Ramesh Vinayakam | |
---|---|
Birth name | Ramesh Vinayakam |
Also known as | Ramesh Vinayagam |
Born | 7 July 1963 |
Genres | Filmi, World music, Carnatic music |
Occupation(s) | Composer, record producer, instrumentalist, arranger, singer, lyricist |
Years active | 1986–present |
Website | www.rameshvinayakam.com |
Ramesh Vinayakam (born 7 July 1963) is an Indian composer, arranger, singer, songwriter, music producer.
Ramesh Vinayakam was born Ramasubramaniam (AKA Ramsubbu) to Tamil parents Vinayakam and Valli. [1] He went to A. M. Jain College and later graduated in Commerce from the University of Madras. He learned Carnatic music from Rukmini Ramani and Western classical music from Jacob John, completed his studies at the Trinity College, London with a diploma. [1] Ramesh is very popular for his musical, oratorical talents and has won many competitions in the school and college. He held Secretary-Fine Arts in his Alma Mater – A M Jain College, Meenambakkam, Chennai (erstwhile Madras). Though initially he was a singer in his younger days, he has taken to composing like fish to water as both his parents are singers/composers, it is in his genes. By the time he completed his college he had already composed many songs for various situations along with his poet-friend Narayanan. He had a brief stint as a manager in his father's friend's firm, and he understood that his real ambition is to become a music composer instead of working in an office, as he used to compose/write pieces of music. [2] He decided to pursue his dream when he got a chance to meet S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, through a friend who introduced him to the legend. [2]
In 1986, Ramesh Vinayakam's first album Prathidhvani was released. [3] The album was a compilation of devotional songs on 10 deities, all sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. [4] Three years later, director Moulee offered him a Telugu film, Paila Pacheesu and made him a music director. [3] He worked with Moulee on two more films, Manchi Roju (1991) and Aunty (1995) starring Shobana and Jayasudha, respectively. [2] Subsequently, he would again look for work and approach various producers and directors. Vinayakam recalls that "nothing happened" thereafter and calling it a "long and frustrating period". [2] In 2002, director Vasanth eventually signed him as one of the five composers for his next romantic musical Hey! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke . Ramesh Vinayakam's contribution to the ensemble soundtrack was the song "Thottu Thottu" that was also sung by him. [2] The same year he composed for the film University that was his first full-fledged project in Tamil. [2] The Hindu in its review wrote that the soundtrack album was "very strong on melody" and "definitely worth a listen". [5] Although the film was a box office bomb, Vinayakam has said he was glad that University had happened, since it fetched him his next project Nala Damayanthi (2003), [2] his most notable film till date. Written and produced by Kamal Haasan, it featured Madhavan in the lead. For the film, he further made Haasan sing an English song in the country genre. [6] Vinayakam then composed the score and songs for Radha Mohan's maiden feature film Azhagiya Theeye and Jerry written by Crazy Mohan. He received positive critical response for his work in Azhagiya Theeye in particular. [7] [8]
Aside from film, Vinayakam has primarily worked on devotional music. He composed his first devotional song at age 12. [9] Since, he has worked on a number of devotional albums, including Shambo Mahadeva, Krishna Janardhana and Sri Rama Dootam apart from Prathidhvani. [4] [10] In 2011, he composed the theme song for "Nadha Vaibhavam", a grand musical event of Sri Sri Ravishankar's Art of Living. [11] [12] Vinayakam has also composed many jingles and numerous title songs for television, [2] including all of Crazy Mohan's television series. [3]
His upcoming projects include the English remake of A Wednesday , titled A Common Man directed by Sri Lankan filmmaker Chandran Rutnam and starring Ben Kingsley, [13] as well as S. P. B. Charan's next production. [9]
