Popular Malayalam music composer MK Arjunan, who composed music for over 700 songs in 200 films passed away at his home in Palluruthy.
He was 85. Arjunan is credited with giving music maestro AR Rahman the first break when he played keyboard for the 1981 film Adimachangala.
Born on 25August, 1936 as the youngest of 14 children, Arjunan Master, as he’s fondly called, received his first lessons in music when his mother sent him and his brother to the Jevakarunyananda Ashram, Palani, when their father passed away when he was just six months old.
He began his career by composing music for the small-time amateur play and soon he was a sought-after name among the amateur troupes in Kerala. Later, he began to associate himself with top names like Changanassery Geedha, People’s Theatre, Kalidasa Kalakendram, Desabhimani Theatres, Alleppey Theatres and KPAC. He would go on to compose around 800 songs for 300 plays.
When stalwarts like G Devarajan, K Raghavan and MS Baburaj ruled the roost in Malayalam movues, the young Arjunan established his own identity.
Making his debut as a composer in Karuthapurnami in 1968, he was known for his association with lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi, with whom he composed the music for nearly 50 films, emerging as the most prolific composer-lyricist partnership in Malayalam film industry.