M G Sreekumar
Melody in every breath, Rhythm in every heartbeat. . .
M G Sreekumar is a renowned playback singer, with more than three and a half decades of outstanding presence In the South Indian Playback scene, most notably in the Malayalam Film Industry. During the course of these eventful years, he has received two National awards and three Kerala State awards for the best playback singer of the year. He still continues to be a leading light in the South Indian Film Industry, a name easily associated with songs in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu movies, with occasional forays into the Hindi and other North Indian Films. In his native Malayalam industry he is one of the first name that occurs in one’s mind, whilst thinking of Music.
However his prowess is not limited to the movie playback singing. He is one of the leading exponents of Carnatic and Hindustani Music and his concerts draw large crowds and great appreciation from far and wide. He is also known for his devotional songs, sung soulfully and with deep devotion that it invariably touch the hearts of the listeners.
M G Sreekumar, aka Sreekuttan, has put his enviable talent to use for the cause of music, film industry and society in general. Many of his initiative have seen the development of budding musical talent, through his music school, of music. He is also a great spotter of musical talent as has been seen from his involvement Television Shows promoting musical talent. He has also started and runs many charitable and Social Welfare Organizations. He also has found time to get involved and to contribute to welfare schemes of note in Kerala.
Arena of Activities
Playback Singer:
NATIONAL AWARD WINNER, PLAYBACK SINGER, ACTOR, MUSIC DIRECTOR AND FILM PRODUCER.MG IS ONE OF THE FEW INDIAN SINGERS TO HAVE SUNG MORE THAN 4,000 FILM SONGS IN TAMIL, MALAYALAM, HINDI AND TELUGU.TWO TIME NATIONAL AWARD WINNER FOR THE SONGS "NADHA ROOPINI" FROM THE 1990 MOVIE "HIS HIGHNESS ABDULLAH" AND "CHANTHU POTTU" FROM "VASANTHIYUM LAKSHMIYUM PINNE NJANUM" DURING 1999.
Achievements:
National Awards 1999- Best Singer (Vasanthi Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum-Chanthu Pottum) 1991- Best Singer (His Highness Abdulla Nadaroopini) Kerala State Awards 1992 -Best Male Singer (Various films) 1991- Best Male Singer (For the song KilukilFrom kilukkam and Aathiravaravayi from Thudarkatha) 1989 -Best Male Singer (Kireedam,Vadakku Nokiyandram) Other Awards Apart From these he has been awarded the Best Playback award by all TV Channels FlimFare,Asianet,Sun Tv,Surya Tv,Kairali Tv etc.(More than 15 times for singing and music Direction)Charities:
Charities Sreekumar sets apart a good amount of his earning for charitable purposes for economically weaker musicians. Whenever there is an opportunity, he has promoted young artists for his musical ventures. He makes it a point to take new artists for his Ganamelaas and tours abroad. Further, a part of the collections from his devotional albums are set apart for temples and other religious institutions. He also does free music renditions in temples, churches, cancer institutes and many orphanage homes. Sreekumar has now started a music school "Sa Re Ga Ma" school of music. Which provides coaching various sides of arts to poor and talented young children free of cost. Sreekumar is doing charity to regional cancer Centre, Trivandrum and visits the hospital to sing songs to the sick inpatient for curing their pains.Introduction
M. G. Sreekumar the playback singer cum music director from Malayalam cinema Industry has won two National Awards. With a career of over 25 years, he is one of the prominent male singers in the Malayalam film industry. He is known for matching voice with Malayalam actor Mohanlal. Sreekumar has sung in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. He is the youngest brother of music director M. G. Radhakrishnan and singer K. Omanakutty. He owns a music company named KMG Musics. Sreekumar worked in the State Bank of Travancore, before starting his career as a singer. He started his music career by accompanying his brother M. G. Radhakrishnan in his carnatic musical concerts. Born in Haripad, Alappuzha District of Kerala, his father, Malabar Gopalan Nair was a well known singer. His elder brother and music guru, the late M. G. Radhakrishnan, was an award-winning music director and carnatic musician. His elder sister, K. Omanakutty, is a classical music vocalist and principal at Kerala Music Academy. M.G. Sreekumar has been adorning the Malayalam film music world for more than two decades. A natural artist, gifted with a voice that is at once resonant and mellifluous, MGS has been enthralling music lovers with delight Full music.
His Beginning
Sreekumar had his initial music lessons under the tutelage of his Father who taught him the basics of Carnatic music in his home. After the demise of his Father suddenly, the elder brother Radhakrishnan took over his young brother as his ward and continued his music classes, and taking him on his musical sojourns all over Kerala. Sreekumar learnt the nuances of classical music by intently listening to his brother performing in the music societies of Kerala. He a so accompanies his brother in the cinema studios whenever there was a record1ng of Rims songs. And after sometime, the elder brother gave his young brother his Rest chance to sing in his film, which Sreekumar justified, by singing with finesse. Sreekumar who was also good in his studies, completed his graduation in Commerce from the University of Kerala. How was selected by the State Bank of Travancore in 1982, as a bank officer. Between his outings with his brother he did his banking job with aplomb. He worked for over five years for the bank and took great interest in the bank’s cultural association, mostly arranging musical programs and directing and singing For the Bank. He was loved so much by his superiors in the bank that they would not accept his resignation for over six years after he gave up his job, for spending more quality time for music.
Family Background
He was born on May 25, 1957 as the third child to the music maestro Mr. Malabar Gopalan Nair and Mrs Kamalakshy Amma. Mr Gopalan Nair was a well-known Folk and traditional singer in the mid twentieth century. He was reputed for the in-depth knowledge possessed by him in Malayalam Folk music. He was also a doyen in contemporary drama. He was sought after for directing Malayalam and Tamil plays and to give musical life to those plays. Mrs Kamalakshy Amma herself was a singer of repute in Malayalam. She was very famous for her rendition of lullabies. She was a music teacher till she was considerable old. Sreekumar’s older brother Mr. M.G. Radhakrishnan is a household name in Carnatic and Malayalam cinema music. He graduated From the Trivandrum Music College, having had the privilege of learning music under the tutelage of musical giants like the Late Semmangudi Srinivasa lyer, the Late G.N. Bala Subramaman, the Late Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavathar. His music is pure traditional and he blends various styles in his compositions. He was a class-mate of the Famous Dr. K.J. Yesudas of Kerala. Another member Of Sreekumar’s Family is his older sister Dr.K.Omanakutty. She is a post-graduate in music and holds a doctorate in Carnatic music.
