Sreevalsan J. Menon is an Indian Carnatic vocalist and a music composer from Kerala.
Biography
After initial training under Rajalakshmi Krishnan (disciple of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar) and the violinist T.V. Ramani at Thrissur, Menon had much of his advanced tutelage under the late Neyyattinkara Vasudevan. Menon is an 'A TOP' grade artist of All India Radio and has given concerts all over the country including the National Concerts of AIR and Doordarshan. He has received several awards including Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award 2013, from the Madras Music Academy, and a title from Krishna Gana Sabha, also in Chennai, besides such institutions of repute in the Deccan. He has also participated in Music Transcends, a symphony held at Washington, D.C., in 2004, integrating Western and Indian classical music. His jugalbandis with Hindustani vocalist Ramesh Narayan and late Kathakali musicians Kalamandalam Sankaran Embranthiri and Kalamandalam Hyderali have been widely appreciated.
Menon's songs "I Be Here" and "I Have Secrets", as well as his background score for the film Saint Dracula 3D, were shortlisted and in contention for the Songs and Original Score categories of the 85th Academy Awards.
The background score by Sreevalsan for the film Ottaal, which won the Crystal Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2016, was praised for its laid back music in the award citation.
He was awarded the "Best Music Director" prize for the television series "Etho Janma Kalpanayil" in the Asianet Television Awards of 2024.
Sreevalsan is a speaker on the topic of music. As a TEDx speaker, he has presented his proposition on the ten most popular music scales worldwide.
Personal life
Menon is married and has a daughter and a son.
Career
Menon's music albums include Vanaprastham, a musical interpretation of the famous short story by M.T. Vasudevan Nair; Monsoon Anuraga a musical experience on monsoon rains. Vismaya, a fantasy video album featuring Artist Namboodiri, M T Vasudevan Nair and menon himself.
Sreevalsan has directed more than 100 agricultural technology dissemination videos. He currently specializes in studying and documenting rituals, folklore, folk art forms and other cultural ethos in relation to the agricultural history of Kerala under the project cult, culture and agriculture. Some of the prominent works that have been directed by him include Padayaniyum Karshika Samskrithiyum, Mayilpeeli Thookkam/ Arjuna Nritham, Mudiyett and Annam The Swan.
Filmography Year Film Language Notes2008 My Mother's Laptop Malayalam 2010 T. D. Dasan Std. VI B Malayalam 2012 Saint Dracula 3D English Shortlisted for Oscar Award for Best Song and Best Background Score2014 London Bridge Malayalam Swapaanam Malayalam Vidooshakan Malayalam 2015 Loham Malayalam Ottaal Malayalam Background Score Priyamanasam Malayalam Amoeba Malayalam Background Score Anarkali Malayalam Song: Over N Over 2016 Edavappathy Malayalam Background Score2017 Nilavariyathe Malayalam Background Score The great Indian road journey Background Score 2018 Appuvinte Sathyanweshanam Malayalam Background Score Padmini (film) Malayalam Music & Background Score 2019 Run Kalyani Malayalam Background Score Kenjira Malayalam Music & Background Score Gramavrikshathile Kuyil Malayalam Lead Actor, Music & Background Score John Malayalam Background Score 2022 Khedda (film) Malayalam Music2024 Varshangalkku Shesham Malayalam Singer - "Jeevithagaadhakale"
Albums Krishna - A Musical Reflection Vanaprastham Kshetranjali Monsoon Anuraga Classical Encounters - with guru Sri. Neyyatinkara Vasudevan Vismaya - Emotional Expressions: audio & music video album with Bini Panicker Manasa Smarami Madhuram Gayati Ananda Poonkatru Sree Guruvayurappan Gananjali : Vol - 3 Jugal Bandi : Vol 1 & 2 - with Kalamandalam Shankaran Embranthiri & Meledam Narayanan Sringaram Begane Baro Ramanan Bhavayami Navarasa Thillana Irayimman Thampi Kritis Rituleela Hare Swami Ayyappan The genius of Kunjan Nambiar Yamuna Ramayana Geetham Hridhi Advaita Dasa Kritis Tambura Hymns Poornathrayeesham Ashraye
References
External links Sreevalsan J. Menon - Official website 75 Original Songs Tune Up For 2012 Oscar® Will Sreevalsan bring home an Oscar? 104 Original Scores in 2012 Oscar® Race Video Interview - Carnatic musician, Vocalist - Sreevalsan J. Menon The Hindu - Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan and Sreevalsan J. Menon Swathithirunal.org The Hindu - AWESOME TRIO: Sreevalsan J. Menon, flanked by M.T. Vasudevan Nair, writer, and artist Namboodiri Newindpress - When dusk settles... Video - Vismaya Music Album My Mother's Laptop - Music & Background Score The Hindu - A musical version of Changampuzha’s ‘Ramanan' The Hindu - WELL composed! Sreevalsan with Nithyasree Mahadevan Remembering Mandolin U. Sreenivas (Malayalam) Interview with Sreevalsan J Menon - Times of India
Sreevalsan praises Action Hero Biju