 Tamil film Vettaiyan.
Vijay Yesudas is an Indian playback singer and actor. He has sung over 1000 film songs. Vijay works predominantly in the South Indian film industry, mostly in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi. He is the son of acclaimed singer K. J. Yesudas.
Venkateswaran Dakshinamoorthy was a veteran carnatic musician and composer and music director of Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi films. His work was predominantly in Malayalam cinema.
Srinivasan Doraiswamy, known by his stage name Srinivas or Jeans Srinivas, is an Indian playback singer in the Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi music industries. Credited to 3000 songs, he is also a music composer, working on projects including films, jingles, albums, television serials, and devotional albums. He received the Kalaimamani award by the Tamil Nadu state government in 2005 and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award twice for the songs "Minsara Poove" (Padayappa) in 1999 and "Maargazhiyil" in 2008. He has also received the Best Male Singer Kerala State Film Award for the song "Bhasuri" in 2007, the Film Critics Award for Best Composer for the movie "Seetha Kalyanam" in 2009, and Best Playback Singer for "Kaisi Hai Yeh Ruth".
Porayath Leela was an Indian playback singer, Carnatic vocalist, and a music director. She has recorded more than 5,000 songs in various Indian languages including Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, Sanskrit, Odia, Gujarati, Marati. and also Sinhale. She is also known for her extensive history of collaboration in the songs of composers v.Dakshinamoorthy, MS Baburaj, G Devarajan, ghantasala, MS Viswanathan, K. Raghavan, Br Lakshmanan, LPR Varma, BA chithambara athletes, AT ummer, MK Arjun, Johnson, ouseppachan, ilaiyaraja, and with the playback singers KJ Yesudas and Ghantalasa, over the years. Leela is known for her sweet and melodious voice that she named Ganamani. She was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2006. She made her debut as a playback singer in the 1948 Tamil film Kangkanam.
Nandanam is a 2002 Indian Malayalam-language romantic film written, co-produced and directed by Ranjith. The film stars Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Revathi, Navya Nair, Aravind Akash, Siddique and Saikumar. Playback singer K. J. Yesudas and Sudheesh make guest appearances. The film won four Kerala State Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards South awards.
"Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam" is a Tamil song composed by A. R. Rahman, penned by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and performed by several leading Tamil artistes of over three generations. It is the official theme song for the World Classical Tamil Conference 2010, encapsulating the contributions of Tamil culture and literature down the ages. The song, a tribute to the Tamil language, features a fusion of various musical styles, including Carnatic, folk, acoustic, Sufi, rock and rap.
This is the Tamil discography of veteran Indian male playback singer K. J. Yesudas, who sang in over 700 songs in Tamil films. He Sang the most in Tamil. Yesuda's first film was in the film Bommai (1963) as Neeyum Bommai Naanum Bommai composed by S. Balachander.
B. Vasantha is a South Indian playback singer. She has received two state level awards, the Kalaimamani and the Ugadi Award.
Mukesh Mohamed is an Indian playback singer. As a singer, he sings melody, folk and gana songs. He has sung more than 500 film songs in various Indian languages. He has also recorded a number of devotional albums. He has performed in numerous live concerts across the world, and has regular appearance in Ilaiyaraaja’s musical orchestras. Mukesh Mohamed has sung some songs including "Vaa Saamy" in Annatthe.