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M.B. Sreenivasan

M.B. Sreenivasan

Composer · Died March 9, 1988, aged 62 · Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh

Manamadurai Balakrishnan Sreenivasan (19 September 1925 – 9 March 1988), or MBS, as he was called, was one of the finest ever composers in Malayalam cinema who worked mainly in the Malayalam and Tamil film industries. He was born to an orthodox Tamil Brahmin family on 19 September 1925 in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. He had his schooling at P.S. High School, Chennai. During his college days at Madras Presidency College, he was attracted to communist ideals and joined the Madras Students Organisation. His acquaintance with Nemai Ghosh, a Bengali director, paved his entry into films. His first film song was written to the words of noted Tamil lyricist, Jayakanthan, for the Tamil film Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar. He played a major part in the formation of Indian People Theatre Association (IPTA). He formed the Madras Youth Choir in 1971, which sings Indian Choral Music, based at Chennai. They released a twin cd Pallupaduvome by Charsur and proposed to release a children's CD Poo Vaenuma that was composed by MBS. He also acted in a Tamil movie, Agraharathil Kazhutai. MBS produced many hits in Malayalam films. His style of music involved only minimal orchestration and were noted for their simple lucidity. He is the one who introduced the legendary singer K. J. Yesudas to film industry.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 19, 1925
Died
March 9, 1988 (aged 62)
From
Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh
Works as
Composer
Titles
5 on MovieCove · 47 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27

What are M.B. Sreenivasan's films like?

Across a limited sample of 4 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Power and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Power
31%
Bonds
19%
Self
19%
Survival
18%
Morality
13%
Corruption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 4 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 1 · Dark 3

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 3 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 2 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 0 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 1

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 0 · Affecting 0 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 3 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings shown from 5 titles

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
3
Tense
3
Bittersweet
2
Dread
1
Cold
1

How their films linger

Devastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch M.B. Sreenivasan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, all 5 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for M.B. Sreenivasan's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted.

Filmography

47 credits, 5 with a MovieCove page.

  • Mattoral(1988)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Ore Thooval Pakshikal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Composer

  • Anantaram (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Composer

  • Swathi Thirunal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Composer

  • Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivarathrikal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Composer

  • Amrutham Gamaya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Composer

  • Purushartham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Songs

  • Nimishangal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Composer

  • Meenamasathile Suryan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Composer

  • Irakal(1985)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Ayanam(1985)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Panchavadi Palam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Composer

  • Adaminte Vaariyellu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Composer

  • Face to Face (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Composer

  • Akkare(1984)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Manju (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Composer

  • Lekhayude Maranam: Oru Flashback(1983)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Saagaram Santham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Composer

  • Rugma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Composer

  • Oru Swakaryam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Composer

  • Vaarikuzhi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Composer

  • Idavela (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Composer

  • Elippathayam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Composer

  • Yavanika (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Composer · Lyricist

  • Ilakkangal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Composer

  • Vida Parayum Munpe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Composer

  • Kolangal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Composer

  • Valarthumrugangal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Composer

  • Oppol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Composer

  • Mela (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Composer

  • Vilkkanundu Swapnangal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Composer

  • The Chola Heritage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Composer

  • Ulkadal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Composer

  • Nimajjanam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Composer

  • Onappudava (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Composer

  • Siva Thaandavam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Composer · Lyricist

  • Agraharathil Kazhutai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Composer · as Professor Narayanaswami

  • Prayanam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Composer

  • Kanyakumari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Composer

  • Nirmalyam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Composer

  • Swayamvaram (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Composer

  • Madhuvidhu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Composer

  • Kadal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Composer

  • Kavyamela (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Playback Singer

  • Vivaha Bandham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Composer

  • Kannum Karalum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Composer

  • Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Composer

Career shape

A full career of 46 titles from 1960 to 1988.

Highest rated

Irakal (1985)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Lekhayude Maranam: Oru Flashback (1983)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 46: 0 only acting, 1 with another roleWriting2 of 46: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleMusic44 of 46: 41 only music, 3 with another roleOther crew2 of 46: 2 only other crew, 0 with another role

46 titles, 3 with more than one role.

By decade

1960s5 · crew1970s10 · 1 acting · 10 crew1980s31 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it.

How do M.B. Sreenivasan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 81st percentile, the median of all 5; across a limited sample of 4 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Approval · how many liked their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Reach · how many have seen their films

16thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Midcredits score across 5 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th1
  • 25th to 49th1

Shape of the crowd

2 of their 5 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser1
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · composer

Akkare (1984)

80th percentile spread · 20% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

Irakal (1985)

Midcredits 98th · 89% liked

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does M.B. Sreenivasan work with?

People who share at least 2 of M.B. Sreenivasan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bharat Gopy shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors