The world of South Indian cinema, particularly the Malayalam film industry, is in mourning as the legendary music composer SP Venkatesh passed away Today. He was 70 years old. A veteran musician, he reimagined sound and breathed his last at a private hospital in Chennai following age-related ailments. His family confirmed the news, adding that they will undertake his final rites later this week.
The Architect of Malayalam Cinema's Golden Era
SP Venkatesh was more than a composer; he was also a sonic storyteller. With his contributions he established an orchestral sound in Malayalam film music that was grand and classical in music, combining classical tones with music in Western styles.
His scorewriting with director Priyadarshan created some of the longest lasting soundtracks in Indian cinema.
- Kilukkam (1991): Much of his work in this Mohanlal-starrer can be regarded as a masterclass in music, and one of the songs to the country, especially “Meenthulliyum” and “Kilukil Pambaram,” continues to be evergreen hits since it was originally released in 1991.
- Spadikam (1995): Gave the thunderous, iconic background score which set the character of ‘Aadu Thoma,’ which gave him fame and notoriety when it was released.
- Minnaram (1994) & Thenmavin Kombath (1994): He was an interpreter between indigenous and modern worlds, a world renowned technical genius as well as winner of a number of awards.
A Master of background music
But from an instrumental standpoint, SP Venkatesh was the king of background music (BGM). No one had even the talent of building tension or deep pathos using violins and flutes before the digital age. A number of most famous “intro themes” for superstars such as Mohanlal and Mammootty were created by Venkatesh.
He also had an impressive exposure in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada cinema but his passion was still driven by some of the sensitivities of the Malayali audience.
Industry Tributes Pour In
A lot of friends in the film fraternity poured their tributes into social media as word of his passing spread. “Music has lost one of its most soulful voices today. The melodies of SP Venkatesh sir were the soundtrack of our youth. His BGM for Spadikam will echo in our ears forever,” Actor Mohanlal wrote on Twitter.
Filmmaker Priyadarshan talked about his profound grief saying, “He got my frames better than nobody else. We had not only a professional relationship; we had a musical spirit together. This is a personal loss.”
A Lasting Legacy
SP Venkatesh’s output included more than 40 years and hundreds of films. And while the industry turned toward electronic music, his “unplugged” and orchestral form was a departure point for composers of the new generation. His wife and two children remain. His departure puts an end to a particular, lush moment in the history of film music, when melody trumped artifice.
