Malayalam film music director K J Joy passes away at 77

Well-known Malayalam music director K J Joy died on Monday at his residence in Chennai, film industry sources said. He was 77 years old.

Joy, known as the first ‘techno musician’ in the Malayalam film music world for his use of instruments like the keyboard in the 1970s, had been bedridden for some time following a stroke, the sources said.

His funeral will be held in Chennai on Wednesday, they said. The FEFKA Directors Union and Malayalam playback singer-cum-composer M G Sreekumar, condoled his death.

“My heartfelt condolences. May his soul rest in peace,” Sreekumar said in his condolence message on Facebook.

Joy, born in 1946 at Nellikunnu in Thrissur district of Kerala, composed music for more than two hundred films during his decades long career in the film industry.

He made his debut in the Malayalam cinema in 1975 and since then he was the architect of many songs that captivated and enthralled people.

It was Joy’s experiments that led to a drastic change in the Malayalam film music scene and he also gained attention for his music direction in films starring Jayan.

He also composed many eternal youth songs, including the very hit song ‘En Swaram Poovittum Ganame’, that people cherish to this day.

Some of the over two hundred films he composed music for are: Ivan Ende Priyaputran, Chandanachola, Aradhana, Snehayamuna, Mukkuvane Snehicha Bhootham, Lisa Madalasa, Sayujyam, Itha Oru Theeram, Anupallavi, Sarpam, Shakti, Hridyam Padunnu, Chandrahasam, Manushya Mrigam and Karimpucha.

He had also worked as an assistant in more than 500 films for various music directors.