{{short description|Music composer}} {{about|a Malayalam film music composer|the actor|Baburaj (actor)}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{upscaled images|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = M. S. Baburaj | image = M. S. Baburaj.jpg | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Mohammad Sabir Baburaj | alias = Baburaj, Babukka | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1929|03|03}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2023/Mar/01/neelavelicham-new-single-to-be-out-on-ms-baburajs-birthday-40528.html|title=Neelavelicham new single to be out on MS Baburaj's birthday|publisher=Cinema Express|date=1 March 2023}}</ref> | birth_place = Calicut, Malabar District, Madras Presidency, British India | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1978|10|07|1929|03|09}} | death_place = Madras, Tamil Nadu, India | genre = Film score, Mappila songs | occupation = {{hlist|Composer|Singer|Instrumentalist}} | instrument = Harmonium pump organ | years_active = 1957–1978 | label = His Master's Voice | website = }}
'''Mohammad Sabir Baburaj''' (3 March 1929 – 7 October 1978) was an Indian music composer. He is often credited for the renaissance of Malayalam film music.<ref>{{cite news |title = The Magic of Baburaj |url = http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/04/30/stories/2005043002330300.htm |date = 30 April 2005 |access-date = 23 July 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111010161158/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/04/30/stories/2005043002330300.htm |archive-date = 10 October 2011 |work = The Hindu |url-status = dead }}</ref> Baburaj has rendered music to many evergreen Malayalam film songs.<ref name="hindu27oct2008">{{cite news |title = 'Pattupetti' tunes in to Baburaj |url = http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/27/stories/2008102751120200.htm |date = 27 October 2008 |access-date = 23 July 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081202070718/http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/27/stories/2008102751120200.htm |archive-date = 2 December 2008 |work = The Hindu |url-status = dead }}</ref>
==Early years== Baburaj was born on 3 March 1929<ref>thumb|Baburaj's Original Passport cites his birthday on 3 March 1929</ref> in Kozhikode. His early childhood was spent in destitution and poverty. His father, Jan Muhammed Khan, who was a Hindustani musician from Bengal who frequently held concerts in Kerala, deserted his Malayali mother when he was very young, and returned to his native Kolkata. Baburaj thus became fatherless, often singing songs in trains to make a living. But as luck would have it, a policeman, Kunjumuhammed (he was called Kunjumuhammed ika), an enthusiast of music from his native town of Kozhikode, noticing the boy's vocal talents, decided to virtually adopt him.<ref>{{Citation|last=asianetnews|title=Interview : VT Muralai (In memory of the late music director M.S. Baburaj)|date=6 October 2012|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdzSpJ6f07A|access-date=27 September 2017|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011123319/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdzSpJ6f07A|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Ibrahim Haroon|title=M.S. Baburaj, The Mind and the Mith – part 1|date=8 May 2010|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBrlBU6XOwU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/bBrlBU6XOwU |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=27 September 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==Music career== One of his greatest achievements was the introduction of Hindustani strains into Malayalam popular music. He successfully composed melodies based on Hindustani Ragas and blended Malayalam lyrics into them. Most of the lyrics were written by eminent Malayalam poets like P. Bhaskaran and Vayalar.<ref>{{cite news |work=The New Indian Express |title=Baburaj Mehfil to enthral music buffs |url=http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Baburaj+Mehfil+to+enthral+music+buffs&artid=iiaBO9BOwIU=&SectionID=9R67TMeNb/w=&MainSectionID=9R67TMeNb/w=&SEO=Baburaj,+Firoz+Babu,+Prathibha&SectionName=gUhH3Holuas= |date=22 May 2009 |access-date=23 July 2009 }}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
Baburaj learned basic lessons of Hindustani music from his father from a very young age, but he could not learn it for long due to his father's demise.{{ clarify | date = January 2016 | reason = Did his father die? In the previous section, it just says that he abandoned the family.}} In search of pure music, young Baburaj visited West Bengal, Mumbai and Sri Lanka. He learned to play the Harmonium during this period.
He came back to Kerala to a precarious existence. He sang on the streets of Kozhikode to earn his livelihood. Police constable Kunju Muhammed,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/baburaj-through-his-wifes-eyes/article8578151.ece|title=Baburaj, through his wife's eyes|last=Kumar|first=P. K. Ajith|date=10 May 2016|work=The Hindu|access-date=20 December 2018|issn=0971-751X|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510010007/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/baburaj-through-his-wifes-eyes/article8578151.ece|archive-date=10 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> who was a fan of Baburaj's father, adopted him{{ clarify | date = January 2016 | reason = Above it says he "virtually" adopted him. Did he adopt him outright?}} and brought him up.
