Popular music director S P Venkatesh dies

Chennai: Popular music director S P Venkatesh, who rose to prominence with the film Rajavinte Makan (1986) died at his residence on Tuesday following cardiac arrest, a film industry source said.

He was 70.

The versatile South Indian music director was known for his collaboration with veteran actors like Mohanlal and Mammootty. He enthralled a multitude of fans with his soulful melodies and thunderous background scores.

He was credited as Sangeetharajan. Born on March 5, 1955, Venkatesh is the son of Mandolin player Pazhani. He started playing guitar in films with music director Vijay Bhaskar in 1971. He established himself as a versatile music director in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam films.

He entered the Malayalam film industry as a music director in 1985 through the film Janakeeya Kodathi.

Venkatesh won the Kerala State Film Award for best music director in 1993 for the films Paithrukam and Janam.

He gave several hit songs in films like Bhoomiyile Rajakkanmar, Vazhiyora Kazhchakal, Indrajalam, Nadodi, Manthrikam, Kilukkam, Minnaram, Sphadikam, and Johnny Walker.

Though he focused primarily on Malayalam movies, Venkatesh gave numerous hit songs in Tamil films, including, the song Enn Uyir from the movie Enga Vettu Mappillai.

The 1988 movie Poovukkul Bookambam was his first film in Tamil, and he went on to churn numerous hit numbers thereafter. Otru, the Tamil drama thriller written and directed by Mathivanan Sakthivel in 2021 features music composed by Venkatesh.

He provided background score in many Hindi films including, Kyon Ki, Hungama, Virasat, Gardish and Mera Dil Tere Liye.