Unni Menon (born 2 December 1955) is an Indian film playback singer. He has recorded over 4000 songs in many Indian languages including 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 with the song "Pudhu Vellai Mazhai" from Mani Ratnam's award-winning 1992 Tamil film Roja, composed by A. R. Rahman.
Unni Menon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Nambalatt Naryanankutty Menon |
| Born | 2 December 1955 Valanchery, Kerala, India |
| Genres | Film score, Devotional |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, music director, actor |
| Years active | Early 1980s–present |
| Website | Official website |
Menon has frequently associated with A. R. Rahman, lending his voice to nearly 27 popular songs from films like Karuththamma (1994) and Minsaara Kanavu (1997).
Early life
editMenon was born in Temple Town Guruvayur in the Thrissur district of Kerala on 2 December 1955 to V.K.S Menon and Malathy. His father was an officer in Tamil Nadu police and a native of Guruvayoor in Thrissur district. He did his schooling at Guruvayur and at Basel Evangelical Mission Higher Secondary School, Palakkad.[2] Later, he attended the Government Victoria College, Palakkad, from where he graduated with a degree in Physics. He exhibited great talent and enthusiasm for music in childhood, winning many prizes in competitions throughout his school and college days.[3]
Career
editUnni Menon is 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, a 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.[4]
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".
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.[5]
Unni menon is the leading Singer in 2009 Malayalam Devotional Album Saranamanthram directed by Kamalan.
Television
edit| Year | Name of Television Show | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Super Singer Season 10 | Guest | Star Vijay |
Awards
edit- 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")[5]
Film Guidance Society of Kerala Film Awards:
- 2011 – Best Male Playback Singer – Beautiful (Song: "Mazhaneer Thullikal")
North American Film Awards
- 2017 - Best Male Playback Singer – Jacobinte Swargarajyam [6]
Kalaimamani Honour by Tamil Nadu Government
- 2018 - Contribution to Playback singing[7]
Tamil Songs
editList of tamil songs recorded by Unni Menon
| Year | Movie | Song | Music Director | Lyrics | Co-artist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Oru Kaidhiyin Diary | "Ponmaane" | Ilaiyaraaja | Uma Ramanan | |
| 1992 | Roja | "Pudhu Vellai Mazhai" | A. R. Rahman | Sujatha Mohan | |
| 1993 | Captain Magal | "Vaanambadi" | Hamsalekha | Sujatha Mohan | |
| Gokulam | "Sevvanthi Poo" | Sirpy | P. Susheela | ||
| Pudhiya Mugam | "Kannuku Mai Azhagu" | A. R. Rahman | |||
| "Idhudhaan Vazhkai" | Sujatha Mohan | ||||
| Thiruda Thiruda | "Veerapandi Kottayile" | A. R. Rahman | K. S. Chithra, Mano | ||
| 1994 | Chinna Madam | "Putham Puthu Oorukku" | Sirpy | ||
| Karuthamma | "Poraale Ponnuthayi" | A. R. Rahman | Sujatha Mohan | ||
| Sindhu Nathi Poo | "Kadavullum Neeyum" | Soundaryan | S. Janaki | ||
| Veettai Paaru Naattai Paaru | "Petha Manam" | Deva | |||
| 1995 | Jameen Kottai | "Manichittu Thaalatile" | Sirpy | ||
| Villadhi Villain | "Bombai Maami" | Vidyasagar | Sujatha Mohan | ||
| 1996 | Kizhakku Mugam | "Iniyenna Pechu"(Male) | Adithyan | ||