Later he started composing music for the Malayalam dramas in the Malabar region and thus slowly entered the field of music direction. In 1957, he composed music for the Malayalam film ''Minnaminungu'', by Ramu Kariat, thus entering the Malayalam film industry. Then he worked with director P. Venu and composed classic songs like "Anuragaganam Pole", "Ezhuthiyatharanu Sujatha", and "Kalichirimaaratha Penne" for the film ''Udhyogastha'' (1967).
Baburaj was also an accomplished singer and harmonium player.
==Legacy== The Baburaj – P. Bhaskaran – Yesudas combination produced many of the most memorable Malayalam tunes of the 1960s and 1970s. Most of his classic duets were sung by P. Leela, K. J. Yesudas and S. Janaki, each recording solo Baburaj compositions as well. Many of Baburaj's songs remain very popular in Kerala, with songs like "Oru Pushpam Maatram" frequently rendered on stage at various events.<ref>{{Citation|last=abdul khaise|title=MS Baburaj Original Voice.flv|date=16 March 2011|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T4AG2f0BwE|access-date=27 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123011542/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T4AG2f0BwE|archive-date=23 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Mathrubhumi Kappa TV|title=Oru Pushpam – Akshaynath & Rishikesh – Moodtapes – Kappa TV|date=23 February 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rez4z1D80Wo|access-date=27 September 2017|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011123336/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rez4z1D80Wo|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=nithyajith|title=Idea Star Singer Season 4 Danny Oru pushpam mathram|date=29 June 2009|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9i-mY-FwqQ|access-date=27 September 2017|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011123337/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9i-mY-FwqQ|url-status=live}}</ref>
The ''Manorama Music'' company chanced upon an old audio cassette of Baburaj rendering some of his own compositions in a platform of friends' circle. The cassette named 'Baburaj Padunnu' was re-mixed and became an instant hit.<ref>{{Citation|title=Baburaj Paadunnu|date=1 January 2005|url=http://us.napster.com/artist/msbaburaj/album/baburaj-paadunnu-manorama-music|access-date=27 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928005713/http://us.napster.com/artist/msbaburaj/album/baburaj-paadunnu-manorama-music|archive-date=28 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The tracks gave Kerala a rejuvenated taste of Baburaj's music with his unique style of soulful singing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/magazine/890155/how-kerala-came-to-embrace-the-alien-form-of-ghazals|title=How Kerala came to embrace the unfamiliar musical genre of ghazals|last=Nair|first=Malini|website=Scroll.in|date=28 August 2018 |access-date=20 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220230743/https://scroll.in/magazine/890155/how-kerala-came-to-embrace-the-alien-form-of-ghazals|archive-date=20 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Though a successful composer, Baburaj was never a careerist, but kept his focus on his art. Today, various clubs and musical organisations conduct stage programs in honour of Baburaj ('Babukka' to his friends and acquaintances<ref>{{cite news|title = A journey in search of M.S. Baburaj|url = http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/22/stories/2006082201490200.htm|date = 22 August 2006|access-date = 23 July 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081024050517/http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/22/stories/2006082201490200.htm|archive-date = 24 October 2008|work = The Hindu|url-status = dead}}</ref>), and give the proceeds to his family. During his time, money was not easy to come by for artists,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Yesudas-offers-help-to-composer-Baburajs-widow/articleshow/15688704.cms|title=Yesudas offers help to composer Baburaj's widow|website=The Times of India|date=11 July 2002 |access-date=20 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303123437/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Yesudas-offers-help-to-composer-Baburajs-widow/articleshow/15688704.cms|archive-date=3 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and Baburaj never managed to earn much, dying in poverty. "Thrikkakkare theerthakkare" sung by P. Susheela in the 1978 film ''Yagaswam'', directed by Hariharan, was his last recorded song.