Shyam (composer)

Samuel Joseph alias Shyam is a popular Malayalam music composer from Tamil Nadu, India. He has scored music for over 300 films including Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Hindi languages. He also composed many Christian devotional songs. He is best known for the background scores for Malayalam thriller films of eighties and early nineties.

Apart from his music scores in movies, his theme musics are still considered as the finest example of scores ever composed in Malayalam cinema. His theme music of Oru CBI Diary Kurippu, August 1, Moonamura, Irupatham Noottandu are popular even today. He is famous for creating fast number along with slow melodies. He won the Kerala State award for the best music composer for the years 1983 (Film: Aroodam) and 1984 (Film: Kanamarayathu).

Career

Early influences

Shyam was born in Mylapore in Tamil Nadu state. His parents both were teachers and Shyam is a malayalee maternally,he hails from Palakkad. He learned music from his mother who used to play organ in church. He spent his childhood days in madras city. He was the only child to his parents and had spent many lonely times during his childhood and this was overcome by learning music. During these days he became interested in string instruments, especially the violin, which his father bought him. At age of 15 he became the disciple of Dhanraj master who taught him western music which inspired him a lot during his musical career.

Music career

Shyam started as a violinist in drama troupes during his early career. He was introduced to musical industry by the great M. S. Viswanathan, fondly called as MSV. He first played violin for music director C. N. Pandurangan and was in the last row in the team later he made to lead row ending in solo. Thus he earned a good name as a violinist and had worked with many famous music personalities at that times such as V. Dakshinamoorthy, Baburaj, G. Devarajan, S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, T. K. Ramamoorthy etc. He also had a deep relation with north Indian music director Salil Chowdhury with whom he had worked in many Malayalam movies including Chemmeen.

Film career

Shyam entered film industry as a music director for Tamil film Ethirigal Jakirathai in 1968. During this period he also worked as an assistant music director for Salil Choudhary, and he continued music direction for various hit Tamil films. It was Malayalam actress Sheela who introduced him in Malayalam for the film Manya Shree Vishwamitran directed by versatile Malayalam actor Madhu. The songs in the film became superhit, "Kettile Kottayathoru Mutha Pullachan" in the movie is an all time hit. Thus he became popular throughout Kerala. Since then he never had to look back and he started composing many films in Malayalam and other south Indian languages. His notable famous works are done in Malayalam films. He is among the few composers in Mollywood who had worked in both black & white as well as colour films. He is considered as one of the best all time music directors in Malayalam film industry. Famous Tamil music director Harris Jayaraj's father S.M Jayakumar worked as his assistant for many years.

His work for the malayalam film Daisy was very well praised -- all the songs in the film was all time chartbusters. His other notable works during his last active years are Nadodikattu, Nirakkoottu, New Delhi, Kanamarayathu'. He is also famous for creating film theme music and his theme music are popular even today. The 2009 Malayalam movie Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded extracted the theme music from his movie Irupatham Noottandu.

Family

He is married to Violet Shyam, and they have settled down in Chennai. He has three children. Two sons and one daughter. Sons are working in America. Daughter is settled in Kerala.

Achievements

• He is one of the few composers in Indian film industry who have worked in both Colour and black & white films and appreciated in both periods.
• He is one of the very few composers in kerala famous for Film Theme Musics

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards:

• Best Music Director - 1983 - Aroodam
• Best Music Director - 1984 - Kanamarayathu

Other awards:

• Devarajan Master Memorial Award
• Mathruboomi Award for Best Music
• Several Critics Award

 Kamukara Award
 kairali swaralaya Award

Famous Malayalam songs

• "Kettille Kottayathoru" - Manya Shree Vishwamitran
• "Ormathan Vasatha" - Daisy
• "Thenmazhayo" - Daisy
• "Poomaname" - Nirakkoottu
• "Vaishaka Sandya" - Nadodikattu
• "Oru Madhura Kinavin" - Kanamarayathu
• "Shyamamegame Nee" - Adhipan
• "Anchitalil Viriyum" - Uyarangalil
• "Mainakam kadalil" - Thrishna
• "Devadaaru poothu" - Engane Nee Marakkum
• "Olangal Thalam Thallumbol" - Kadathu
• "Ambalarapoo" - Irupatham Nootandu

Famous hits

• Oru CBI Diary Kurippu Theme music
• Oru Nokku Kaanan
• Love Story
• Manu Uncle
• Nirakkoottu
• Daisy
• Nadodikkattu
• New Delhi
• Kanamarayathu
• Pattanapravesham
• Angadi

Filmography

Tamil films

1. karunthel kannaiyiram - 1972 (along with Philips)
2. appa amma - 1974
3. unarchigaL - 1976
4. manitharil iththanai nirangala - 1978
5. alli durbar - 1978
6. devadhai - 1979
7. panchakalyaNi - 1979
8. nee sirithaal naan sirippen - 1979
9. naan nandri solven - 1979
10. thevaigal - 1979
11. matravai neril - 1980
12. sridevi - 1980
13. andhimayakkam - 1981
14. vaa indha pakkam - 1981
15. kuppathu ponnu - 1982
16. nandri meendum varuga - 1982
17. idhayam pesugirathu - 1982
18. Kalvadiyium pookkal - 1983
19. oru pullankuzhal aduppoodhugirathu - 1983
20. nalam, nalamariya aaval - 1984
21. kuzhandhai yesu - 1984
22. kuyile kuyile - 1984
23. sandhosha kanavugal - 1985
24. vilaangu meen - 1985
25. vilangu - 1987
26. paasam oru vesham - 1987
27. kallukkul therai (also titled jaathi pookkal)- unreleased
28. salanam - 1982
29. pudhiya payanam- unreleased

References

• http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/09/16/stories/2005091601150200.htm Mark of the master composer, musician , The Hindu
• http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/10/27/stories/2003102701820200.htm Play it again, Shyam, The Hindu]*Shyam the King of 80's (orkut community)
• http://devaragam.com/vbscript/musicNew.aspx?artistid=51
• Shyam at MSI