M. M. Keeravani
Keeravani in 2015
Keeravani in 2015
Background information
Birth nameKoduri Marakathamani Keeravaani
Also known asMaragathamani (Tamil, Malayalam)
M. M. Kreem (Hindi)
Born (1961-07-04) 4 July 1961 (age 62)
Kovvur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Genres
Occupation(s)
Years active1990–present
Labels
Spouse(s)M. M. Srivalli

Koduri Marakathamani Keeravaani (born 4 July 1961), professionally known as M. M. Keeravani, is an Indian music composer, record producer, singer and lyricist, who predominantly works in Telugu cinema. His accolades include, eleven Nandi Awards, eight Filmfare Awards, an Academy Award, a National Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, a LAFCA Award and a Critics' Choice Movie Award. In 2023, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri for his contributions towards Indian cinema.[1]

Keeravani also worked for a few Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam films. He is best known for his compositions in works such as Kshana Kshanam (1991), Gharana Mogudu (1992), Allari Priyudu (1993), Criminal (1994), Subha Sankalpam (1995), Pelli Sandadi (1996), Devaraagam (1996), Annamayya (1997), Zakhm (1998), Student No.1 (2001), Jism (2003), Paheli (2005), Sri Ramadasu (2006), Magadheera (2009), Eega (2012), Baahubali (2015 and 2017), and RRR (2022).[2][3]

Early and personal life

Keeravaani was born into a Telugu speaking family in Kovvur of West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh to Koduri Siva Shakthi Datta, a lyricist and screenwriter.[4][2] He is the cousin of director S. S. Rajamouli, music composers M. M. Srilekha, Kalyani Malik, and writer S. S. Kanchi. He is the nephew of screenwriter V. Vijayendra Prasad.[4]

His wife M. M. Srivalli works as a line producer in films. His elder son, Kaala Bhairava, is a singer and has sung for his father's numerous compositions ("Dandalayya" song). His younger son, Sri Simha, made his debut with Mathu Vadalara (2019).[4]

Career

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 Telugu composer K. Chakravarthy and Malayalam composer C. Rajamani in 1987.[5] 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.[6]

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.[2] It was director Mouli's 1990 film Manasu Mamatha that brought him to the limelight and was considered his first released movie. However, it was Ram Gopal Varma's blockbuster film Kshana Kshanam (1991) that made Keeravani an established music director.[2] 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).[7]

Keeravani mentions Ilaiyaraaja, John Williams and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan as composers who influenced him. Some of the films which inspired his music include Fiddler on the Roof (1971), Coming to America (1988), and Phone Booth (2002).[8]

Discography

Main article: M. M. Keeravani discography

Awards and nominations

Keeravani won the Oscar Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for "Naatu Naatu" for the 2022 Telugu film RRR.[9] He received a National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the 1997 Telugu film Annamayya. He is also a recipient of eight Filmfare Awards, eleven Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Awards, and a Tamil Nadu State Film Award.[10] He was also nominated for Saturn Award for Best Music for Baahubali: The Beginning (2015).[11][3]

Civilian Honours

National Film Awards

Other Awards

Year Award[a] Category Film Result Ref.
2023 Academy Awards Best Original Song for "Naatu Naatu"
(Shared with Chandrabose) 		RRR Won
Austin Film Critics Association Best Original Score Nominated
2022 Boston Society of Film Critics Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Nominated
2023 Critic's Choice Movie Awards Best Song for "Naatu Naatu" Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Original Song for "Naatu Naatu"
(Shared with Chandrabose) 		Won
Georgia Film Critics Association Best Original Song for "Naatu Naatu"
(Shared with Kaala Bhairava, Rahul Sipligunj) 		Runner-up
2022 Hollywood Music in Media Awards Best Original Score in an Independent Film (Foreign Language) Nominated
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Music Won [13]
2023 Satellite Awards Best Original Song for "Naatu Naatu"
(Shared with Kaala Bhairava, Rahul Sipligunj) 		Nominated
2015 Saturn Awards Best Original Score Baahubali: The Beginning Nominated

