Samuel Joseph (born 1937), better known as Shyam, is a

music composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Def ...

who works in

Malayalam cinema Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, '' Elippathaya ...

. From the mid-1970s to the late 1980s, Shyam had a prolific run as a composer in the Malayalam film industry, composing for nearly 200 films. Working with all major directors of the time, Shyam had scored for many hits of

Jayan Krishnan Nair (25 July 1939 – 16 November 1980), better known by his stage name Jayan, was an Indian actor, naval officer, stunt performer and cultural icon of the 1970s and 1980s. He starred in over 150 Malayalam films. During his film car ...

and the early films of

Mammootty Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail (; born 7 September 1951), known mononymously by the hypocorism Mammootty (), is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Malayalam films. He has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, H ...

and

Mohanlal Mohanlal Viswanathan (born 21 May 1960), known mononymously as Mohanlal, is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, film distributor, and director who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically app ...

Career beginnings

Shyam apprenticed under maestros

M. S. Viswanathan Manayangath Subramanian Viswanathan (24 June 1928 – 14 July 2015), also known as M.S.V., was an Indian music director, singer and actor who predominantly worked in Tamil film industry. He was popularly known as ''Mellisai Mannar''. He compose ...

and

Salil Chowdhury Salil Chowdhury (19 November 1925 – 5 September 1995) was an Indian music director, songwriter, lyricist, writer and poet who predominantly composed for Bengali, Hindi and Malayalam films. He composed music for films in 13 languages. This ...

, the former renaming him 'Shyam'. He has been an assistant for various music directors including

, Rajan Nagendra, Satyam, S. Rajeswara Rao, Pendyala Nageswara Rao, AM Raja, TG Lingappa etc for several years before venturing as an independent music director. He has also worked as a lead violinist with famous composers like C. Ramachandra, V Dakshinamoorthi, Naushad,

Madan Mohan Madan Mohan is a form of the Hindu god, Krishna. Krishna is celebrated as ''Madan Mohan'', who mesmerizes everyone. His consort, Radha is glorified as Madan Mohan's ''Mohini'', who can even mesmerise Madan Mohan (her Kahn). Radha is known as the ...

G. Devarajan Paravoor Govindan Devarajan (1927–2006), popularly known as G. Devarajan or Devarajan master, was an Indian music composer and Carnatic singer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in the history of Indian film music. He sco ...

Bombay Ravi Ravi Shankar Sharma (3 March 1926 – 7 March 2012), often referred to mononymously as Ravi, was an Indian music director, who had composed music for several Hindi and Malayalam films. After a successful career in Hindi cinema, he took a bre ...

RD Burman Rahul Dev Burman (27 June 1939 – 4 January 1994) was an Indian music director who is considered one of the most influential composers of India. From the 1960s to the 1990s, Burman composed musical scores for 331 films. Burman did major work ...

etc. Along with his training in western violin he is also trained in carnatic classical violin under the baton of legendary classical violinist Lalgudi Jayaraman. He debuted as an independent film composer in

through the 1974 film, '' Manyasree Viswamithran'' directed by actor Madhu. All the tracks from the movie including ''Kettille Kottayathoru'' became huge success.

Partial filmography

;Malayalam *'' Manyasree Viswamithran'' (1974) *'' Saritha'' (1977) *''

Abhinivesham ''Abhinivesham'' is a 1977 Indian Malayalam film, directed by I. V. Sasi and produced by C. C. Baby and V. M. Chandi. The film stars Padmapriya, Ravikumar, Sumithra and Jayan in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Shyam. The film was ...

'' (1977) *''

Kalliyankattu Neeli ''Kalliyankattu Neeli'' is a 1979 Indian Malayalam-language horror film, directed by M. Krishnan Nair and produced by M. Mani. The film stars Madhu, Jayabharathi, Jagathy Sreekumar and Sudheer in the lead roles. The film has musical score by ...

'' (1979) *'' Angaadi''(1980) *''

Thrishna ''Thrishna'' is a 1981 Indian Malayalam film written by M. T Vasudevan Nair , directed by I. V. Sasi and produced by Rosamma George. The film has musical score by Shyam. The film stars Mammootty, Rajyalakshmi, Swapna and Kaviyoor Ponnamma in t ...

