Unni Menon

Unni Menon is an Indian film playback singer. He has sung over 3000 songs in South Indian languages like Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.[1] In the early part of his career, he spent many years as a low-profile playback singer.[1] The turning point in his career came when he sang the song "Pudhu Vellai Mazhai" from Mani Ratnam's award-winning 1992 Tamil film Roja, composed by A. R. Rahman. He has frequently associated with A. R. Rahman, lending his voice to nearly 25 popular songs from films like Karuththamma (1994) and Minsaara Kanavu (1997).

Unni Menon
Background information
Birth nameNambalatt Naryanankutty Menon
Born (1957-12-02) 2 December 1957
Guruvayur, Kerala, India
GenresFilm score, Devotional
Occupation(s)Singer, music director, actor
Years activeEarly 1980s–present
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life

Unni Menon was born in Guruvayoor, the temple town in the Thrissur district of Kerala. His father was V. K. S. Menon, an officer in Tamil Nadu police and a native of Valanchery in Malappuram district and Malathy. He did his schooling at Basel Evangelical Mission Higher Secondary School, Palakkad.[2][3] Later, he attended the Government Victoria College, Palakkad, from where he graduated with a degree in Physics. Unni Menon exhibited great talent and enthusiasm for music in childhood, winning many prizes in competitions throughout his schooling and college life.[4]

Career

Unni Menon is basically a Malayalam film playback singer. Kunjunni, a violinist for music director Ilaiyaraaja introduced him to B. A. Chidambaranath, a music director, and Unni's musical career was launched in 1981–82. His maiden song "Amudhum Thenum" was never released, but with "Pon maane kobam eno" he became a noted singer in 1984.[1] He was a track singer and after listening to his tracks for the film, Kadathu, KJ Yesudas asked to the music director, Shyam, to make it straight. And after the huge success of the Kadathu songs ("Olangal Thaalam Thullumbol", "Punnaare Poonthinkale", etc.), Unni became a regular singer for the hit music director, Shyam. Shyam has given him a good number of popular songs like "Maanathe Hoori Pole" (Ee Naadu), "Valakilukkam Oru Valakilukkam" (Munnettam), "Kaayampoo Korthu Tharum" (Aarorumariyaathe) and "Thozhuthu Madangum Sandhyayumetho" (Aksharangal). After Shyam's decline from the film music field, Unni's career in Malayalam film musicdom also went into shades. During that period, he has given some hit private albums such as Raagageethi and Raaga Lahari, with his contemporary playback singer, Ashalatha.Paanchajanyam an Hindu devotional audio album on Lord Guruvayurappan brought him a lot of fame in the Malayalam audio world.

Unni Menon moved to Chennai (then Madras) where he had a job in the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi. Many of the prominent recording studios of South India were located in Chennai. His interest in music led him to visit these studios regularly and formed acquaintances with many prominent artists like the singer K. J. Yesudas and composer Ilayaraaja. Soon he had graduated from singing tracks for prominent singers and was becoming a singer sought after by many music directors.[5]

In 1980s he had few lone hits, "Pon maane kobam eno" in Tamil film 'Oru kaidhiyin dairy', with a nickname Vijay, singing for Ilayaraja. His career got a major boost in 1992 when A. R. Rahman offered him the song "Puthu Vellai Mazhai". That song went on to become a huge hit, as were all the other songs from the film. Since then he has sung many songs which have become big hits.

In 2003, Unni Menon added a new dimension to his career when he acted and composed music for the Malayalam film Sthithi besides singing the songs in the film.[6]

Unni menon is the leading Singer in 2009 Malayalam Devotional Album Saranamanthram directed by Kamalan

Awards

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards:

  • 2002 – Best Male Playback Singer – Varushamellam Vasantham (Song: "Enge Antha Vennila") and Unnai Ninaithu (Songs: "Ennai Thalatum" and "Yaarindha Devathai")
  • 1996 – Best Male Playback Singer – Minsara Kanavu (Song: "Ooh lalala")[6]

Film Guidance Society of Kerala Film Awards:

  • 2011 – Best Male Playback Singer – Beautiful (Song: "Mazhaneer Thullikal")

North American Film Awards

Kalaimamani (2017)

