Ravindran, who composed music for 2,000 films and bagged a national award for the Malayalam film "Bharatham" apart from several state awards, was considered an icon who pursued the trends that began in the late 1970s which involved the fusion of Western, Indian and Kerala folk music.

Despite being an early proponent of this fusion, Ravindran had held on to the rusticity for which Malayalam film music was always known.

Born in Kollam in 1943, he studied music at the Swathi Thirunal School of Music in Thiruvananthapuram and in the late 1960s left for Chennai to make a career in music.

Though his first film as an independent music director was "Choola" in 1979, "Thenum Vayambhum", starring the legendary Malayalam hero Prem Nazir in 1981, announced his arrival with all its songs going on to become all-time hits.

Ravindran's career took the highest trajectory with "Vasantha Geethangal" - an album produced by veteran singer K.J. Yesudas in the early 80s.

A song from the album - "Mamankam palakuri kondaadi" - serenaded an entire generation of Malayalees as it eulogised the natural beauty and culture of Kerala.

Though relatively less complex than the other compositions in the album like "Valampiri Shankhil" and "Arayannme", "Mamankam..." was more popular with the masses.

The album was perhaps one of the earliest attempts at fusion music in Kerala. The use of electronic instruments in the album, though not new to Malayalam music then, was definitely a bold move.

Ravindran was instrumental in moulding the career of award-winning playback singer K.S. Chithra.

He advised her in 1982 to seek a career in Chennai. None other than Chitra, apart from Yesudas, could have done better justice to Ravindran's muse.

Ravindran said in a TV interview a few years back: "Chitra has got divine blessings. Only a few artistes give more than what I ask for. Das-ettan (Yesudas) and Chitra are among them."

In fact, Yesudas himself is said to have admitted that Ravindran was the most difficult and demanding music director he had ever worked with.

Ravindran composed some of the most difficult songs, in terms of pitch and complexity of notes, sung by Yesudas.

Be it the high-voltage "Shree Lathikakal" from Venu Nagavalli's "Sukhamo Devi" (1986) or the serpentine "Arayanname" or even "Harimuraliravam" from Shaji Kailash's "Aaram Thampuran" (1997), they all showcased Yesudas' range.

Ravindran's mastery over rhythm was apparent in most of his songs, which saw changes in cadence very often and in the style of O.P. Nayyar, the veteran Bollywood music director.

Ravindran's songs merged the best of classical notes with popular tastes, thus providing the singers a chance to bring a roller-coaster effect to the songs.

He was also a genius at channelising folk music into film songs. The song "Kasthuri Ente Kasthuri" from film director Kamal's "Vishnulokam" (1990) was perhaps one of the first songs to be composed on the lines of the "theru koothu" or street dance, famous in Tamil Nadu.

The current crop of "koothu" songs like "Pacha Maanga" and "Kanni Maasam" are a far cry from the original - both in terms of mass appeal and depth.

The same can be said about "Pulari Poonthoniyil" or even "Azhake..." from the award winning "Amaram" (1991) by the late Bharathan.

Ravindran even managed to pay tribute to the vintage era of theatre music through his "Pathu Veluppinu, Mutathu Nilkana" from another of Bharathan's masterpieces "Venkalam" (1993).

But it was left to another genius film director, Sibi Malayil, to bring out arguably the best of Ravindran with "His Highness Abdullah" (1990). The movie's song "Pramadhavanam Veendum", with its unbridled flow backed by actor Mohan Lal's brilliant performance, became an all-time classic.

"His Highness..." also saw the only jugalbandi in Malayalam music between Carnatic and Hindustani genres through the song "Devasabhathalam", sung by Yesudas, Sujith and Ravindran himself.

It would not be wrong to say that Ravindran's music had a major role to play in the rise of actor Mohan Lal in the late 80s and early 90s as almost all the hit movies of the actor were music-dominated. Be it "Vishnulokam", "His Highness..." or "Bharatham" - all had the Ravindran touch.

One of Ravindran's later films, "Nandanam", partially succeeded in bringing back the industry from the brink of mediocrity.

He may have breathed his last but his melodies will continue to echo in Kerala's lush groves, the lap of its backwaters and the heart of the Malayalee.