''(1981) *''

Enthino Pookunna Pookkal ''Enthini Pookunna Pookkal'' () is a 1982 Indian Malayalam-language family drama film directed by Gopinath Babu and written by A. Sheriff. It stars Mohanlal, Mammootty, Ratheesh and Zarina Wahab. The film features music composed by Shyam. P ...

'' (1982) *'' Mazhu'' (1982) *''

Engane Nee Marakkum ''Engane Nee Marakkum'' () is a 1983 Indian Malayalam-language romantic drama film produced and directed by M. Mani and written by Priyadarshan. It stars Mohanlal, Shankar, and Menaka. The film features songs and score composed by Shyam. The ...

'' (1983) *''

America America (1983 film) ''America America'' is a 1983 Indian Malayalam film, directed by I. V. Sasi. The film stars Mammootty, Lakshmi, Ratheesh and Balan K. Nair in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Shyam. Cast * Mammootty as Ramesh *Lakshmi as Anuradha ...

'' (1983) *''

Aksharangal ''Aksharangal'' is a 1984 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by I. V. Sasi and produced by Rosamma George. The film stars Mammootty, Bharath Gopi, Seema and Suhasini. The film has musical score by Shyam. Plot Jayadevan reads a poem at a l ...

'' (1984) *''

Kanamarayathu ''Kanamarayathu'' () is a 1984 Malayalam film written by Padmarajan and directed by I. V. Sasi. It stars Mammootty, Shobhana, Rahman, Lalu Alex and Seema. The story was an adaptation of the 1912 novel '' Daddy-Long-Legs'' by Jean Webster. This ...

'' (1984) *''

Nirakkoottu ''Nirakkoottu'' is a 1985 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by Joshiy, written by Dennis Joseph, starring Mammootty, Sumalatha, Urvashi, Lizy, Babu Namboothiri and Jose Prakash. The music was composed by Shyam. The story follows journalis ...

'' (1985) *'' Gandhinagar 2nd Street'' (1986) *''

Aavanazhi ''Aavanazhi'' is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language action film directed by I. V. Sasi, written by T. Damodaran. The film deals with social and political issues of that time. It stars Mammootty, Geetha, Seema, Sukumaran, Captain Raju, Janarda ...

'' (1986) *'' Malarum Kiliyum'' (1986) *''

New Delhi New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the capital of India and a part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament Hous ...

'' (1987) *'' Nadodikattu'' (1987) *''

Oru CBI Diary Kurippu ''Oru CBI Diary Kurippu'' () is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language mystery thriller film directed by K. Madhu, written by S. N. Swamy, and starring Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, Jagathy Sreekumar, Mukesh, and Sukumaran. The lead character, CBI offi ...

'' (1988) *''

Daisy Daisy, Daisies or DAISY may refer to: Plants * ''Bellis perennis'', the common daisy, lawn daisy or English daisy, a European species Other plants known as daisy * Asteraceae, daisy family ** '' Euryops chrysanthemoides'', African bush daisy ** ' ...

'' (1988) *'' Moonnam Mura'' (1988) *''

Jagratha ''Jagratha: CBI Diary - Part 2'' (transl. Warning) is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language investigative thriller film directed by K. Madhu, starring Mammootty, Mukesh and Jagathy Sreekumar. It is the second movie in the CBI investigative thri ...

'' (1989) *''

Adhipan ''Adhipan'' (അധിപൻ ) is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by K. Madhu and written by Jagadeesh. The film stars Mohanlal, Parvathy and Monisha. The film features background score and songs composed by Shya ...

'' (1989) *'' Adikkurippu'' (1989) *'' Naduvazhikal'' (1989) *'' Kottayam Kunjachan'' (1990) *''

Randam Varavu ''Randam Varavu'' () is a 1990 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film, directed by K. Madhu and written by John Paul. The film stars Jayaram, Rekha, Jagathy Sreekumar and Sukumaran. The film's musical score is by Shyam. This film was a ...

