Ramesh Narayan

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Ramesh Narayan
Ramesh Narayan.jpg
Ramesh Narayan in 2015
Background information
Born (1959-11-03) 3 November 1959 (age 64)
Kuthuparamba, Kannur, Kerala India
Occupation(s)
  • Indian Classical Singer
  • Music Composer
  • Music Director
  • Music Producer
Years active1972–present
Website rameshnarayan.com
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • Sitar
  • Guitar
  • Harmonium
Labels

Ramesh Narayan (born 3 November 1959) is an Indian classical vocalist, composer and music producer who works predominantly in Malayalam cinema. [1] He belongs to the Mewati gharana of Hindustani classical music. [2] Narayan began his initial training in Carnatic music and later mastered the classical Hindustani style under the renowned Pandit Jasraj. [3]

Contents

Narayan began his career composing score music for documentaries, films and Indian television programs in Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil. He composed and sung the national integration song Saur Mandal Mein Tim Tim [4] in 1996, directed by Jnanpith Award laureate M.T. Vasudevan Nair for Lok Seva Sanchar Parishad. Narayan's film-scoring career began in the early 1990s with the Malayalam film Magrib. His notable works include Garshom, Meghamalhar, Saira, Makalkku, Rathri Mazha, Paradesi (2007 film), Manjadikuru Adaminte Makan Abu Veettilekkulla Vazhi, Makaramanju, Edavappathy, Ennu Ninte Moideen, Suryakantha etc.

Narayan has earned National Film Awards, four Kerala State Film Awards, two Kerala Film Critics Association Awards, four Kerala state Television awards, two Kerala State Television Critics Award, two Madrid Imagine India Film festival Award. In 2007, he received the Indian Music Academy Award for popularizing Hindustani classical music in Kerala from the then President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

Narayan became popular by performing a 36-hour vocal recital as part of celebrating the 100 years of Indian Cinema at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. This performance got him an entry to the Limca Book of Records 2013 for completing the 24 hour raga cycle. In 2023, he was honoured with Kerala Sree Award, third highest civilian award given by the Government of Kerala. [5]

Early life

Narayan was born in Kuthuparamba, Kannur, Kerala in a family of Carnatic musicians. He received his early lessons in music from his parents. His father Narayan Bhagavathar was a Carnatic musician and his mother Narayani Amma was musical as well. The artistic ambience the family during his early childhood left a lasting impression on him and inspired Narayan to pursue his training in Carnatic music until the age of 20. [6]

During his university years at the Government Music College, Chitoor, Narayan was drawn to Hindustani music. His brother Ramdas, who was based in Pune, supported his dream to study Hindustani music and introduced Narayan to the city of Pune.

Career

Upon moving to Pune, he learnt Sitar under the tutelage of Satchidananda Phadke, a disciple of sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar. After learning sitar, he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya to study Hindustani vocal, and took his "Visharad" degree. Narayan said that he "felt entranced by the style of Pandit Jasraj" and decide to hone his talent and technique under Jasraj, who belongs to the Mewati Gharana. Pandit Jasraj gave him rigorous training for more than seven years in the "subtler aspects of music". Narayan accompanied Pandit Jasraj during several of his concerts. [7] One of his feats is a 30-hour concert he performed as a dedication to his father, the late Narayana Bhagavathar, and to Pandit Motiram, an exponent of the Mewati gharana.

Narayan has composed music for feature films and television serials such as Gharshom, Elayum Mullum, Magrib, Meghamalhar, Makalkku, Anyar and Sheelabathi.

His latest work include a ghazal song Nee poyathil pinne written by Jose Manuel Motha in 2020.

Personal life

Ramesh Narayan is accompanied at many of his concerts by his wife Hema. She is a Carnatic musician and was also a student of Pandit Jasraj for a short period. Ramesh Narayan has two daughters, Madhuvanthi and Madhushree who both musicians. Narayan established the Pandit Mothiram Narayan Sangeeth Vidyalay in 1996, at Thiruvananthapuram to foster appreciation for Hindustani Classical Music. Inaugurated by Pandit Jasraj, it's the only music school in India to be associated with Mewati Gharana.

Original scores

YearFilm / DocumentaryLanguageNotes
2022 Siddy Malayalam
2020 Eelam Malayalam
Swapnangal Pookkunna Kaadu Malayalam
Varthamaanam Malayalam
2019 Kolaambi Malayalam
2018Pacha
2017 The Sword Of Liberty Malayalam
Viswasapoorvam Mansoor Malayalam
Paathi Malayalam
Suryakantha Sanskrit
Crossroad (2017 film) Malayalam
Aaradi Malayalam
2016 Budhanum Chaplinum Chirikkunnu Malayalam
2015 Ennu Ninte Moideen Malayalam Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director
Edavappathy Malayalam Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director
Alif Malayalam
Kukkiliyar Malayalam
2014 Ottamandaaram Malayalam
White Boys Malayalam Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director
Apsaras Tamil
2013 Miss Lekha Tharoor Kaanunnathu Malayalam
2011 Veettilekkulla Vazhi Malayalam Imagine India 2011 Awards for Best Music Director
Adaminte Makan Abu Malayalam
Veeraputhran Malayalam
Makaramanju Malayalam
2010 Avan Malayalam
Thathwamasi Malayalam
2009 Katha Parayum Theruvoram Malayalam
Orkkuka Vallappozhum Malayalam
2008 Manjadikuru Malayalam
Raman Malayalam
2007 Paradesi Malayalam
2006 Rathri Mazha Malayalam Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director
Arunam Malayalam
2005 Saira Malayalam Kerala State Film Award for Best Background Music
Sheelabathi Malayalam
Makalkku Malayalam
2004 Kottaaram Vaidyan Malayalam
2003 Saphalam Malayalam
Anyar Malayalam
2001 Jeevan Masai Malayalam
Mookkuthi Malayalam
Meghamalhaar Malayalam
2000 Thottam Malayalam
1999 Garshom Malayalam
1993 Magrib Malayalam

Discography

Awards and achievements

Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award 2012 [8]
Kerala State Film Awards:

Kerala state Television awards

Kerala Film Critics Awards

Kerala Critics TV Awards

"Madrid International Award"

Madrid International film festival Spain

"Imagine India 2011 International Award"

Prem Nazir Foundation TV Awards

Film Audience Award

Mathrubhumi Medimix Film Award

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References

  1. Sathyendran, Nita (27 June 2011). "Raga of life". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  2. "THE FAMILY TREE OF MEWATI GHARANA". Official Website of Pandit Jasraj.
  3. RNN (12 May 2018). "Ramesh Narayan: My biggest achievement is not any award or accolade, but Pandit Jasraj's discipleship". The Times of India.
  4. "Saur Mandal Mein Tim Tim". Doordarshan National. 1996. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021.
  5. "2023-ലെ കേരള പുരസ്‌കാരങ്ങൾ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു; ടി. പത്മനാഭന് കേരള ജ്യോതി". Mathrubhumi. 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  6. "Biography". Official Website of Pandit Ramesh Narayan. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  7. "Biography". Official Website of Pandit Ramesh Narayan. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  8. "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Classical Music". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.