K. V. Mahadevan Biography, Music, Family, Net Worth, Awards And More!

K. V. Mahadevan Biography

K. V. Mahadevan (born Krishnankoil Venkatachalam Mahadevan 14 March 1918 – 21 June 2001) was an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, and musician known for his works in Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, Kannada cinema, and Malayalam cinema. He is best known for his contributions in works such as Manchi Manasulu (1962), Lava Kusa (1963), Kandan Karunai (1967), Adimai Penn (1969), Balaraju Katha (1970), Sankarabharanam (1979), Saptapadi (1981), Sirivennela (1986), Shrutilayalu (1987), Pelli Pustakam (1991), and Swathi Kiranam (1992). K. V. Mahadevan was born in 1918 at Nagercoil, Krishnancoil, Kanyakumari district.

A contemporary of M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy, starting his career in the 1942 with Manonmani, Mahadevan

K. V. Mahadevan Biography Image

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).

K. V. Mahadevan – Career Life

K. V. Mahadevan did music composing for more than 50 years, beginning from 1942 till 1993.

He worked with singers earlier like T. M. Soundararajan, A. M. Rajah, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Thiruchi Loganathan, Ghantasala, C. S. Jayaraman, V. N. Sundharam, T. A. Mothi, P. B. Sreenivas, S. C. Krishnan, A. L. Raghavan, Dharapuram Sundararjan, P. A. Periyanayaki, M. L. Vasanthakumari, P. Leela, T. V. Rathinam, R. Balasaraswathi Devi, A. P. Komala, Radha Jayalakshmi, Jikki, M. S. Rajeswari, T. S. Bagavathi, K. Jamuna Rani, P. Suseela, A. G. Rathnamala, N. L. Ganasaraswathi, K. Rani, K. V. Janaki, Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, Udutha Sarojini, S. Janaki and L. R. Eswari.

Later on he engaged K. J. Yesudas, S. P. Balasubrahmaniam, P. Jayachandran, A. V. Ramanan, Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam, B. S. Sasirekha, Uma Ramanan, S. P. Sailaja and K. S. Chithra.

The singing actors M. M. Dandapani Desikar, C. Honnappa Bhagavathar, U. R. Jeevarathinam, T. R. Mahalingam, T. R. Rajakumari, K. R. Ramaswamy, Chittor V. Nagaiah, P. Bhanumathi, N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Madhuram and J. P. Chandrababu also sang memorable songs under his compositions.

K. V. Mahadevan’s Selected Filmography

Telugu

Manchi Manasulu (1962)
Mooga Manasulu (1964)
Antastulu (1965)
Aastiparulu (1966)
Manushulu Marali (1969)
Akka Chellelu (1970)
Mallee Pelli (1970)
Balaraju Katha (1970)
Anuradha (1971)
Inspector Bharya (1972)
Badi Panthulu (1972)
Bangaru Babu (1973)
Andala Ramudu (1973)
Siri Siri Muvva (1976)
Adavi Ramudu (1977)
Mana Voori Pandavulu (1978)
Sankarabharanam (1979)
Vamsa Vruksham (1980)
Aadavaallu Meeku Joharlu (1981)
Saptapadi (1981)
Agni Poolu (1981)
Golconda Abbulu (1982)
Kaliyuga Ramudu (1982)
Trishulam (1982)
Kanchana Ganga (1984)
Sirivennela (1986)
Shrutilayalu (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)

Tamil

Manonmani (1942) with T. A. Kalyanam
Aanandan or Akkini Puraana Magimai (1942)
Burma Rani (1945)
Dhana Amaraavathy (1947)
Devadasi (1948)
Rajambal (1951)
Kumaari (1952)
Rohini (1953)
Naalvar (1953)
Mathana Mohini (1953)
Nallakalam (1954)
Mangalyam (1954)
Koondukkili (1954)
Town Bus (1955)
Aasai Anna Arumai Thambi (1955)
Pennarasi (1955)
Mullai Vanam (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 Kani Amudhu (1958)
Bommai Kalyanam (1958)
Neelavukku Nirainja Manasu (1958)
Nalla Idathu Sambandham (1958)
Thirudargal Jakradhai (1958)
Periya Koyil (1958)
Sengkottai Singam (1958)
Manamulla Marutharam (1958)
Panchaali (1959)
Vaazha Vaitha Deivam (1959)
Naalu Veli Nilam (1959)
Abalai Anjugam (1959)
Vannakili (1959)
Madhavi (1959)
Engal Kula Devi (1959)
Kaveriyin Kanavan (1959)
Sollu Thambi Sollu (1959)
Alli Petra Pillai (1959)
Thaayaippola Pillai Noolaippola Selai (1959)
Uzhavukkum Thozhilukkum Vandhanai Seivom (1959)
Padikkadha Medhai (1960)
Aadavantha Deivam (1960)
Veerakkanal (1960)
Ponni Thirunaal (1960)
Thayilla Pillai (1961)
Kudumba Thalaivan (1962)
Sarada (1962)
Aasai Alaigal (1963)
Iruvar Ullam (1963)
Kattu Roja (1963)
Kulamagal Radhai (1963)
Ninaipadharku Neramillai (1963)
Neengatha Ninaivu (1963)
Thulasi Maadam (1963)
Vanambadi (1963)
Aayiram Roobai (1964)
Paditha Manivi (1965)
Thiruvilayadal (1965)
Idhaya Kamalam (1965
Mugaraasi (1966)
Saraswati Sabatham (1966)
Thiruvarutchelvar (1967)
Kandhan Karunai (1967)
Thillana Mohanambal (1967)
Andru Kanda Mugam (1968)
Jeevanaamsam (film) (1968)
Thirumal Perumai (1968)
Adimaippenn (1969)
Irulum Oliyum (1971)
Thirumagal (1971)
Enippadigal (1979)
Gnana Kuzhandhai (1979)
Mel Maruvathoor Aadhiparasakthi
Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal (1986)

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)

K. V. Mahadevan’s 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

K. V. Mahadevan’s 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.