# S. P. Venkatesh

S. P. Venkatesh (also credited as Sangeetharajan; born 5 March 1955) is an Indian music director and composer who primarily works in Malayalam films. He was at his prime in the late 80s and 90s, being reputed for his background scores and songs in Malayalam cinema.

## 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 has 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.

## Style and orchestration

Venkatesh's song compositions feature extensive use of acoustic guitar, bass guitar and violin orchestra, and his background scores feature synth-based orchestra fused with traditional strings. He also used symphonic style strings orchestration in most of his songs.

## Filmography
### Malayalam films

* Janakeeya Kodathi (1985)
* Vivahitare Itihile (1986)
* Desatanakkili Karayarilla (background music)
* Rajavinte Makan (1986/music)
* Rareeram (1986) (background music)
* Vilambaram (1987)
* Vazhiyorakkazhchakal (1987/music)
* P. C. 369 (1987)
* Naradhan Keralathil (1987)
* Bhoomiyile Rajakkanmar (1987/music)
* Puthiya Karukkal (1989/music)
* Douthyam (1989)
* Mahayanam (1989) (background music)
* Vyooham (1990)
* Indrajaalam (1990/music)
* No.20 Madras Mail (1990) (background music)
* Appu (1990) (background music)
* Kuttettan (1990)
* Koodikazhcha (1991/music)
* Thudar Katha (1991/music)
* Kilukkam (1991/music)
* Nadodi (1992/music)
* Cheppadividya (1992/Music)
* Kaazhchakkppuram (1992) (background music)
* Ennodishtam Koodamo (1992)
* Mahanagaram (1992) (background music)
* Kizhakkan Pathrose (1992/music)
* Kauravar (1992)
* Johnnie Walker (1992)
* Daddy (1992/Music)
* Sthreedhanam (1993/music)
* Sowbhagyam (1993/music)
* Pravachakan (1993/music)
* Devaasuram (1993) (background music)
* Journalist (1993/music)
* Janam (1993/music)
* Injakkadan Mathai & Sons (1993/music)
* Ethu Manju Kaalam (1993)
* Customs Diary (1993) (background music)
* Vendar danialState Licency (1993/music)
* Dhruvam (1993/music)
* Valsalyam (1993/music)
* Sopanam
* Paithrukam (1993/music)
* Sainyam (1993/music)
* Gandharvam (1993/Music)
* Kabooliwala (1994/music)
* Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu (1994/music)
* Minnaram (1994/music)
* Kashmeeram (1994) (background music)
* Kambolam (1994/music)
* Bheesmacharya (1994/music)
* Vishnu (1994) (background music)
* Highway (1995/music)
* Mannar Mathai Speaking (1995/music)
* Sphadikam (1995)
* Puthukkottayile Puthumanavalan (1995, music)
* Manthrikam (1995)
* Chandralekha (1997)
* Kusruthikaatu (1995) (background music)
* Kidilol Kidilam (1995, music)
* Kalamasseriyil Kalyanayogam (1995) (background music)
* Avittam Thirunaal Aarogya Sriman (1995)
* Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava (1995, music)
* Aadyathe Kanmani (1995) (Also for the Kannada remake: Muddina Kanmani (1997))
* Swapna Lokathe Balabhaskaran (1996, music)
* Kaathil Oru Kinnaram (1996)
* Swarnakireedam (1996, music)
* Superman (1997, music)
* Nagarapuranam (1997)
* Lelam (1997) (background music)
* Hitler Brothers (1997, music)
* Ekkareyanente Manasam (1997)
* Maasmaram (1997, music)
* Bhoopathi (1997, music)
* Oro Viliyum Kathorthu (1998)
* Mayajalam (1998)
* Amma Ammayiamma (1998) (background music)
* Alibabayum Arara Kallanmarum (1998) (background music)
* Vazhunnor (1999) (background music)
* Parassala Pachan Payyannur Paramu (1999)
* Aayiram Meni (1999)
* Red Indians (1999)
* Ee Nadu Innale Vare (2001)
* Dubai (2001) (background music)
* Kakkakuyil (background music) (2001)
* Level Cross (2001)
* Videsi Nair Swadesi Nair (2002)
* Jagathi Jagathish in Town (2002)
* Maratha Nadu (2004) (background music)
* Agninakshathram (2004) (background music)
* Vajram (2004) (background music)
* Runway (2004) (background music)
* Mambazhakalam (2004) (Background music)
* Junior Senior (2005) (background music)
* Iruvattam Manavaatti (2005) (background music)
* Pandippada (2005) (background music)
* Kilukkam Kilukilukkam (2006)
* Pathaka (2006) (background music)
* Detective (2007)
* Bharya Onnu Makkal Moonnu (2009, background)
* Patham Nilayile Theevandi (2009, music)
* Koottukar (2010, music)
* 9 KK Road (2010, music)
* Ginger (2013, music)
* Thomson Villa (2014, music)
* Ek Don ki Prem Kahani (2020, Music)
* Velleppam (2020) (songs, bgm)
* Kittiyal Ooty (Music Video 2023)

