SP Venkatesh Dies at 70, Mollywood Pays Tribute

Veteran music director SP Venkatesh, a towering presence in Malayalam cinema known for his powerful melodies and evocative background scores, passed away at the age of 70 following a cardiac arrest. He breathed his last at his residence in Chennai, leaving behind a rich musical legacy that shaped some of Mollywood’s most iconic films.

A journey from guitarist to master composer

SP Venkatesh began his film career in 1971 as a guitarist before moving into film music professionally. He worked as an assistant music director in Kannada cinema from 1975 and later assisted several senior composers, including Raghavan Master. His breakthrough as an independent composer came with the Telugu film “Prema Yuddham” in 1981, but it was Malayalam cinema that would define his enduring reputation.

Defining an era of Malayalam cinema

Venkatesh rose to prominence with “Rajavinte Makan”, starring Mohanlal, which established him as a sought-after composer. He went on to collaborate closely with filmmakers such as Dennis Joseph, Thampi Kannanthanam, and Joshiy. His filmography includes classics like “Kilukkam”, “Minnaram”, “Johnnie Walker”, “Dhruvam”, “Valsalyam”, “Paithrukam”, “Sphadikam”, “Mannar Mathai Speaking”, and “Manthrikam”.

Award-winning excellence and background scores

In 1993, SP Venkatesh won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director for “Paithrukam” and “Janam”. Apart from chart-topping songs, his background scores in films such as “Devasuram”, “Mahayanam”, “No. 20 Madras Mail”, and “Appu” developed a devoted fan following for their intensity and narrative depth.

Important Facts for Exams

• Kerala State Film Awards are among the oldest state film awards in India.
• Background scores play a key role in shaping cinematic narrative and emotion.
• Malayalam cinema is popularly known as Mollywood.
• Film music directors often work across multiple Indian language industries.

Tributes from the Malayalam film fraternity

Actors, singers, and filmmakers across Mollywood mourned the loss. Suresh Gopi described Venkatesh’s melodies as timeless, while filmmaker B Unnikrishnan recalled his rare ability to elevate both action thrillers and romantic comedies. Singer MG Sreekumar called it a personal loss, saying Malayalees would sing his songs for generations. The last rites are scheduled to be held in Alapakkam, Chennai, as the industry bids farewell to one of its most influential composers.