JennyRoyster668 at 04:04, 24 November 2025

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{{Short description|Indian composer (1936–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Indian name|Arjunan|Maliyekkal Kochukunju}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = M. K. Arjunan
| image = Arjunan master.jpg
| caption =
| image_size =
|background = non_performing_personnel
|birth_date = {{birth date|1936|3|1|df=y}}
|birth_place = Chirattapalam, [[Kingdom of Cochin|Cochin]]
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|4|6|1936|3|2|df=y}}
|death_place = Kochi, Kerala, India
|origin =
|instrument = [[Pump organ|Harmonium]]
|genre = Film music, theatre music
|occupation = [[Theatre music|Theatre composer]], [[film composer]], [[music director]]
|years_active = 1950-2020
|spouse = Bharathi (m. 1964)
|label =
|website =
}}

'''Maliyekkal Kochukunju Arjunan''' (1 March 1936 – 6 April 2020) was an Indian film and theatre composer, known for his works in [[Cinema of Kerala|Malayalam cinema]] and the theatre of Kerala.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/maestro-m-k-arjunan-rewinds-to-his-long-and-illustrious-career-as-a-music-director-in-malayalam-cinema/article23311613.ece|title='You need to be lucky in the world of films': M. K. Arjunan|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> He was fondly referred to as ''Arjunan Master''.

==Early life==
Arjunan was born at Chirattapalam in [[Fort Kochi]] (now part of India) on 1 March 1936 as the youngest of 14 children born to Kochukunju and Paru, among whom only four survived childhood. He lost his father at a young age and his mother (Parvathi), unable to provide for all her children, sent Arjunan and his brother, Prabhakaran, to Jeevakarunyananda Ashram at [[Palani]] where Arjunan got his first lessons in music. After school, the students would sing [[bhajans]]; his singing led the head of the ashram to give him music lessons. For the next few years Arjunan learned music Kumarayya Pillai.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/the-original-master-of-melody/article8302523.ece|title=The Original Master of Melody|work=The Hindu}}</ref> He later learnt music under K.N Vijayarajan Master.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/half-a-century-not-out/article3186932.ece|title=Half a century, not out|date=2006-02-06|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-01-16|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Career and death==
After composing music for amateur plays, he became a professional and worked with Changanassery Geedha, People's Theatre, Kalidasa Kalakendram, Desabhimani Theatres, Alleppey Theatres and KPAC. Arjunan went on to compose around 800 songs for 300 plays.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2018/mar/09/kerala-state-awards-the-master-composer-is-rewarded-after-50-years-1784224.html|title=Kerala State Awards: The master composer is rewarded after 50 years | publisher=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

Arjunan's first movie as a composer was ''Karuthapurnami'', released in 1968. His association with the leading lyricist [[Sreekumaran Thampi]] in almost 50 films was one of the most prolific composer-lyricist partnerships in Malayalam film industry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/music/090318/sweet-end-to-a-long-wait.html|title=Sweet end to a long wait|publisher=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref>

During a career spanning 50 years in cinema, Arjunan scored music for more than 500 songs in over 218 Malayalam films.<ref name="hindu_apr06a">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/04/28/stories/2006042800300300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913154759/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/04/28/stories/2006042800300300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 September 2008 |title=A long musical journey |date=28 April 2006 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=17 January 2010}}</ref>

He is also credited with giving [[A. R. Rahman]] his first musical break by giving him a chance to play keyboards in a film.<ref name="ARR">{{cite web |title=Film fraternity hails Rahman, Pookutty for win |work=The Indian Express |location=India |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/film-fraternity-hails-rahman-pookutty-for-win/427046/0 |date=23 February 2009 |access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/music/interviews/2019/05/07/exclussive-interview-with-mk-arjunan-master-about-ar-rahman.html|title=Exclusive Interview with M K Arjunan master about A R Rahman|publisher=Malayala Manorama}}</ref>

His last film was ''Vellaram Kunnile Vellimeenukal'', with songs written by [[Rajeev Alunkal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/music/music-news/2020/04/06/last-song-of-arjunan-master.html|title=അവസാന അർജുന സംഗീതം രാജീവ് ആലുങ്കലിന്റെ വരികൾക്ക്|website=ManoramaOnline|language=ml|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> His last music composition was in December 2019 for Sreek Music's three love songs written by lyricist Sreekanth M Girinath.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/ernakulam/news/08apr2020-1.4674425|title=അർജുനൻ മാഷിന്റെ അവസാന ഈണങ്ങൾ നെഞ്ചോടു ചേർത്ത് ശ്രീകാന്ത്|website=mathrubhumi|language=ml|access-date=2020-04-08|archive-date=11 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411181158/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/ernakulam/news/08apr2020-1.4674425|url-status=dead}}</ref> He died at his home at 3:30 AM IST on 6 April 2020, aged 84, and was cremated with full state honours at Palluruthy crematorium on the same day. Due to [[COVID-19]], his funeral was conducted under strict protocols.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Veteran music composer MK Arjunan is no more - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/veteran-music-composer-mk-arjunan-is-no-more/articleshow/75000949.cms|access-date=2021-08-15|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kumar|first=P. k Ajith|date=2020-04-06|title=Music composer M.K. Arjunan no more|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/music-composer-mk-arjunan-no-more/article31266402.ece|access-date=2021-08-15|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He is survived by his sons Ashokan and Anil, and daughters Rekha, Nimmi and Sreekala. Bharathi Arjunan, his wife of 56 years, died in July 2021 due to COVID-19.

==Discography==
{{Main|M. K. Arjunan filmography}}

==Awards==
*[[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]] - 1992<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaculture.org/light-music/467 |title=Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Light Music |publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala|access-date=26 February 2023}}</ref>
*[[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship]] - 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaculture.org/classical-music/456|title=Classical Music|publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala|access-date=24 February 2023}}</ref>
*[[48th Kerala State Film Awards]] for [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director ]] - 2017-Bhayanakam<ref>{{Cite news|title=Kerala State Film Awards: Debut films steal the show - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/kerala-state-film-awards-debut-films-steal-the-show/articleshow/63226786.cms|access-date=2021-08-15|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>
*[[Kerala Film Critics Association Awards]] 2018 - Chalachitra Rathna award<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-04-20 |title=Film critics awards announced |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/film-critics-awards-announced/article23621153.ece |access-date=2021-08-15 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
*Mazhavil Mango Music Awards - 2018-Lifetime achievement<ref>{{Cite web|title=Abrid Shine's Poomaram wins big at Mazhavil Mango Music awards|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/music/2018/08/07/mazhavil-mango-music-awards-winners.html|access-date=2021-08-15|website=OnManorama}}</ref>
*Thudi cultural forum K Raghavan puraskaram - 2019<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-04-06|title=Veteran Malayalam Music Composer MK Arjunan Passes Away at 84|url=https://www.india.com/entertainment/veteran-malayalam-music-composer-mk-arjunan-passes-away-at-84-3991784/|access-date=2021-08-15|website=India.com|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{imdb name|0035021|name=M. K. Arjunan}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arjunan, M. K.}}
[[Category:Malayalam film score composers]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Film musicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian composers]]
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:Indian male film score composers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male musicians]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]]

M. K. Arjunan - Revision history

JennyRoyster668 at 04:04, 24 November 2025