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/baburaj-through-his-wifes-eyes/article8578151.ece |title=Baburaj, through his wife's eyes - the Hindu |website=The Hindu |date=9 May 2016 |access-date=20 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510010007/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/baburaj-through-his-wifes-eyes/article8578151.ece |archive-date=10 May 2016 |url-status=live |last1=Kumar |first1=P. k Ajith }}</ref>
In 1983, Baburaj posthumously received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in Light Music category.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaculture.org/light-music/467 |title=Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Light Music |publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala|access-date=26 February 2023}}</ref> In 2014, Baburaj was awarded Kamukara Music Award posthumously, instituted by Kamukara Foundation. The award was received by his wife Bicha Baburaj.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-17 |title=Baburaj selected for Kamukara Music award |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/baburaj-selected-for-kamukara-music-award-114051700695_1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607103530/https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/baburaj-selected-for-kamukara-music-award-114051700695_1.html |archive-date=2023-06-07 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Business Standard}}</ref>
==Personal life== Baburaj married Bicha, daughter of Kallayi Kundungal Moideen and Bichamina, in 1956. They had nine children, Sabira, Deedar, Gulnar, Abdul Jabbar, Shamshad, Roshna, Zulfikar, Farhad and Shamna.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-12 |title=Music director Baburaj's wife passes away |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/ms-baburaj-1.6263761 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Mathrubhumi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-13 |title=Music director MS Baburaj's wife Bicha Baburaj passes away |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=706458&u=music-director-ms-baburajs-wife-bicha-baburaj-passes-away-706458 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Kerala Kaumudi}}</ref> ==Death== Baburaj died on 7 October 1978 in a general hospital in Madras (now Chennai) at the age of 49 after suffering a massive haemorrhagic stroke.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-08 |title=Living in the memories of M S Baburaj's sweet evergreen melodies |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2013/Oct/08/living-in-the-memories-of-m-s-baburaj%E2%80%99s-sweet-evergreen-melodies-524359.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727001337/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2013/Oct/08/living-in-the-memories-of-m-s-baburaj%E2%80%99s-sweet-evergreen-melodies-524359.html |archive-date=2024-07-27 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
==Notable songs== * ''Thamasamenthe Varuvan Pranasakhi'' * ''Pranasakhi'' * ''Anuraga Ganam Pole'' * ''Oru Pushpam Mathramen Hridayathil Sookshikkam'' * ''Vaasantha Panjami Naalil'' * ''Ezhuthiyatharanu Sujatha'' * ''Kanneerum Swapnangalum Vilkkuvanaayi Vannavan Njan'' * ''Eeranuduthumkondambaram Chuttunna'' * ''Aadiyil Vachanamundaayi'' * ''Kalichirimaaratha Penne'' * ''Vichana Theerame'' * ''Innale Mayangumbol'' * ''Thankam Vegam'' * ''Chandramimbam Nenjilettum'' * ''Pavada prayathil'' * ''Annu ninte Nunakkuzhi'' * ''Vellichilankayaninjum'' * ''Kadali Vazha Kayyilirunnu'' * ''Surumayezhuthiya Mizhikale'' * ''Pathiravayilla Pournamikanyakku Pathinezhoe Pathinettoe Prayam'' * ''Pottatha Ponnin Kinavu Kondoru Pattunoolonjala Ketti Njan'' * ''Panja Varna Thatha Pole Konji Vanna Penne'' * ''Pranasakhee Njan Verumoru'' * ''Thaliritta Kinakkal Than Thamara Maala vangan'' * ''Thaane Thirinjum