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Krishnankoil Venkadachalam Mahadevan (14 March 1918 – 21 June 2001) was an Indiancomposer, singer-songwriter, music producer, and musician known for his works in Tamil cinema, Telugu cinema, Kannada cinema, and Malayalam cinema. He is best known for his contributions in works such as Manchi Manasulu (1962), Lava Kusa (1963), Thiruvilaiyadal (1965), Saraswathi Sabatham (1966), Kandan Karunai (1967),Thillana Mohanambal (1968), Adimai Penn (1969), Balaraju Katha (1970), Athiparasakthi (1971), Sankarabharanam (1979), Saptapadi (1981), Sirivennela (1986), Sruthilayalu (1987), Pelli Pustakam (1991), and Swathi Kiranam (1992).
A contemporary of M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy,starting his career in 1942 with Manonmani, Mahadevan scored music for over six hundred feature films, spanning four decades, and has garnered two National Film Awards, the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director, three Nandi Awards for Best Music Director, and the Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Telugu). He was also conferred the title of "Thirai Isai Thilagam" (Pride of Cine Music Directors) in Tamil cinema.
Early life and career
K. V. Mahadevan was born in 1918 at Krishnancoil, a locality in Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District.
K. V. Mahadevan, also called by his honorific name Thirai Isai Thilagam (lit. pride of film music), did music composing for more than 50 years, beginning from 1942 till 1993.
Selected filmography
Tamil
- Manonmani (1942) - Credited as Kalyanam Orchestra
- Aanandan or Akkini Puraana Magimai (1942) - Credited as Kalyanam Orchestra with G. Ramanathan
- Dhana Amaravathi (1947)
- Devadasi (1948)
- Jambam (1948)
- Kumari (1952)
- Madana Mohini (1953)
- Rohini (1953) - with G. Ramanathan and D. C. Dutt
- Naalvar (1953)
- Nallakalam (1954)
- Mangalyam (1954)
- Koondukkili (1954)
- Mullaivanam (1955)
- Pennarasi (1955)
- Asai Anna Arumai Thambi (1955)
- Town Bus (1955)
- Thaaikkuppin Thaaram (1956)
- Mudhalali (1957)
- Neelamalai Thirudan (1957)
- Sampoorna Ramayanam (1957)
- Makkalai Petra Magarasi (1957)
- Raja Rajan (1957)
- Nalla Idathu Sammandham (1958)
- Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum (1958)
- Pillai Kaniyamudhu (1958)
- Bommai Kalyanam (1958)
- Neelavukku Neranja Manasu (1958)
- Nalla Idathu Sambandham (1958)
- Thirudargal Jakkirathai (1958)
- Peria Koil (1958)
- Sengottai Singam (1958)
- Manamulla Maruthaaram (1958)
- Panchaali (1959)
- Vaazha Vaitha Deivam (1959)
- Naalu Veli Nilam (1959)
- Abalai Anjugam (1959)
- Vannakili (1959)
- Madhavi (1959)
- Engal Kuladevi (1959)
- Kaveriyin Kanavan (1959)
- Sollu Thambi Sollu (1959)
- Alli Petra Pillai (1959)
- Thayapola Pillai Noolapola Selai (1959)
- Uzhavukkum Thozhilukkum Vandhanai Seivom (1959)
- Padikkadha Medhai (1960)
- Aadavantha Deivam (1960)
- Veerakkanal (1960)
- Ponni Thirunaal (1960)
- Panam Panthiyile (1961)
- Thayilla Pillai (1961)
- Kudumba Thalaivan (1962)
- Sarada (1962)
- Aasai Alaigal (1963)
- Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum (1963)
- Iruvar Ullam (1963)
- Ratha Thilagam (1963)
- Kaithiyin Kathali (1963)
