S. P. Venkatesh

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.

Life and career Venkatesh'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.

Venkatesh died from cardiac arrest on 3 February 2026, at the age of 70.

Discography Malayalam films Year Film Songs ScoreNotes 1985 Janakeeya Kodathi 1986 Vivahithare Ithile Desatanakkili Karayarilla Rajavinte Makan Rareeram 1987 Vilambaram Vazhiyorakazchakal P.C. 369 Naradhan Keralathil Bhoomiyile Rajakkanmar 1989 Puthiya Karukkal Douthyam Mahayanam 1990 Vyooham Indrajaalam No.20 Madras Mail Appu Kuttettan 1991 Koodikazhcha Thudar Katha Kilukkam 1992 Naadody Cheppadividya Kaazhchakkppuram Ennodu Ishtam Koodamo Mahanagaram Kizhakkan Pathrose Kauravar Johnnie Walker Daddy 1993 Sthreedhanam Sowbhagyam Pravachakan Devaasuram Journalist Janam Injakkadan Mathai & Sons Ethu Manju Kaalam Customs Diary Vendor Daniel State Licency Dhruvam Valsalyam Sopanam Paithrukam Sainyam Gandharvam 1994 Kabooliwala Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu Minnaram Kashmeeram Kambolam Bheesmacharya Vishnu 1995 Highway Mannar Mathai Speaking Sphadikam Puthukkottayile Puthumanavalan Manthrikam Kusruthikaatu Kidilol Kidilam Kalamasseriyil Kalyanayogam Avittam Thirunaal Aarogya Sriman Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava Aadyathe Kanmani 1996 Swapna Lokathe Balabhaskaran Kaathil Oru Kinnaram Hitler Swarnakireedam 1997 Chandralekha Superman Nagarapuranam Lelam Hitler Brothers Ekkareyanente Manasam Maasmaram Bhoopathi 1998 Oro Viliyum Kathorthu Mayajalam Amma Ammaayiyamma Alibabayum Arara Kallanmarum 1999 Vazhunnor Parassala Pachan Payyannur Paramu Aayiram Meni Red Indians 2001 Ee Nadu Innale Vare Dubai Kakkakuyil Level Cross Dhosth 2002 Videsi Nair Swadesi Nair Jagathi Jagathish in Town 2004 Maratha Nadu Agninakshathram Vajram Runway Mampazhakkalam 2005 Junior Senior Iruvattam Manavaatti Pandippada 2006 Kilukkam Kilukilukkam Pathaka 2007 Detective 2009 Bharya Onnu Makkal Moonnu Patham Nilayile Theevandi 2010 Koottukar 9 KK Road 2013 Ginger 2014 Thomson Villa 2015 Samrajyam 2 2023 Kittiyal Ooty 2026 Velleppam

Tamil films Year Film Songs ScoreNotes 1988 Poovukkul Boogambam 1989 Kaaval Poonaigal En Kanavar 1990 Paattali Magan Pathimoonam Number Veedu Salem Vishnu 1991 Nanbargal Vigneshwar Theechatti Govindan 1992 Idhuthanda Sattam 1993 Rajadhi Raja Raja Kulothunga Raja Marthanda Raja Gambeera Kathavaraya Krishna Kamarajan 1995 Maru Visaranai 1999 Adutha Kattam 2000 Nee Enthan Vaanam 2002 Game Ammaiyappa 2003 Vadakku Vaasal Bheeshmar 2006 Iruvar Mattum 2007 Muni 2008 Kasimedu Govindan 2009 Pinju Manasu 2010 Mandabam Unakkaga En Kadhal Tiruppur 2021 Otru

Kannada films Bengali films

Hindi films