25 January 2023
Hyderabad
Music composer MM Keeravani was named for the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour on the eve of Republic Day Thursday.
This latest recognition for the composer from the Indian government comes in the wake of him winning Golden Globe and Critics Choice award for his hugely infectious song Naatu Naatu from his brother SS Rajamouli’s directorial RRR.
In a career spanning more than three decades, Keeravani has composed music for close to 190 films so far. He even branched out to other south industries like Malayalam and Kannada, doing films other occasionally. Some of his popular Hindi soundtracks include Jism, Sur: The Melody of Life and Paheli. He collaborated with director Neeraj Pandey for films like Special 26 and Baby.
In Telugu, Keeravani is known for his collaborations with mentor figure K Raghavendra Rao. Some of their popular soundtracks include Gharana Mogudu, Sundarakanda, Allari Mogudu, Allari Priyudu, Major Chandrakanth, Pellisandadi, Annamayya, Sriramadasu and Shirdi Sai among others. Keeravani has collaborated with Rajamouli on his all his films, beginning from Student No 1 to the latest RRR. Their albums have topped the charts.
Songs composition aside, Keeravani , known equally for his exploits in the background score, has also gone behind the microphone and lent his vocals for popular songs such Raali Poye Puvva (Maathrudevobhava), Evvadanta Evvadanta (Baahubali-The Beginning), Chitapata Chinukulu (Aithe), Mallee Puttani (Vedam), Nennunaani Neekemkadhani (Nenunnanu), Ekkado Putti (Student No1) and Nippule Swasagaa (Baahubali-The Beginning).
The Padma award will be conferred to Keeravani by the President of India later this summer at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