Partial filmography
Year Song Movie Music Director Lyrics
1985 " Pon Maane Kobam aeno" Oru kaidhiyin Dairy Ilayaraja Vairamuthu
2002 "Oru Chembaneer Pooviruthu" Sthithi Unni Menon, M. Jayachandran, Sunny Viswanath
2004 "Ennuyir Thozhi" Kangalal Kaidhu Sei A. R. Rahman P. Vijay
2005 "Unakku Endru Oruthi" Oru Kalluriyin Kathai Yuvan Shankar Raja Na. Muthukumar
2010 "Kalli Kattil" Thenmerku Paruvakaatru N. R. Raghunanthan Vairamuthu
2011 "Mazhaneer Thullikal" Beautiful Ratheesh Vegha Anoop Menon
2012 "Maranamethunna" Spirit Shahabaz Aman Rafeeq Ahammed
2016 "Thiruvaavaniraavu" Jacobinte Swargarajyam Shaan Rahman Manu Manjith
2019 "Thotte" Marconi Mathai M Jayachandran B K Harinarayanan
  • Kadathu (1981)
  • Munnettam (1981)
  • Thenum Vayambum (1981)
  • Paanchajanyam (1982)
  • Palangal (1982)
  • Ee Naadu (1982)
  • John Jaffer Janardhanan (1982)
  • Kolakomban (1983)
  • Himam (1983)
  • Iniyenkilum (1983)
  • Bhookambam (1983)
  • Belt Mathai (1983)
  • Sandyakenthinu Sindooram (1984)
  • Umanilayam (1984)
  • Aksharangal (1984)
  • Koottinlamkili (1984)
  • Aarorumariyathe (1984)
  • Angadikkapurattu (1985)
  • Vannu kandu Keezhadakki (1985)
  • Shantham Bheekaram (1985)
  • Vellarikka Pattanam (1985)
  • Boeing Boeing (1985)
  • Adhyayam Onnu Muthal (1985)
  • Oru Nokku Kanan (1985)
  • Ee Lokam Ivide Kure Manushyar (1985)
  • Kandu Kandarinju (1985)
  • Chekkeran oru Chilla(1986)
  • Gandhinagar 2nd Street(1986)
  • Ennu Nadhante Nimmi (Song :"Poove Arimullapoove") (1986)
  • Rajavinte Makan (1986)
  • Ithile Iniyum Varu (1986)
  • Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku (1986)
  • Snehamulla Simham (1986)
  • Nyayavidhi (1986)
  • Shyama (1986)
  • Vazhiyorakkazhchakal (1987)
  • Sruthi (1987)
  • Ramji Rao Speaking (1989)
  • Naaduvazhikal (1989)
  • Carnival (1989)
  • In Harihar Nagar (1990)
  • Pavakoothu (1990)
  • Kuttettan (1990)
  • Akkareakkareakkare (1990)
  • God Father (1991)
  • Mimics Parade (1991)
  • Roja (1992)
  • Pudhiya Mugam (1993)
  • Thiruda Thiruda (1993) (in Tamil and Telugu)
  • Puthupatty Ponnuthayee (1994) (Tamil)
  • Karuththamma (1994) (In Tamil and Telugu)
  • Tom & Jerry (1995)
  • Mr. Romeo (1996)
  • Minsaara Kanavu (1997)
  • Uyire (1998)
  • Kadhalar Dhinam (1999)
  • Rhythm (2000)
  • Jodi (1999)
  • Star (2001)
  • Shahjahan (2001)
  • Varushamellam Vasantham (2002)
  • Unnai Ninaithu (2002)
  • Bala (2002)
  • Enakku 20 Unakku 18 (2003) (in Tamil and Telugu)
  • Mullavalliyum Thenmavum (2003)
  • Kangalal Kaithu Sei (2004)

Telugu discography
Year Film Song Composer(s) Co-Singer(s)
1993 Donga Donga (D) "Veera Bobbili" A. R. Rahman Mano, K. S. Chithra
1994 Vanitha (D) "Poodota Poochindanta" A. R. Rahman Sujatha Mohan
1999 Premikula Roju (D) "Vaalu Kanula" A. R. Rahman
"Dandiya Aatalu Aada" Kavita Krishnamurthy, M. G. Sreekumar
2000 Rhythm (D) "Dhimtanana Dhimtanana" A. R. Rahman

Malayalam album songs
gollark: You know you can *buy* food, right?
gollark: I don't think people in America do actually want healthcare to cost that.
gollark: Great, you've... half-solved the problem you were concerned about?
gollark: If it's costly somewhere... go somewhere else?
gollark: Don't get a gun if you cannot also afford to get the necessary education to be safe.

References
  1. S.S.Kavuta. A melodious journey . The Hindu. Retrieved 29 November 2008
  2. "Unni Menon : Kannada Singer Age, Movies, Biography, Photos". chiloka.com.
  3. Shaji, K. a (28 September 2014). "His music bloomed across the border". The Hindu.
  4. Biography in official website, additional text.
  5. Chennai Online interview, additional text.
  6. Official site
  7. The Best Playback Singer Award from NAFA
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