MM Keeravani wins global adulation after getting Golden Globe award

ANANTAPUR: MM Keeravani, named after a raga of Indian Music, gained attention across the globe after receiving the Golden Globe award for his exemplary composition of the Natu Natu song for the RRR movie.

Keeravani was a favourite raga for his father Shiva Shakti Datta, who named his son after it, expecting that the child would grow into a famous musician.
Being part of an agriculturist family and having mingled with the tribals of Raichur area who were doing the farm labour works, Keeravani gained knowledge in tribal folk songs alongside his exclusive learning of violin at Kovur.

Though Keeravaani was born into a Telugu family in Kovvur in West Godavari district, the joint family of his father Shiva Shakthi Datta and Vijayendra Prasad had years of attachment with the border areas of Karnataka. The family moved to Hirekotikal village of Manvi taluk in 1968 by purchasing seven acres of land that was closer to the temple town of Mantralayam.

Director Rajamouli was also born in Manvi taluka. Keeravani had spent many years in the camp and later shifted to Chennai for entry to the film industry.
The family had first owned two acres at Chilakadone in the Alur-Adoni road near Mantralayam. Keeravani had recalled the experiences of his joint family during several interviews and also about his association with about 40 tribals who were part of his family’s agricultural activities.

Keeravani began his career as an assistant music director with Malayalam composer C Rajamaniand Telugu composer K Chakravarthy in 1987. He assisted in the direction of movies such as Collectorgari Abbayi and Bharathamlo Arjunudu in the late 1980s.

The Tollywood music director, whose family is dedicated to the film industry, reached a peak after facing many financial struggles even to lead a normal family life. He has been an ardent devotee of Guru Raghavendra Swamy and a regular visitor to Mantralayam. Prior to entering the film industry, Keeravani and his family members had been a part of this spiritual pursuit as they lived near Manvi for many years. The Mutt authorities recalled that Rajamouli and Keeravani had come for a darshan of Guru Raghavendra Swamy after the huge success of Bahubali-II.

A festive atmosphere prevailed in many parts of Raichur and the border regions of Mantralayam as news spread of MM Keeravani winning the Golden Globe Award-2023 for his folk-based compositions of Natu Natu directed by his cousin SS Rajamouli. Narahari of Mantralayam recalled that the music director has been “a frequent visitor and a part of our area.”