Music director Murali Sithara, 66, found dead

Thiruvananthapuram: Music director and violinist Murali Sithara, 66, was found dead on Sunday in his house at Thoppumukk near Vattiyoorkkavu in Thiruvananthapuram district.

He has composed many hits in Mollywood during the 1990s. He was a senior music composer with All India Radio where he composed for programmes like ‘Udayageetham’.

Murali’s first song, ‘Oru Kodi Swapnangalal’ was from the ‘Theekkattu’ movie in 1987. He composed songs of legendaries including ONV, K Jayakumar and Valayar Sarath Chandra Varma.

Murali was the son of mridangam artist Chengannur Velappanasan. He joined KJ Yesudas `Tharanganisari School of Music’ to learn Carnatic music. Most of his songs were sung by Yesudas himself.

Son Midhun Murali is a keyboard player.