Shyam (composer) explained

Shyam
Background:	non_performing_personnel
Birth Name:	Samuel Joseph
Alias:	Shyam
Origin:	Guindy, Tamil Nadu, India
Instrument:	Harmonium, Violin
Genre:	Film score
Occupation:	Music director
Years Active:	1963 – Present

Samuel Joseph (born 1937), better known as Shyam, is a music composer who works in Malayalam cinema.

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 and the early films of Mammootty and Mohanlal.^[1]

Career beginnings

Shyam apprenticed under maestros M. S. Viswanathan and Salil Chowdhury,^[2] the former renaming him 'Shyam'. He has been an assistant for various music directors including Salil Chowdhury, 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, G. Devarajan, Bombay Ravi, RD Burman 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 Malayalam cinema through the 1974 film, Manyasree Viswamithran^[3] 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 (1977)
• Kalliyankattu Neeli (1979)
• Angaadi(1980)
• Thrishna(1981)
• Enthino Pookunna Pookkal (1982)
• Mazhu (1982)
• Engane Nee Marakkum (1983)
• America America (1983 film) (1983)
• Aksharangal (1984)
• Kanamarayathu (1984)
• Nirakkoottu (1985)
• Gandhinagar 2nd Street (1986)
• Aavanazhi (1986)
• Malarum Kiliyum (1986)
• New Delhi (1987)
• Nadodikattu (1987)
• Oru CBI Diary Kurippu (1988)
• Daisy (1988)
• Moonnam Mura (1988)
• Jagratha (1989)
• Adhipan (1989)
• Adikkurippu (1989)
• Naduvazhikal (1989)
• Kottayam Kunjachan (1990)
• Randam Varavu (1990)
• Arhatha (1990)
• Inspector Balram (1991)
• Anubhoothi (1997)
• Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004)
• Nerariyan CBI (2005)

Tamil

• Karunthel Kannayiram (1972)
• Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala! (1978)
• Devadhai (1979)
• Pancha Kalyani (1979)
• Sree Devi (1980)
• Matravai Neril (1981)
• Kal vadiyum Pookkal (1981)
• Salanam (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)
• New Delhi (1988; Hindi)
• New Delhi (1988; Kannada)
• God Father (Kannada)

Hit Songs

Song	Movie	Year	Singer	Lyrics
Vaishaakha Sandhye ...	Naadodikkaattu	1987	KJ Yesudas	Yusufali Kecheri
Devathaaru Poothu ...	Engane Nee Marakkum	1983	KJ Yesudas, P Susheela	Chunakkara Ramankutty
Oru Madhurakkinaavin ...	Kaanaamarayathu	1984	KJ Yesudas	Bichu Thirumala
Poomaaname ...	Nirakkoottu	1985	KS Chithra	Poovachal Khader
Thozhuthu Madangum ...	Aksharangal	1984	Unni Menon	ONV Kurup
Olangal thalam thallumbol ...	Kadathu	1981	Unni Menon	Bichu Thirumala
Mainaakam Kadalil Ninnuyarunnuvo ...	Thrishna	1981	S Janaki	Bichu Thirumala
Kaattukurinjipoovu	Radha Enna Penkutti	1979	P Jayachandran	Devadas
Manje Vaa Madhuvidhu Vela ...	Thushaaram	1981	KJ Yesudas, SP Balasubrahmanyam, Kousalya (Old)	Yusufali Kecheri
Paavaada Venam Melaada Venam ...	Angaadi	1980	KJ Yesudas	Bichu Thirumala
Shyaamameghame Nee ...	Adhipan	1989	KS Chithra	Chunakkara Ramankutty
Shruthiyil Ninnuyarum	Thrishna	1981	KJ Yesudas	Bichu Thirumala
Kannaanthaliyum	Anubandham	1985	KJ Yesudas	Bichu Thirumala
Kannum Kannum Thammil Thammil ...	Angaadi	1980	KJ Yesudas, S Janaki	Bichu Thirumala
Hridayam kondezhuthunna ...	Aksharathettu	1989	KJ Yesudas	Sreekumaran Thampi
Ormmathan Vaasantha ...	Daisy	1988	KJ Yesudas	P Bhaskaran
Chinnukkutty Urangeele ...	Oru Nokku Kaanan	1985	KS Chithra, Unni Menon	Chunakkara Ramankutty
Raavil poonthen	Naaduvaazhikal	1989	Unni Menon, Dinesh	Shibu Chakravarthy
Mazhai Tharumo Endhan.. (Tamil)	Manitharil Ithanai Nirangalah!	1978	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja	Kannadasan

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards

• Best Music Director – 1983 – Aaroodam
• Best Music Director – 1984 – Kanamarayathu

References

• https://web.archive.org/web/20071102084001/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/09/16/stories/2005091601150200.htm Mark of the master composer, musician, The Hindu
• https://web.archive.org/web/20040316134846/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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Play it again, Shyam . https://web.archive.org/web/20040117200217/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/10/27/stories/2003102701820200.htm . dead . 17 January 2004 . 27 October 2003 . . 1 December 2016.
2. News: On a musical trip down memory lane . The Hindu . 11 January 2014 . 1 December 2016.
3. News: Balasubramanian . V. . 9 June 2016 . Of song and spirit . . 9 October 2020.