Who Was S.P. Venkatesh? What Caused The Veteran Malayalam Music Director's Death At 70?

Renowned veteran music director, S.P. Venkatesh passed away on February 3, 2026, at his residence in Chennai. He was 70 years old and reportedly died of a sudden medical emergency. Venkatesh was a titan of the Malayalam film industry's Golden Age, who composed music for over 150 Malayalam films and contributed to about 500 songs across Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and Hindi. His sudden demise left his family, friends and fans heartbroken. Here's everything we know about his cause of death.

What was S.P. Venkatesh's cause of death?

The celebrated composer, S.P. Venkatesh, best known for his extensive work in the Malayalam film industry during the 1980s and 90s, died peacefully at his home in Chennai. As per reports by several media outlets, the cause of his death was cardiac arrest. Venkatesh suffered the fatal attack sometime between morning and afternoon of February 3, 2026. The specifics regarding the time of demise or whether he suffered from any medical issues before his demise are not publicly known.

Who was S.P. Venkatesh? What was his contribution to Mollywood?

S.P. Venkatesh (1955–2026), often referred to by the moniker Sangeetharajan, was a legendary Indian music director and composer who was a defining figure in the golden era of Malayalam cinema. Following his passing, his fans and loved ones have been remembering his legacy and contribution to the Malayalam film industry, also known as Mollywood. Venkatesh was renowned for seamlessly blending melody with a modern orchestral style, notably using acoustic guitar, bass guitar, and a violin orchestra.

While Venkatesh debuted in 1985 with Janakeeya Kodathi, his major break came with the hit 1986 film, Rajavinte Makan, directed by Thampi Kannanthanam. This success led to Venkatesh's long-term collaboration with major directors like Joshiy and Dennis Joseph. He was highly regarded for his collaborations with veteran actors such as Mohanlal and Mammootty, and his work remains deeply close to the hearts of fans. Venkatest was considered a master of re-recording background score. Venkatesh often composed the background score for major films even when other composers handled the songs, such as in the cult classic, Devasuram (1993).

The talented S.P. Venkatesh composed music for over 150 Malayalam films and scored approximately 500 songs throughout a career that spanned Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada cinema. In 1993, Venkatesh won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director for his work in the films, Paithrukam and Janam. His notable works included music composition for the films, Kilukkam, Minnaram, Dhruvam, Johnnie Walker, Manthrikam, Hitler, and Valsalyam.

Some popular songs which were graced with Venkatesh's magical touch were Chingarakinnaram (Minnaram), Shanthamee Rathriyil (Johny Walker), and Meenavenalil (Kilukkam). As news of S.P. Venkatesh's demise broke, his fans and the film fraternity expressed deep grief, mourning the loss of a maestro whose melodies defined an era of Malayalam cinema. Fans are mourning the loss of the man who created timeless film scores. Listeners have taken to social media to recall his soulful melodies. His final journey is scheduled for February 4, 2026, in Alapakkam, Chennai.

We offer our heartfelt condolences to S.P. Venkatesh's family as they deal with his loss.

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