Marinjum'' * ''Sooryakanthee... Sooryakanthee...'' * ''Oru Kochu Swapnathin Chirakumayi'' * ''Kadale Neela Kadale'' * ''Akale Akale Neelakasam'' * ''Ikkarayanente Thamasam'' * ''Pottithakarnna kinavinte'' * ''Anjana Kannezhuthi'' * ''Arabi Kadaloru Manavalan'' * ''Kanmani Neeyen'' * ''Kanmaniye Karayathurangu'' * ''Adyathe Kanmani'' * ''Innente Karalile'' * ''Oru Kotta Ponnundallo'' * ''Nadikalil Sundari Yamuna'' * ''Thamarakumbilallo Mama Hrudayam'' * ''Maamalakalkkappurathu'' * ''Thedunnathaare shoonyathayil'' * ''Anuraaga Nadakathin'' * ''Aadanumariyaam'' * ''Jeevitheswarikkekuvaanoru'' * ''Kottum njan keettilla'' * ''Kaanan pattatha kanakathin manimuthe'' * ''Vinnile kavil pularumbol (Priya)'' * ''Kanninu Kannaya Kanna (Priya)'' * ''Kanneeraloru puzhayundakki (Priya)'' * ''Aadanumariyam kamuka hridayathe (Priya)''
==Discography== {{colbegin}} * Minnaminugu (1957) * Umma (1960) * Kandam Becha Kottu (1961) * Mudiyanaya Puthran (1961) * Laila Majnu (1962) * Palattu Koman (Konkiyamma) (1962) * Bhagyajathakam (1962) * Ninamaninja Kalpadukal (1963) * Moodupadam (1963) * Thacholi Othenan (1964) * Kuttikkuppayam (1964) * Karutha Kai (1964) * Bhargavi Nilayam (1964) * Bharthavu (1964) * Subaidha(1965) * Kadathukaran (1965) * Porter Kunjali (1965) * Ammu (1965) * Kuppivala (1965) * Thankakkudam (1965) * Kattuthulasi (1965) * Mayavi (1965) * Chettathi (1965) * Thommante Makkal (1965) * Sarppakkaadu (1965) * Maanikyakottaram (1966) * Penmakkal (1966) * Koottukar (1966) * Kaattumallika (1966) * Anarkali (1966) * Tharavattamma (1966) * Poochakkanni (1966) * Kanakachilanga (1966) * Iruttinte Athmavu (1967) * Agniputhri (1967) * Balyakalasakhi (1967) * Udhyogastha (1967) * Karutha Rathrikal (1967) * Khadeeja (1967) * Anweshichu Kandethiyilla (1967) * Collector Malathy (1967) * Pareeksha (1967) * Manaswini (1968) * Inspector (1968) * Kaarthika (1968) * Lakshaprabhu (1968) * Love in Kerala (1968) * Midumidukki (1968) * Anchu Sundarikal (1968) * Sandhya (1969) * Velliyazhcha (1969) * Virunnukari (1969) * Saraswathi (1970) * Anadha (1970) * Olavum Theeravum (1970) * Bheekara Nimishangal (1970) * Vivaham Swargathil (1970) * Ambalapravu (1970) * Priya (1970) * Cross Belt (1970) * Kuttyedathi (1971) * Manpeda (1971) * Lora Neeyevide (1971) * Rathrivandi (1971) * Puthenveedu (1971) * Ernakulam Junction (1971) * Panimudakku (1972) * Pulliman (1972) * Sambhavami Yuge Yuge (1972) * Azhimukham (1972) * Mappusakshi (1972) * Bhadradeepam (1973) * Aaradhika (1973) * Ladies Hostel (1973) * Soundaryapooja (1973) * Manassu (1973) * Chuzhi (1973) * Kaamini (1974) * Nathoon (1974) * Swarnna Malsyam (1975) * Bhaaryaye Aavashyamundu (Samarppanam) (1975) * Criminals (Kayangal) (1975) * Njaan Ninne Premikkunnu (1975) * Sthreedhanam (1975) * Appooppan (Charithram Aavarthikkunnilla) (1976) * Srishti (1976) * Pushpasharam (1976) * Allahu Akbar (1977) * Dweepu (1977) * Yatheem (1977) * Gaandharvam (Kanakam) (1978) * Bhrashtu (1978) * Yagaswam (1978) * College Beauty (1979) * Krishnatulasi (1979) {{colend}}
==See also== * List of Indian composers
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20180117181325/http://babukka.in/ babukka.in] *{{IMDb name|0045101|name=M.S. Baburaj}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20081209021410/http://www.mysticswara.com/baburaj.aspx M. S. Baburaj the genius] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20081014094626/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/10/10/stories/2008101050180300.htm Unforgettable Baburaj – The Hindu] *{{YouTube|UbzIqA-Dago|Baburaj singing ''Thane thirinjum marinjum''...}} * MS Baburaj at [https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/listsongs.php?md=43 Malayalachalachithram.com] * MS Baburaj at [https://malayalasangeetham.info/ Malayalasangeetham.info ]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Baburaj, M.S}} Category:Malayalam film score composers Category:Musicians from Kozhikode Category:1921 births Category:1978 deaths Category:Harmonium players Category:20th-century Indian composers Category:Film musicians from Kerala Category:20th-century organists Category:Indian male film score composers Category:20th-century male composers Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award