M.M. Keeravani: The Humble Maestro of Indian Cinema

A Journey Through Music

Is there anyone in India as modest as composer M.M. Keeravani? It seems unlikely. Keeravani prefers to keep the spotlight off himself. He reflects, “What is there to discuss? I have been composing for 38 years. My journey began as an assistant to the legendary K. Chakravarthy. My first solo film soundtrack was never released, which could have ended my career right there. It was Ram Gopal Varma’s Kshanam Kshanam that truly brought me into the limelight, and I owe a lot to Ramuji. Everything else followed after that.”

Attributing Success to Fate

Keeravani attributes his enduring success to divine grace. “It’s all thanks to God’s kindness. There are countless talented musicians who deserve recognition more than I do. I believe it’s about being in the right place at the right time.”

Beyond 'Naatu Naatu'

The soft-spoken composer is not fond of being labeled solely as the Naatu Naatu composer. “I had a career before RRR, and I hope to have many more years ahead.”

Bollywood and Beyond

Keeravani expresses no hesitation in working within Bollywood. “I was quite active in Hindi cinema between 2000 and 2002. The Bhatts, Mahesh and Mukesh, invited me to score several films, and I loved creating music for them. Songs like Jadoo Hai Nasha Hai and Banjara gained popularity. However, I became engrossed in Telugu cinema and couldn’t devote time to Bollywood, especially since the offers weren’t appealing.”

Open to New Opportunities

Currently, Keeravani is receptive to offers from across India and beyond. “Why limit myself to India? I welcome opportunities from anywhere in the world. I have previously worked on several Hindi film soundtracks and have maintained a great relationship with Mahesh Bhatt and Neeraj Pandey.”

Language is No Barrier

He dismisses the notion that his limited Hindi proficiency hinders his Bollywood career. “I may not write in Hindi, but I understand it. Language isn’t a barrier. Western audiences danced to my Naatu Naatu from RRR. Do they comprehend the lyrics?”