Music director MG Radhakrishnan dead

Eminent Malayalam music director MG Radhakrishnan, the creator of many evergreen melodies, died at a private hospital here today, family sources said.

Radhakrishnan (70) is survived by wife, son and a daughter. Noted playback singer MG Sreekumar is his younger brother and Carnatic vocalist K Omanakkutty his sister.

He was ill for some time and was admitted to the hospital a week ago.

Radhakrishnan began his music career after being posted as music director with All India Radio in 1962. His 'Lalitha Sangeetha Padam', light music programme, endeared him to the AIR listeners.

His foray into films was as a singer in the 1968 movie Kallichellamma. His first movie as a music director was in renowned film-maker G Aravindan's Thampu. He then went on to give musicfor scores of Malayalam films since then.

Radhakrishnan had won the state government award for best music director in 2001 (Achaneyanenikishtam) and in 2005 (Ananthabhadram).

Notable films for which he did music include Manichithrathazhu, Thakara, Chamaram, Aaravam, Kattu Vannu Vilichappol, Advaitam, Jalakam and Chenkol.

He introduced many a singer in Malayalam filmdom including KS Chitra and Arundhathi.

Radhakrishnan was born into a music family and his father Malabar Gopalan Nair was a renowned musician. While he excelled in music composition, his brother Sreekumar and sister Omanakkutty established themselves as reputed singers.