Filmfare Awards South

Year Category Work Result Ref.
1991 Best Music Director – Telugu Kshana Kshanam Won [14]
1993 Allari Priyudu Won [15]
1994 Criminal Won [15][16]
1995 Subha Sankalpam Won [15]
1996 Pelli Sandadi Won [15]
2005 Chatrapathi Nominated
2009 Magadheera Won [15]
2010 Vedam Nominated
2011 Rajanna Nominated
2012 Eega Nominated [17]
2015 Baahubali: The Beginning Nominated [18]
2017 Baahubali 2: The Conclusion Won [19]
2017 Best Lyricist – Telugu Baahubali 2: The Conclusion Won [19]

Nandi Awards

Year Category Work Result Ref.
1992 Best Music Director Rajeswari Kalyanam Won [20]
1993 Best Music Director Allari Priyudu Won [20]
1995 Best Music Director Pelli Sandadi Won [20]
2001 Best Male Playback Singer Student No.1 Won [20]
2002 Best Music Director Okato Number Kurradu Won [20]
2005 Best Music Director Chatrapathi Won [20]
2009 Best Music Director Vengamamba Won [21]
2010 Best Male Playback Singer Maryada Ramanna Won [22]
2012 Best Music Director Eega Won [23]
2015 Best Music Director Baahubali: The Beginning Won [24]
2015 Best Male Playback Singer Baahubali: The Beginning Won [24]

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

Santosham Film Awards

South Indian International Movie Awards

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Awards, festivals and organizations are in alphabetical order.

References

  1. ^ Aparna Banerjea (25 January 2023). "Padma Awards 2023 | 'RRR' fame composer MM Keeravaani honoured with Padma Shri". Moneycontrol.com. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "MM Keeravani turns 58: Peppy chartbusters composed by the legendary Pan-Indian musician". The Times of India. 4 July 2019. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Golden Globes 2023: Naatu Naatu's Pan-Indian 'mystery composer' and his six iconic Hindi film songs". Moneycontrol.com. 11 January 2023. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Keeravani: సాహోరే... కీరవాణీ". Eenadu (in Telugu). 22 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Interview with composer Keeravani | Onam Special Programme". Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ Stars : Star Interviews : Interview with M M Keeravani Archived 13 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Keeravani's music for a Bollywood film – Times Of India
  8. ^ "After winning a Golden Globe award for Naatu Naatu, MM Keeravani says 'My inspiration comes from John Williams, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan…'". The Indian Express. 11 January 2023. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  9. ^ "M.M. Keeravani on 'Naatu Naatu' Oscars win: It's just the beginning of everything". The Hindu. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Keeravani presented Rotary Vocational Excellence Award". The Hindu. 4 November 2012. Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  11. ^ The man in demand | Deccan Chronicle Archived 15 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "MM Keeravani, SM Krishna, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, KM Birla: Full list of 2023 Padma Awardees". The Indian Express. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  13. ^ Feinberg, Scott (15 January 2023). "L.A. Film Critics Awards: 'Everything Everywhere' and 'Tár' Celebrated, Honorees Clap Along to 'RRR' Song "Naatu Naatu"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  14. ^ "39th Annual Filmfare Telugu Best Music Film Actress Winners : Santosh…". Archived from the original on 7 February 2017.
  15. ^ a b c d e "M.M. KEERAVANI AWARDS". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  16. ^ "42nd filmfare awards south Telugu & Malayalam winners : Santosh : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". 4 February 2017.
  17. ^ "60th Idea Filmfare Awards 2013 (South) Nominations". Filmfare. 4 July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  18. ^ Hooli, Shekhar H. (8 June 2016). "63rd Filmfare Awards (South) 2016 nominations list revealed: 'Baahubali,' 'Srimanthudu' lead Telugu movies list". International Business Times, India Edition. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  19. ^ a b "65th Jio Filmfare Awards South 2018: Complete winners' list – Times of India ►". The Times of India. 17 June 2018. Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  20. ^ a b c d e f "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2020.(in Telugu)
  21. ^ "Nandi Film Awards G.O and Results 2009". APFTVTDC. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Nandi Film Awards G.O and Results 2010". APFTVTDC. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  23. ^ "Nandi Film Awards G.O and Results 2012". APFTVTDC. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  24. ^ a b "Nandi Film Awards G.O and Results 2015". APFTVTDC. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  25. ^ "SIIMA AWARDS | 2018 | winners | |". SIIMA. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.

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