G. Devarajan master

                                      G. Devarajan master

 Back in 1927, on a day late in September, Paravoor Govindan Devarajan came into the world, Paravur in Kollam, his birthplace. His father? Kochugovindanasan. From his mother, Kochukunju, he drew early warmth. Firstborn of the couple, he carried that quiet weight. Lessons began where many do - in rooms at home, then moved to South Lower Primary School. Afterward, paths led him onward - to Kottapuram High School. Final steps in schooling took shape under the roof of Sreemoolavilasam High School, Trivandrum, where an English School Leaving Certificate found its way into his hands.

By 1946, he had already begun classes at University College, Thiruvananthapuram. First-class results came through by 1948 in the Intermediate exam. Engineering was open to him that year. Still, M.G. chose College Economics when picking extras. The subject stayed with his course path

From somewhere near Thiruvananthapuram, Devarajan stepped into the Kerala People’s Arts Club, known to many as KPAC. That stage birthed his best-known work - Ponnarivalampiliyil Kanneriyunnole. A quiet pull toward leftist thought ran through KPAC like a thread. Through drama after drama, ideas took root quietly in Malayali minds, shaped by voices from that very group.

Songs by Devarajan shaped Malayalam stage life for good. A shift happened when he worked on Thoppil Bhasi’s You Made Me a Communist. Music in films began with Kalam Marunnu, back in 1955. From that movie came his opening tune, Malar Poykayil. Alongside stood another fresh voice - ONV. Music came together under Kurup's touch. Alongside him, words flowed from Vayalar Rama Varma for Devarajan Chaturangam in 1959.

Out of nowhere, melodies by Devarajan slipped into public memory where movie tunes once struggled for respect. Not just background noise - his work with Vayalar shaped what people now call the peak time for Malayalam cinema soundtracks. Singers like KJ Yesudas and P. Jayachandran see him as something close to a guiding force behind their voices. From that stretch of years came standout tracks, each one lifted higher because he knew how to match tune to moment.

Maybe nobody else touched so many ragas in Malayalam cinema like Devarajan did. Over a hundred likely passed through his hands. Matching lyrics with melody, he always knew what fit where. Once Kamal Haasan claimed the composer stood taller than Beethoven in music. Five times, Devarajan Master took home the Kerala government’s top honor for film music direction. A hit tune from the Tamil movie Annai Velankanni caught wide attention. Songs like Shankhupushpam Kannezhuthumpol, Sanyasininin Punyashramathil, Sangamam Triveni Sangamathil, and Chandrakalabham Charthiyurangum Theeram stand out across Malayalam cinema history. Alongside Vayalar and ONV Kurup, he shaped melodies with words by Bhaskaran, Sreekumaran Thampi, even Yousafali Kecheri. Around 350 Malayalam films carry his musical imprint. More than two thousand motion picture songs bear his creative stamp. Singers such as K.J. Yesudas, P. Jayachandran, P. Susheela lent voice to many of them. Most tunes were sung by Madhuri. Film tracks under Devarajan often flowed through Yesudas. Their time working together birthed six hundred fifty-two melodies.

That Tuesday in March, Devarajan passed away at home in Kamdar Nagar, Chennai. He was seventy eight when his heart stopped. From there, his body went by air to Thiruvananthapuram. Afterward came the cremation in Paravur. Final rest followed at a public graveyard nearby.