### Tamil films

* Poovukkul Boogambam (1988)
* Kaaval Poonaigal (1989)
* En Kanavar (1989)
* Paattali Magan (1990)
* Pathimoonam Number Veedu (1990)
* Salem Vishnu (1990)
* Nanbargal (1991)
* Vigneshwar (1991)
* Theechatti Govindan (1991)
* Idhuthanda Sattam (1992)
* Rajadhi Raja Raja Kulothunga Raja Marthanda Raja Gambeera Kathavaraya Krishna Kamarajan (1993) (Background music only)
* Maru Visaranai (1995)
* Adutha Kattam (1999)
* Nee Enthan Vaanam (2000)
* Game (2002)
* Ammaiyappa (2002)
* Vadakku Vaasal (2003)
* Bheeshmar (2003)
* Remote (2004)
* Iruvar Mattum (2006) (Background music only)
* Muni (2007) (Background music only)
* Kasimedu Govindan (2008) (Background music only)
* Pinju Manasu (2009) (Background music only)
* Mandabam (2010) (Background music only)
* Unakkaga En Kadhal (2010) (Background music only)
* Tiruppur (2010) (Background music only)
* Aanandha Bhairavi (Tamil&Hindi) 2020 Music
* Otru (2021)

### Kannada films

* Prema Yuddha (1981)
* Madhuri (1989)
* Sharavegada Saradara (1989)
* Poli Kitty (1990)
* Panchama Veda (1990)
* Ekalavya (1990)
* Ashwamedha (1990)
* Sundarakanda (1991)
* Keralida Kesari (1991)
* Hosa Raaga (1992)
* Aragini (1992)
* Megha Mandara (1992)
* Muddina Kanmani (1996)
* Nilukada Nakshatra (1995)
* Z (1999) (BGM only)
* Amrutha Vani (2007) (BGM only)
* Aithalakkadi (2010) (BGM only)
* Suli (2016)
* Veera Ranachandi (2017)

### Bengali films

| Year | Film |
| 2013 | Boss: Born to Rule |
| 2008 | Bhalobasa Bhalobasa |
| 2008 | Bajimaat |
| 2008 | Jor |
| 2003 | Champion |
| 2003 | Mayer Shakti |
| 2003 | Nater Guru |
| 2003 | Sangee |
| 2002 | Sathi |

### Hindi films

* Kyon Ki (2005) (Background Score Only)
* Hungama (2003) (Background Score Only)
* Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar (2001) (Background Score Only)
* Virasat (1997) (Background Score Only)
* Gardish (1993) (Background Score Only)
* Muskurahat (1992) (Background Score Only)
* Mera Dil Tere Liye (1992) (Background Score Only)