| Mr. Romeo | "Mel Isaiyae" | A. R. Rahman | Swarnalatha, Srinivas, Sujatha Mohan | ||
| Pudhu Nilavu | "Vanna Vanna Pookal" | Deva | |||
| Take It Easy Urvashi | "Idhayathil Iruppavale" | Soundaryan | Swarnalatha | ||
| Vishwanath | "Jil Endru Veesuthu" | Deva | |||
| 1997 | Minsara Kanavu | "Mana Madurai" | A. R. Rahman | K. S. Chithra, Srinivas | |
| Pudhayal | "Ochamma Ochamma" | Vidyasagar | Uma Ramanan, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | ||
| 1998 | Uyire | "Poongkaatrilae" | A. R. Rahman | Swarnalatha | |
| 1999 | Jodi | "Kadhal Kaditham" | A. R. Rahman | S. Janaki | |
| Kadhalar Dhinam | "Daandiyaa Aattamumaada" | A. R. Rahman | |||
| "Enna Vilaiyazhagae" | |||||
| Kudumba Sangili | "Petha Manasu" | Sirpy | Sujatha Mohan | ||
| Maanaseega Kadhal | "Signal Kidaikatha" | Deva | Anuradha Sriram | ||
| Ninaivirukkum Varai | "Anbe Nee Mayila" | Deva | Sujatha Mohan | ||
| Pudhu Kudithanam | "Nilavukku Ennadi" | Deva | Harini | ||
| Time | "Ninachapadi" | Ilaiyaraaja | |||
| Unnaruge Naan Irundhal | "Poori Poori" | Deva | Swarnalatha | ||
| 2000 | Aval Paavam | "Ponnanaval" | Pradeep Ravi | ||
| Chinna Chinna Kannile | "Chinna Chinna Kannile" | Sampath Selvan | |||
| Eazhaiyin Sirippil | "Karu Karu Karupayi" | Deva | Anuradha Sriram | ||
| "Sakkaravalli" | |||||
| "Purave En"(Version ll) | Sujatha Mohan | ||||
| James Pandu | "James Pandu Da" | S. A. Rajkumar | Mano | ||
| Mugavaree | "Yeh Nilavae" | Deva | |||
| Pennin Manathai Thottu | "Kannukkulle" | S. A. Rajkumar | |||
| Rhythm | "Nadhiye Nadhiye" | A. R. Rahman | |||
| Sabhash | "Paalai Keeley" | Deva | Anuradha Sriram | ||
| Seenu | "Kuchalaambaal" | Deva | Harini | ||
| Unakkaga Mattum | "Ammaadi Nee Enna" | Bobby Shankar | |||
| "Kaadhal Seiya" | Srinivas | ||||
| Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven | "Pethava Kanniru" | S. A. Rajkumar | |||
| Vaanathaippola | "Mainave Mainave" | S. A. Rajkumar | K. S. Chithra | ||
| Vaanavil | "Oh Penne"(Version ll) | Deva | Swarnalatha | ||
| 2001 | Aanandham | "Gokulathu Radhai" | S. A. Rajkumar | Sujatha Mohan, S. P. Charan | |
| "Kalyana Vaanil" | Sujatha Mohan | ||||
| Alli Thandha Vaanam | "Kannalay Miya Miya" | Vidyasagar | Sri Vardhini | ||
| Kadal Pookkal | "Alai Alai" | Deva | Srinivas, Swarnalatha | ||
| Love Channel | "Enge Ennathu Vennila" | Deva | Sujatha Mohan | ||
| Poove Pen Poove | "Kannukuley" | Subhas Jawahar | |||
| Shahjahan | "Minnalai Pidithu" | Mani Sharma | |||
| Star | "Machha Machhiniye" | A. R. Rahman | Ganga Sitharasu | ||
| 2002 | 123 | "Hey Penne" | Deva | ||
| Bala | "Poopoovai" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Ganga Sitharasu | ||
| Gummalam | "Yaaro" | Gandhidasan | |||
| Karmegham | "Etumula Veti Kati" | Vidyasagar | Antara Chowdhury | ||
| Maaran | "Aanantham Aanantham" | Deva | Sujatha Mohan | ||
| "Kannukulle" | |||||
| Unnai Ninaithu | "Ennai Thalattum" | Sirpy | Pa. Vijay | Sujatha Mohan | |
| "Yaar Indha Devathai" II | Pa. Vijay | ||||
| Varushamellam Vasantham | "Enge Andha Vennila"(Male) | Sirpy | |||
| Virumbugiren | "Thodu Thodu" | Deva | |||
| 2003 | Bheeshmar | "Nadagam Pol Vaazhkaiyila" | S. P. Venkatesh | ||
| Chokka Thangam | "Ettu Jilla" | Deva | Anuradha Sriram | ||
| Enakku 20 Unakku 18 | "Sandhippoma" | A. R. Rahman | Chinmayi | ||
| Priyamaana Thozhi | "Penne Neyum Pennaa" | S. A. Rajkumar | Kalpana Raghavendar | ||
