Koduri Marakathamani Keeravaani (born 4 July 1961),[1] better known as M. M. Keeravani, is an Indian film composer, playback singer and lyricist, who works predominantly in Telugu cinema along with other languages including Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. Also known by his aliases Marakathamani and M. M. Kreem,[2] Keeravaani won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the 1997 Telugu film Annamayya. He is also a recipient of eight Filmfare Awards, eleven state Nandi Awards and a Tamil Nadu State Film Award.[3]
Keeravani (right) and K. S. Chithra (left) presenting an award to Anurag Kulkarni in 2016
Keeravani first began his career as an assistant music director with Malayalam composer C. Rajamani[4] and Telugu composer K. Chakravarthy in 1987. 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.[5]
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. It was director Mouli's 1990 film Manasu Mamatha that brought him to the limelight and was considered his first released movie.[citation needed]
However, it was Ram Gopal Varma's blockbuster film Kshana Kshanam (1991) that made Keeravani an established music director. 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).[6]
He is known for his playback singing contributions to the Telugu film industry with compilations for hit films such as Annamayya. He has composed music for Hindi films such as Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin (1996), Sur – The Melody of Life, Zakhm, Saaya, Jism, Criminal, Rog and Paheli. In Malayalam, he has scored for films such as Neelagiri (1991), Soorya Manasam (1992) and Devaraagam (1996). He has composed for over 220 films in various Indian languages. M. Keeravani composed the music and background for the films Baahubali 1 and 2.[7]
Main article: M. M. Keeravani discography
| Year | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Best Music Director – Telugu | Kshana Kshanam | Won | [9] |
| 1993 | Allari Priyudu | Won | [10] | |
| 1994 | Criminal | Won | [10][11] | |
| 1995 | Subha Sankalpam | Won | [10] | |
| 1996 | Pelli Sandadi | Won | [10] | |
| 2005 | Chatrapathi | Nominated | ||
| 2009 | Magadheera | Won | [10] | |
| 2010 | Vedam | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | Rajanna | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Eega | Nominated | [12] | |
| 2015 | Baahubali: The Beginning | Nominated | [13] | |
| 2017 | Baahubali 2: The Conclusion | Won | [14] | |
| 2017 | Best Lyricist – Telugu | Baahubali 2: The Conclusion | Won | [14] |
| Year | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Best Music Director | Rajeswari Kalyanam | Won | [15] |
| 1993 | Best Music Director | Allari Priyudu | Won | [15] |
| 1995 | Best Music Director | Pelli Sandadi | Won | [15] |
| 2001 | Best Male Playback Singer | Student No.1 | Won | [15] |
| 2002 | Best Music Director | Okato Number Kurradu | Won | [15] |
| 2005 | Best Music Director | Chatrapathi | Won | [15] |
| 2009 | Best Music Director | Vengamamba | Won | [16] |
| 2010 | Best Male Playback Singer | Maryada Ramanna | Won | [17] |
| 2012 | Best Music Director | Eega | Won | [18] |
| 2015 | Best Music Director | Baahubali: The Beginning | Won | [19] |
| 2015 | Best Male Playback Singer | Baahubali: The Beginning | Won | [19] |
This is a listing of the songs and tracks Keeravani has contributed as a lyricist to various feature films.
| Movie | Director | Song(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Priyaragalu | "A. Kodandarami Reddy" | "Rayabaram Pampindevare" |
| Gangotri | K. Raghavendra Rao | "Kannitini pannitiga chesi" |
| Vikramarkudu | S. S. Rajamouli | "Jum Jum Maya", "Dooranga", "Jo Laali" |
| Magadheera | S. S. Rajamouli | "Naakosam nuvvu", "Rolling titles music" |
| Vedam | Krish | "Rupai", "Malli Puttani", "Vedam", "Ee Chikati Cherani", "Alalai Kammani Kalali", "Nuvumundhani Nemundhani" |
| Shirdi Sai | K. Raghavendra Rao | "Manava seva madhava sevani", "Sadhaa nimbi" |
| Baahubali 2: The Conclusion | S. S. Rajamouli | "Oka praanam", "Kannaa nidurinchara", "Dandaalayyaa" |
| NTR: Kathanayakudu | Krish | "Venditera dora", "Ramanna katha", "Rajarshi" |
| Gharana Mogudu | K. Raghavendra Rao | "Kappuko Duppati" |
| Allari Mogudu | K. Raghavendra Rao | "Neelimabbu Nuragalo" |
| Major Chandrakanth | K. Raghavendra Rao | "Muddultho Onamalu" |
| Rakshana | Uppalapati Narayana Rao | "Kannepapa Anduko" |
| Allari Premikudu | K. Raghavendra Rao | "Naari Jana Priyatama" |
| Attintlo Adde Mogudu | Relangi Narasimha Rao | "Andagada Andhukora" |
| Konda Polam | Krish Jagarlamudi | "Obulamma" |
| RRR | S. S. Rajamouli | "Janan |