'' (1990) *'' Arhatha'' (1990) *''

Inspector Balram ''Inspector Balram'' is a 1991 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi, scripted by T. Damodaran, and starring Mammootty. It is a sequel to the 1986 film '' Aavanazhi'' and was followed by a sequel, '' Balram vs. Taradas'', in 2006. The movie w ...

'' (1991) *''

Anubhoothi ''Anubhoothi'' is a 1997 Indian Malayalam film, directed by I. V. Sasi. The film stars Suresh Gopi, Khushbu, Jagadish, Vani Viswanath, M. R. Gopakumar and Kaveri in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Shyam. Cast *Suresh Gopi as Shi ...

'' (1997) *''

Sethurama Iyer CBI ''Sethurama Iyer CBI'' is a 2004 Malayalam-language mystery crime film directed by K Madhu.The movie is written by S. N. Swami, and The movie stars Mammootty in titular role. Actors Mukesh and Jagathy Sreekumar played important supporting ro ...

'' (2004) *'' Nerariyan CBI'' (2005) ;Tamil *'' Karunthel Kannayiram'' (1972) *''

Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala! ''Manitharil Ithanai Nirangala!'' () is a 1978 Indian Tamil-language film directed by R. C. Sakthi and starring Kamal Haasan, Sridevi and Murali Mohan The film was released on Diwali 1978, coinciding with Sigappu Rojakkal on the same day too (a ...

'' (1978) *'' Devadhai'' (1979) *'' Pancha Kalyani'' (1979) *''Sree Devi'' (1980) *'' Matravai Neril'' (1981) *'' Kal vadiyum Pookkal'' (1981) *''

Salanam ''Salanam'' is a 2003 Indian-Tamil soap opera starring Ashok, Shalini, Keerthana, Murali and Ajay Kapoor. It aired from 5 May 2003 to 17 October 2003 on Star Vijay. The series was produced by UTV and directed by Kavitha Bharathy. It is inspi ...

'' (1981) *'' Punitha Malar'' (1982) *'' Vaa Indha Pakkam'' (1981) *'' Kuppathu Ponnu'' (1983) *'' Nandri Meendum varuga'' (1983) *'' Andhi Mayakkam'' (1984) *'' Oru Pullankuzhal Aduppu Oodhugiradhu'' (1984) *'' Kuzhandhai Yesu'' (1984) *'' Vilangu meen'' (1987) *'' Vilangu'' *'' Jaathi Pookkal'' (1987) *'' Poo Mazhai Pozhiyuthu'' (1987) (score only) *'' Oonjal'' *'' Nee Sirithaal Naan Sirippen'' *'' Velaikkari Vijaya'' *'' iniyavale vaa'' *'' Kanneril Ezhuthathe'' *'' Paasam oru Vesam'' *'' Kuyile Kuyile'' *Appa Amma (1974) *Alli Durbar (1978) *Unarchigal (1976) *Naan Nandri Solven *Thevaigal *Ithu Kathai Alla *Kunguma Kolangal *Akkaraiku Vaaringala *Idhayam Pesugirathu *Kaladi Osai *Nalam Nalamariya Aaval *Santhosha Kanavugal *Antha Vaanam Saatchi *Sariyana Jodi ;Other languages *'' Antima Teerpu'' (1988; Telugu) *''

'' (1988; Hindi) *''

'' (1988; Kannada) *'' God Father'' (Kannada)

Hit Songs

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards The Kerala State Film Awards are the film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards started in 1969 by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala and since 1998 the awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Ch ...

: * Best Music Director – 1983 – ''

Aaroodam ''Aaroodam'' is a 1983 Indian Malayalam film, directed by I. V. Sasi and produced by Rosamma George. The film stars Nedumudi Venu, Lakshmi, Seema and Adoor Bhasi in prominent roles. The film has musical score by Shyam. The film won the Nargis D ...

'' * Best Music Director – 1984 – ''

References

Mark of the master composer, musician, The Hindu

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
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shyam 1937 births Living people Tamil film score composers Kerala State Film Award winners Malayalam film score composers Musicians from Chennai 20th-century Indian composers