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S. P. Venkatesh (5 March 1955 – 3 February 2026), also credited as Sangeetharajan or Sangeetha Raja, was an Indian music director and composer who primarily worked in Malayalam films besides Tamil and Kannada films. He was at his prime in the late 1980s and 1990s, being reputed for his background scores and songs in Malayalam cinema.
S. P. Venkatesh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Sangeetharajan |
| Born | 5 March 1955 |
| Died | 3 February 2026 (aged 70) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Genres | Film score |
| Occupations | Film score composer, music director, instrumentalist |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals, violin |
Life and career
editVenkatesh's father Pazhani was an accomplished mandolin player. Earlier in his life, he played guitar, banjo and mandolin, and was an assistant musical director to Shyam and Raveendran during his early days. He was introduced into the Malayalam film industry by Dennis Joseph, with his first break coming in the film Rajavinte Makan, directed by Thampi Kannanthanam. The film and the songs in it were big hits, and Venkatesh subsequently became a regular collaborator of Thampi's, resulting in a series of hit musical albums during the 1990s. His most well-known film scores include Indrajaalam, Kilukkam, Minnaram, Spadikam, Dhruvam, Kauravar, Johnnie Walker, Kizhakkan Pathrose, and Hitler.
He also handled the orchestration for many other music directors. He composed background scores for films for which songs were composed by other composers, such as Devasuram. He has also scored for some Bollywood and Bengali films.
In 1993, he won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director for his work in Paithrukam and Janam, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for his work in Paithrukam.
In 1999, he notably recorded nine songs in a single day for the unreleased Tamil film Ithu Mudivithillai starring Babu Ganesh and Vichithra.[1]
Venkatesh died from cardiac arrest on 3 February 2026, at the age of 70.[2][3]
Discography
editMalayalam films
editOther language films
edit| Year | Film | Language | Songs | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Prema Yuddha | Kannada | Yes | Yes | |
| 1988 | Poovukkul Boogambam | Tamil | Yes | Yes | |
| 1989 | Kaaval Poonaigal | Tamil | Yes | Yes | |
| En Kanavar | Tamil | Yes | Yes | ||
| Madhuri | Kannada | Yes | Yes | ||
| Sharavegada Saradara | Kannada | Yes | Yes | ||
| 1990 | Paattali Magan | Tamil | Yes | Yes | |
| Pathimoonam Number Veedu | Tamil | Yes | Yes | ||
| Salem Vishnu | Tamil | Yes | Yes | ||
| Poli Kitty | Kannada | Yes | Yes | ||
| Panchama Veda | Kannada | Yes | Yes | ||
| Ekalavya | Kannada | Yes | Yes | ||
| Ashwamedha | Kannada | Yes | Yes | ||
| 1991 | Nanbargal | Tamil | Yes | Yes | |
| Vigneshwar | Tamil | Yes | Yes | ||
| Theechatti Govindan | Tamil | Yes | Yes | ||
| Sundarakanda | Kannada | Yes | Yes | ||
| Keralida Kesari | Kannada | Yes | Yes | ||
| 1992 | Idhuthanda Sattam | Tamil | Yes | Yes | |
| Hosa Raaga | Kannada | Yes | Yes | ||
| Megha Mandara | Kannada | Yes | Yes | ||
| Muskurahat | Hindi | No | Yes | ||
| Mera Dil Tere Liye | Hindi | No | Yes | ||
| 1993 | Gardish | Hindi | No | Yes | |
| Rajadhi Raja Raja Kulothunga Raja Marthanda Raja Gambeera Kathavaraya Krishna Kamarajan | Tamil | No | Yes | ||
| 1995 | Maru Visaranai | Tamil | Yes | Yes | |
| Aragini | Kannada | Yes | Yes | ||
| Nilukada Nakshatra | Kannada | Yes | Yes | ||
| 1997 | Virasat | Hindi | No | Yes | |
| 1999 | Adutha Kattam | Tamil | Yes | Yes | |
| Z | Kannada | No | Yes | ||
| 2000 | Nee Enthan Vaanam | Tamil | Yes | Yes | |
| 2001 | Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar | Hindi | No | Yes | |
| 2002 | Game | Tamil | Yes | Yes | |
| Ammaiyappa | Tamil | Yes | Yes | ||
| Sathi | Bengali | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2003 | Champion | Bengali | Yes | Yes | |
| Mayer Shakti | Bengali | Yes | Yes | ||
| Nater Guru | Bengali | Yes | Yes | ||
| Sangee | Bengali | Yes | Yes | ||
| Vadakku Vaasal | Tamil | Yes | Yes | ||
| Bheeshmar | Tamil | Yes | Yes | ||
| Hungama | Hindi | No | Yes | ||
| 2004 | Remote | Tamil | Yes | Yes | |
| 2005 | Kyon Ki | Hindi | No | Yes | |
| 2006 | Iruvar Mattum | Tamil | No | Yes | |
| 2007 | Muni | Tamil | No | Yes | |
| Amrutha Vaani | Kannada | No | Yes | ||
| 2008 | Bhalobasa Bhalobasa | Bengali | Yes | Yes | |
| Bajimaat | Bengali | Yes | Yes | ||
| Jor | Bengali | Yes | Yes | ||
| Kasimedu Govindan | Tamil | No | Yes | ||
| 2009 | Pinju Manasu | Tamil | No | Yes | |
| 2010 | Mandabam | Tamil | No | Yes | |
| Unakkaga En Kadhal | Tamil | No | Yes | ||
| Tiruppur | Tamil | No | Yes | ||
| Aithalakkadi | Kannada | No | Yes | ||
| 2013 | Boss: Born to Rule | Bengali | No | Yes | |
| 2016 | Suli | Kannada | Yes | Yes | |
| 2017 | Veera Ranachandi | Kannada | Yes | Yes | |
| 2021 | Otru | Tamil | Yes | Yes |
References
edit- ↑ "Indiainfo: Tamil: Movie News". movies.indiainfo.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2001. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ PTI (4 February 2026). "Music Director SP Venkatesh Dies at 70". www.deccanchronicle.com. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ↑ "എസ്പി വെങ്കിടേഷ് അന്തരിച്ചു; മലയാളത്തിലെ പ്രിയഗാനങ്ങളുടെ ശില്പി..." Manorama News (in Malayalam). 3 February 2026.
Sources
edit- "SP. Venkatesh – Malayalam Music Director". www.raaga.com. Retrieved 15 November 2008.
External links
edit- S. P. Venkatesh at IMDb
- www.gomolo.in profile Archived 4 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- www.citwf.com profile
- SP Venkitesh at MSI
- S. P. Venkatesh discography at Discogs