Ramesh Vinayakam is a notable singer, too. While he has sung songs in all his Tamil films, he has also sung playback for other composers. Under Harris Jayaraj's direction, he had performed the song "Yaaridamum" from the film Thotti Jaya (2005). He has lent his voice for songs from the films Bhaiyaa, the dubbed Telugu version of the film Malaikottai , and the low budget flick Kadhal Valarthen, which had music by singer Srinivas. In 2010, he sang the number "Sada Siva" from the Telugu film Khaleja for composer Mani Sharma. Although the film did not fare well, the song became popular and Vinayakam along with N. C. Karunya, who co-sang the song, went on to win several accolades, including the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Telugu. [14] In 2012, he sang the song "Stop The Pattu" from Moondru Per Moondru Kaadhal for composer Yuvan Shankar Raja. [15]
Ramesh Vinayakam has been working for several years on a so-called "Gamaka box", a way to visually represent and notate the gamaka, which is a type of ornamentation in Indian classical music. Notation of gamakams is generally not found in the Indian music system and Vinayakam's attempt was seen as a possible breakthrough and revolution in carnatic music. [9] [16]
Year | Film | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | Paila Pacheesu | Telugu | |
1991 | Manchi Roju | Telugu | |
1995 | Aunty | Telugu | |
1999 | Speed Dancer | Telugu | |
2002 | Yai Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke | Tamil | composed 1 song "Thottu Thottu" |
2002 | University | Tamil | |
2003 | Nala Damayanthi | Tamil | |
2004 | Azhagiya Theeye | Tamil | |
2006 | Jerry | Tamil | |
2012 | Sollakathai | Tamil | Soundtrack release, film unreleased |
2013 | A Common Man | English | |
2014 | Ramanujan | English/Tamil | |
2014 | Mosakutty | Tamil |
Year | Films | Song | Composer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Hey! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke | Thottu Thottu Sellum | Himself | |
2003 | Nala Damayanthi | Enna Idhu | Himself | |
2004 | Azhagiya Theeye | Vizhigalin Aruginil, Sandhana Poongatre | Himself | |
2005 | Thotti Jaya | Yaaradimum Thondravillai | Harris Jayaraj | |
2006 | Jerry | Naan Pudicha Muyalukku | Himself | |
2010 | Khaleja (Telugu) | Sadasiva | Mani Sharma | also sang the Tamil version |
2012 | Moondru Per Moondru Kadhal | Stop The Paattu | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
2012 | Saattai | Jada Jada Jaada | D. Imman | |
2013 | Endrendrum Punnagai | Ennatha Solla | Harris Jayaraj | |
2014 | Ramanujan | Thuli Thuliyay | Himself | |
2014 | Dikkulu Choodaku Ramayya | Andari Rathalu | M.M.Keeravani |
Ghantasala Venkateswararao, known mononymously by his surname as Ghantasala, was an Indian playback singer and film composer known for his works predominantly in Telugu and Kannada cinema and also in Tamil, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi language films. He is considered as one of the greatest singers of Telugu cinema. In 1970, he received the Padma Shri award, India's fourth highest civilian award for his contribution to Indian cinema. According to The Hindu and The Indian Express, Ghantasala was 'such a divine talent and with his songs he could move the hearts of the people'. 'Ghantasala's blending of classical improvisations to the art of light music combined with his virtuosity and sensitivity puts him a class apart, above all others in the field of playback singing'. Gifted with what Indian film historian V. A. K. Ranga Rao called 'the most majestic voice', Ghantasala helped Telugu film music develop its own distinct character which remains unparalleled. He is referred to as the 'Gaana Gandharva' for his mesmerising voice and musical skills.
Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna was an Indian Carnatic vocalist, musician, multi-instrumentalist, playback singer, composer, and character actor. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1978. He has garnered two National Film Awards, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1975, the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honor in 1991, for his contribution towards arts, the Mahatma Gandhi Silver Medal from UNESCO in 1995, the Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government in 2005, the Sangeetha Kalanidhi by Madras Music Academy, and the Sangeetha Kalasikhamani in 1991, by the Fine Arts Society, Chennai to name a few.
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