Chennai: Renowned Indian music director and composer S.P. Venkatesh, who played a pivotal role in the golden era of Malayalam cinema, passed away on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. He was 70 years old.
According to family sources, the veteran composer breathed his last at his residence in Chennai following a sudden cardiac arrest. His funeral is scheduled to be held on Wednesday in Alapakkam, Chennai.
A Career Defined by Melodies Born on March 5, 1955, S.P. Venkatesh was the son of the accomplished mandolin player Pazhani. He began his musical journey as a guitarist in 1971 under music director Vijay Bhaskar and later transitioned into music direction, making his independent debut in 1981 with the Telugu film Prema Yuddham.
While he worked across Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, and Hindi films, he is most celebrated for his immense contribution to the Malayalam film industry (Mollywood). He became a household name with the 1986 blockbuster Rajavinte Makan, starring Mohanlal. The film’s background score and songs, particularly “Vinnile Gandharva Veenakal,” marked a turning point in his career and established him as a premier composer.
Major Contributions and Awards S.P. Venkatesh composed music for over 150 films and more than 500 songs. His work in the 1990s remains a benchmark for cinematic music in Kerala. Some of his most iconic works include:
- Kilukkam (Songs like “Kilukil Pambaram”)
- Spadikam
- Minnaram
- Johnnie Walker (The hit “Shanthamee Rathriyil”)
- Indrajalam
- Dhruvam
- Manthrikam
In 1993, he was honored with the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director for his soulful compositions in the films Paithrukam and Janam.
Often credited as “Sangeetharajan,” he was known for his mastery of instruments like the mandolin and guitar, and for his ability to blend modern orchestral arrangements with deep, literary melodies.
The film fraternity and fans across South India have expressed deep grief over the loss of the maestro whose music defined the nostalgia of a generation.
