Mohan Sithara (born 30 May 1959) is an Indian music composer. He received the Kerala State Film Award for the Best Music Director (2009) for the songs in Priyanandan's Soofi Paranja Kadha. Since 1986 he has been an active musician in the Malayalam film industry. His work mixes Western, Classical and folk styles. He has worked with lyricists and poets like O. N. V Kurup, Yusufali Kechery, Sreekumaran Thampi, Rajeev Alunkal, Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, S. Ramesan Nair, Vinayan, Bharanikkavu Sivakumar, Anil Panachooran, Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma, Gireesh Puthenchery, and Bichu Thirumala. Many prominent singers have sung his songs, including K. J. Yesudas, P. Jayachandran, M. G. Sreekumar, K. S. Chithra, Sujatha Mohan, Madhu Balakrishnan, G. Venugopal, Shreya Ghoshal, Vidhu Prathap, Afsal, Manjari, Jyotsna Radhakrishnan and Biju Narayanan.

Early life

Mohan Sithara was born on 30 May 1959 in Peruvallur village in the Thrissur district of Kerala. He started his music career as violinist in some music troupes, one of which was Sithara troupe (from which he took the name Mohan Sithara). Later he worked with various music composers including M. G. Radhakrishnan, Shyam, and Perumbavoor G. Raveendranath. He did orchestration for the film Thoovanathumbikal with Perumbavoor G. Raveendranath, which led to several hit songs. His first work as independent music director in the Malayalam film industry was the film Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare (From One to Zero), for which he composed the song "Raree Rareeram Raro" (it was also the first song for G. Venugopal).

Filmography

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Highlight songs

Awards

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards Mathrubhumi Medimix Film Awards Filmfare Awards South AVT Grihalakshmi TV Awards Kerala State Film Awards Annual Malayalam Movie Awards, UAE Other awards

Personal life

He is married to Baby in 1986 and has two children. His elder child, Mubina, sang a few songs directed by him and now she is married. His son, Avin (Vishnu), is a music programmer. Vishnu has already composed a few albums and has been assisting senior composers in orchestration.