M M Keeravaani
The film composer behind Baahubali and RRR, whose song 'Naatu Naatu' won the Golden Globe and the Oscar, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.
M. M. Keeravaani is a composer, singer, lyricist and record producer who works mainly in Telugu cinema, and also in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films, where he has been credited as M. M. Kreem. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2023 in the field of art, from Andhra Pradesh [1].
A violinist from Kovvur
Marakathamani Keeravaani was born on 4 July 1961 in Kovvur, West Godavari district, and went to school there [2]. He studied Carnatic music under Kavitapu Seethanna and Dattappa and was performing on stage as a violinist from a young age [2].
Into film music
He began by assisting the music directors Rajamani and Chakravarthi, and got his first film as music director with Manasu Mamatha in 1990, produced by Ramoji Rao [2]. He soon became one of the busiest composers in south Indian cinema, working with directors such as K. Raghavendra Rao, K. Balachander, K. Viswanath and Ram Gopal Varma [2]. With his cousin S. S. Rajamouli he has made about a dozen films [2].
He has scored more than 250 feature films, among them Kshana Kshanam, Gharana Mogudu, Annamayya, Criminal, Zakhm, Jism, Paheli, Magadheera, Eega, the Baahubali films and RRR [2].
Naatu Naatu
His song Naatu Naatu from RRR, with lyrics by Chandrabose, won the Golden Globe and the Critics’ Choice award for best song in 2023 and the Academy Award for best original song [2]. He had earlier won the National Film Award for best music direction for Annamayya in 1997, along with many Filmfare and Nandi awards [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2023: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 21 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2023: citation for M M Keeravaani — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 21 October 2026.
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