| Sena | "Theerathathu Kathal" | D. Imman | Nithyasree Mahadevan | ||
| Thennavan | "Vatta Vatta" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Padmalatha | ||
| 2004 | Autograph | "Ninaivugal Nenjil" | Bharadwaj | ||
| Kangalal Kaidhu Sei | "Ennuyir Thozhi" | A. R. Rahman | P. Vijay | Chinmayi | |
| 2005 | Amudhae | "Anbe Adu Oru Kalam" | Sunil Xavier | Sujatha Mohan | |
| Kicha Vayasu 16 | "Sila Neram" | Dhina | |||
| Oru Kalluriyin Kathai | "Unakku Endru Oruthi" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Na. Muthukumar | ||
| Thavamai Thavamirundhu | "Oru Muraidhan" | Sabesh–Murali | |||
| Veeranna | "Manithaney Kalangathey" | Soundaryan | |||
| 2006 | Kasu | "Nee Oru Paarvai"(Duet) | V S Udhaya | Nirosha | |
| "Nee Oru Paarvai"(Solo) | |||||
| Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu | "Partha Mudhal" | Harris Jayaraj | Bombay Jayashri | ||
| 2007 | Achacho | "Pengal" | M K S Narula Khan | Mahathi | |
| Rasigar Mandram | "Nilavae" | S P Boopathy | Reshmi | ||
| Thirutham | "Kadhal Kanmaniye" | Pravin Mani | K. S. Chithra | ||
| 2008 | Ezhuthiyatharadi | "Kangalil Vanthathillai" | Sri Mahan | ||
| Kadhal Endral Enna | "Margazhi Thimuttavaa" | K Bharathi | |||
| Vedha | "Ennai Naan" | Srikanth Deva | |||
| 2009 | Aarupadai | "Poove Oru Naal" | Azhvar Sri | ||
| Mariyadhai | "Yaar Parthathu"(Version ll) | Vijay Antony | |||
| Unnai Kann Theduthe | "Kagetha Puveni" | Sirpy | K. S. Chithra | ||
| 2010 | Thenmerku Paruvakaatru | "Kallikkaattil Pirandha" | N. R. Raghunanthan | ||
| 2011 | 180 | "Santhikkadha Kangalil" | Sharreth | K. S. Chithra | |
| 2012 | Eppadi Manasukkul Vanthai | "Muthangal" | A J Daniel | Bombay Jayashri | |
| Pathirama Pathukkunga | "Vaadukiren Paadukiren" | Sivaji Raja | |||
| 2017 | Tube Light | "Mella Vaa" | Indra | Vandana Srinivasan | |
| 2022 | The Legend | "Maya Maya" | Harris Jayaraj | Bombay Jayashree |
Telugu discography
edit| Year | Film | Song | Composer(s) | Co-Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Donga Donga | "Veera Bobbili" | A. R. Rahman | Mano, K. S. Chithra |
| 1994 | Vanitha | "Poodota Poochindanta" | A. R. Rahman | Sujatha Mohan |
| 1997 | 50 - 50 | "O Meghana" | A. R. Rahman | |
| Merupu Kalalu | "Ooh La La La" | |||
| 1999 | Premikula Roju | "Vaalu Kannuladaana" | A. R. Rahman | |
| "Dhaandiya" | Kavita Krishnamurthy, M. G. Sreekumar | |||
| Time | "Oyyala Pandagochindhi" | Ilaiyaraaja | ||
| 2000 | Maa Annayya | "Maa Logililo" | S. A. Rajkumar | |
| Rhythm | "Dhimtanana Dhimtanana" | A. R. Rahman | ||
| 2003 | Nee Manasu Naaku Telusu | "Kalusukundhama" | A. R. Rahman | |
| 2004 | Cheppave Chirugali | "Nannu Laalinchu"(Duet) | S. A. Rajkumar |
Malayalam album songs
edit- Chingakili - 1992
- Aavani Kanavukal - 1997
- Pranayamarmaram - 2009
- Ponnavanni Pattukal - 2017
- Eenathil - 2018
- Ennum Ninnormmayil (Ronima Creations) - 2022
References
edit- ^ a b c S.S.Kavuta. A melodious journey . The Hindu. Retrieved 29 November 2008
- ^ Shaji, K. a (28 September 2014). "His music bloomed across the border". The Hindu.
- ^ Biography in official website, additional text.
- ^ Chennai Online interview, additional text.
- ^ a b Official site
- ^ The Best Playback Singer Award from NAFA
- ^ Kalaimamani Awards (http://cms.tn.gov.in/sites/default/files/go/tour_t_31_2019.pdf)