S.P. Venkatesh, legendary South Indian music director, dies at 70
THE Indian film industry is mourning the loss of veteran music director S.P. Venkatesh, who passed away following a cardiac arrest on Tuesday. He was 70.
Venkatesh was a titan of the 1990s Malayalam "Golden Age," best known for his iconic collaborations with superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty. From the soulful melodies of Kilukkam to the thunderous background score of Spadikam, his work defined a generation of cinema.
A master of orchestration and a former ace guitarist, Venkatesh leaves behind a legacy of hundreds of film scores and a Kerala State Film Award. His contribution to South Indian music remains unparalleled.
Venkatesh began his film career in 1971 as a guitarist, working alongside noted music director Vijayabhaskar, before establishing himself as an assistant music director in Kannada cinema in 1975. He made his debut as an independent music director in 1981 with the Telugu film Prema Yuddham.
In Malayalam cinema, Venkatesh worked as an assistant music director with composers including Raghavan Master and contributed to background scores under A. T. Ummar, notably for Sathyan Anthikad’s T. P. Balagopalan M.A.. He later emerged as a full-fledged music director, gaining wider recognition with the support of filmmakers Dennis Joseph and Thampi Kannanthanam.
His work in Thampi Kannanthanam’s Rajavinte Makan, particularly its songs and background score, left a lasting impact on Malayalam audiences and marked a turning point in his career. Through the 1990s, Venkatesh became one of the most prominent composers in Malayalam cinema, known for seamlessly blending musical richness with literary depth while retaining popular appeal.
He was associated with numerous successful films, including Rajavinte Makan, Vilambaram, Vazhiyorakazhchakal, Douthyam, Bhoomiyile Rajakumaaran, Vyooham, Kuttettan, Appu (background score), Mahayanam (background score), Naadodi, Kaazhchakkappuram, Ennodishtam Koodamo, Kilukkam, Johnnie Walker, Devasuram (background score), Dhruvam, Valsalyam, Paithrukam, Sainyam, Sopanam, Minnaram, Mannar Mathai Speaking, Manthrikam and Sphadikam, among many others.
Renowned for his mastery of instruments such as the mandolin and for his evocative background scores, S. P. Venkatesh remains remembered as a defining musical voice of Malayalam cinema’s golden era.
