Ramesh Narayan


Ramesh Narayan is an Indian classical vocalist, composer and music producer who works predominantly in Malayalam cinema. He belongs to the Mewati gharana of Hindustani classical music. Blessed with vigorous and expressive voice, his renditions are noted for their memorable felicity, depth of imagination and power to touch the listener`s heart. Be it a weighty Khayal or a moving Bhajan, his renditions take the connoisseurs and masses alike, to ecstatic heights. He began his initial training in Carnatic music and later mastered the classical Hindustani style under the renowned Pandit Jasraj of Mewati gharana.
Ramesh Narayan initially composed scores for documentaries, films and Indian television programmes in Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil, based on ragas in Indian classical music. He composed and sung the popular song ‘Saur Mandal Mein Tim Tim’ in 1996 for national integration, Directed by Jnanpith Award Laureate Shri. M.T. Vasudevan Nair for LokSeva Sanchar Parishad- Delhi. Ramesh Narayan's film-scoring career began during the early 1990s with the Malayalam Film Magrib and followed his successful journey as a composer. His notable works include Garshom, Meghamalhar, Saira, Makalkku, Rathri Mazha, Paradesi, Manjadikuru Adaminte Makan Abu Veettilekkulla Vazhi, Makaramanju, Edavappathy, Ennu Ninte Moideen, Suryakantha etc.
Among Ramesh Narayan's awards are one National Film Awards, four Kerala State Film Awards, two Kerala Film Critics Association Awards, four Kerala state Television awards, two Kerala State Television Critics Award, two Madrid International Film festival Imagine India 2011 International Award. In 2007, he has received Indian Music Academy Award for popularizing Hindustani classical music in Kerala from the Honourable President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
Ramesh Narayan drew world attention by performing 36 hour vocal recital as part of celebrating 100 years of Indian Cinema at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune and won an entry into the Limca Book of Records 2013 for completing the 24 hour raga cycle in accordance to the 'Samay Siddhanta'.

Early life

Ramesh Narayan was born in Kuthuparamba, Kannur, Kerala in a family of Carnatic musicians. He had his early lessons in music from his parents. His father Narayan Bhagavathar was a well-known musician of those days and his mother Narayani Amma was blessed with priceless Swarashuddhi. The musical ambience in Ramesh Narayan's family during his early childhood left a lasting impression on him and he, as a child, yearned to learn more and continued his training in Carnatic music up to the age of twenty years.
It was while he was a student of Government Music College, Chitoor, that he was drawn to Hindustani music. Nevertheless, his desire to learn Hindustani music would not have had this kind of fulfillment, but, for the profound interest and initiative taken by his Pune-based elder brother Sri. Ramdas to introduce Ramesh Narayan to the city of Pune.

Career

Moving to Pune, he learnt Sitar under the tutelage of Shri. Satchidananda Phadke, a renowned disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar. Becoming a Sitarist in no time, Ramesh Narayan found himself captivated by Hindustani vocal. He joined the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and took his "Visharad". He felt entranced by the style of Pandit Jasraj and resolved to hone his talent and technique under the Mewati Gharana Maestro. Pandit Jasraj gave him rigorous training for more than seven years in the subtler aspects of music. Ramesh Narayan accompanied Pandit Jasraj during several of his concerts.
One of his feats is a 30-hour concert he gave in dedication of his father, the late Narayana Bhagavathar, and to Pandit Motiram, an exponent of the Mewati gharana.
He has composed and rendered music for feature films and television serials like "Gharshom", "Elayum Mullum", "Magrib", "Megh Malhar", "Makalkku", "Anyar" and "Sheelabati".
His latest work include a gazal song 'nee poyathil pinne' written by Jose Manuel Motha in 2020.

Personal life

Ramesh Narayan is accompanied at many of his concerts by his wife Hema. She is an exponent in Carnatic music who is also trained under Pandit Jasraj for some time. Ramesh Narayan has two daughters, Madhuvanthi and Madhushree who also follow their father's way. Ramesh Narayan established the Pandit Mothiram Narayan Sangeeth Vidyalay in 1996, at Thiruvananthapuram to foster learning and appreciation of Hindustani Classical Music. Inaugurated by Pandit. Jasraj, the institution today imparts training to music students. The school is said to have the privilege of being the only school in India associated with Mewati Gharana.

Original scores

Discography

  • Nandagopalam
  • Rudra
  • Mridumalhar
  • Ayyappa Sahasra Namam
  • Shivoham
  • Swati Manasam
  • Radheshyaam
  • Mridugeetham pole

    Awards and achievements

;National Film Awards
  • 2017 - Best Music Direction - Sword of liberty
;Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Academy Award 2012
;Kerala State Film Awards:
  • 2005 – Best Background Score - Saira
  • 2006 – Best Music Director - Rathri Mazha
  • 2014 – Best Music Director - White Boys
  • 2015 – Best Music Director - Edavapathy & Ennu Ninte Moideen
Kerala state Television awards
  • 2000 - Best Music Director -
  • 2004 - Best Music Director - 'RAGARDHAM'
  • 2006 - Best Music Director -
  • 2012 - Best Music Director - Choodu
Kerala Film Critics Awards
  • 2002 - Best Music Director - "Megha Malhar"
  • 2006 - Best Music Director - Rathri Mazha
Kerala Critics TV Awards
  • 2002 - Best Music Director - "Devaranjini"
  • 2003 - Best Music Director -
"Madrid International Award"
  • 2010 - Best Music Director -Veettilekulla vazhi
Madrid International film festival Spain
  • "Goldenchakra" award for best music director - Paradesi
"Imagine India 2011 International Award"
  • 2010 - Best Music Director -Veettilekulla vazhi
Prem Nazir Foundation TV Awards
  • 2010 - Best Music Director -
Film Audience Award
  • 2005 - Best Music Director - 'Sheelabati' and 'Makallkku'
Mathrubhumi Medimix Film Award
  • 2002 - Best Music Director - "Megha Malhar"
  • Limca Book of Records 2014 for continuous vocal recital for 36 hours and has completed 24-hour raga cycle in accordance to the 'samay siddhant', at the Film & Television Institute of India, Pune - is 2013.
  • Title ‘Nadha Kala Nipuna-2013’ by Ravindran School of Music, Chennai
  • Title of 'Sangeet Mahayogi' by Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma Foundation, trivandrum - 2012
  • "Acharya Varishtata" from Pandit Jasraj Institute Newyork-2011.
  • "Taan Samrat Award"from Bhavalaya Muscat-2011
  • "Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Puraskar" from Bharathiya Vidyalaya India-2011
  • "Leadership Award"from cultural Education Center, New Jersey, United States- 2009
  • "Sangeet Samraat" Award from Shikshayatan Cultural Center, Newyork - 2008
  • "Sangeetha Puraskar" received by the Arts and Cultural Movement Of India - July 2008
  • Sree Chakra Puraskar 2006.
  • Virtuoso Award 2005.
  • Nominated for V. Santharam Award, Mumbai.
  • John Abraham Award 2001.
  • Soma Award for the year 2000.
  • Centre for Media Studies Buddha Award for the year 1998.
  • Akashavani Annual Award for the year 1997.