- Kattu Roja (1963)
- Kulamagal Radhai (1963)
- Needhikkuppin Paasam (1963)
- Ninaipadharku Neramillai (1963)
- Neengadha Ninaivu (1963)
- Thulasi Maadam (1963)
- Vanambadi (1963)
- Yarukku Sontham (1963)
- Aayiram Roobai (1964)
- Vazhi Piranthadu (1964)
- Alli (1964)
- Paditha Manaivi (1965)
- Thiruvilayadal (1965)
- Idhaya Kamalam (1965)
- Chinnanchiru Ulagam (1966)
- Mugaraasi (1966)
- Saraswati Sabatham (1966)
- Mahakavi Kalidas (1966)
- Thiruvarutchelvar (1967)
- Kandhan Karunai (1967)
- Thillana Mohanambal (1967)
- Andru Kanda Mugam (1968)
- Panama Pasama (1968)
- Jeevanaamsam (film) (1968)
- Thirumal Perumai (1968)
- Adimaippenn (1969)
- Ethiroli (1969)
- Athiparasakthi (1971)
- Irulum Oliyum (1971)
- Thirumagal (1971)
- Vasantha Maligai (1972)
- Pallandu Vazhga (1975)
- Uthaman (1976)
- Enippadigal (1979)
- Gnana Kuzhandhai (1979)
- Mel Maruvathoor Aadhiparasakthi
- Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal (1986)
Telugu
- Manchi Manasulu (1962)
- Mutyala Muggu (1975)
- Mooga Manasulu (1964)
- Antastulu (1965)
- Aastiparulu (1966)
- Kanchu Kota (1967)
- Manushulu Marali (1969)
- Akka Chellelu (1970)
- Mallee Pelli (1970)
- Balaraju Katha (1970)
- Anuradha (1971)
- Dasara Bullodu (1971)
- Prem Nagar (1971)
- Inspector Bharya (1972)
- Badi Panthulu (1972)
- Bangaru Babu (1973)
- Andala Ramudu (1973)
- Siri Siri Muvva (1976)
- Adavi Ramudu (1977)
- Mana Voori Pandavulu (1978)
- Srungara Ramudu (1979)
- Sankarabharanam (1979)
- Gorintaku_(1979_film) (1979)
- Vamsa Vruksham (1980)
- Aadavaallu Meeku Joharlu (1981)
- Saptapadi (1981)
- Agni Poolu (1981)
- Golconda Abbulu (1982)
- Kaliyuga Ramudu (1982)
- Trisulam (film) (1982)
- Kanchana Ganga (1984)
- Sirivennela (1986)
- Sruthilayalu (1987)
- Srinivasa Kalyanam (1987)
- Janaki Ramudu (1988)
- Adavilo Abhimanyudu (1989)
- Pralayam (1990)
- Nari Nari Naduma Murari (1990)
- Alludugaru (1990)
- Assembly Rowdy (1991)
- Pelli Pustakam (1991)
- Swathi Kiranam (1992)
- Srinatha Kavi Sarvabhowmudu (1994)
Malayalam
- Nairu Pidicha Pulivalu (1958) - Background Score only
- Aana Valarthiya Vanampadiyude Makan (1971)
- Padmatheertham(1978)
- Kayalum Kayarum (1979)
- Enne Snehikkoo Enne Maathram (1981)
- Kakka (1982)
- Piriyilla Naam (1984)
- Vepraalam (1984)
- Rangam (1985)
- Mangalya Charthu (1987)
Kannada
- Manini (1979)
- Guru Shishyaru (1981)
- Krishna Rukmini (1988)
Awards
- National Film Award for Best Music Direction (1967) for Kandan Karunai (first recipient of the award)
- Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director (1969) for Adimai Penn
- National Film Award for Best Music Direction (1980) for Sankarabharanam
- Nandi Award for Best Music Director (1980) for Sankarabharanam
- Nandi Award for Best Music Director (1987) for Shrutilayalu
- Nandi Award for Best Music Director (1991) for Manjeera Nadam
- Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Telugu) (1992) for Swathi Kiranam
Personal life
K.V.Mahadevan, at the time of his death, was survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters. The famous son being V. Mahadevan, whose debut role was that of a Judge in the Tamil film Maasilamani.
Death
K.V. Mahadevan died on 21 June 2001 in Chennai when he was 83.
