Jerry Amaldev

Summary

Jerome Thomas Veleeparambil, more popularly known by his stage name Jerry Amaldev (born 15 April 1939) is a three-time Kerala State Film Awards winning Indian composer of film scores who has given music to some of the most important motion pictures of Malayalam cinema. He is noted for his lyrical and expressive melodies together with simple but rich tonal compositions of Indian music.[1][2][3][4][5]

Jerry Amaldev
Jerry Amaldev at a function in November 2019
Jerry Amaldev at a function in November 2019
Background information
Birth nameJerome Thomas Veleeparambil
Also known asJerry
Born (1939-04-15) 15 April 1939 (age 84)
Kochi, Kerala, India
Genres
Occupation(s)Music director
Instrument(s)
Years active1965–present
Websitejerryamaldev.com

Biography edit

Jerry Amaldev was born into a Malabar Latin Catholic family[6] belonging to the Archdiocese of Verapoly[7] on 15 April 1939 in Kochi, Cochin State, to V. C. Joseph and Mary Joseph. He completed his high school education in 1955 at St. Albert's High School, Ernakulam.[8] He Obtained the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy from the Papal Athenaeum, Pune. He is considered one of the evergreen music directors in Mollywood, even though he worked for a small span. His notable films as a music director are Manjil Virinja Pookkal, Aparahnam, Ennennum Kannettante, Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku, Nokketha Dhoorathu Kannum Nattu, and Guruji oru Vakku.. He received "Kerala State Film Awards" three times as a music director. However, he suddenly disappeared from the Malayalam industry in and around the time of the millennium, for unclear reasons, leaving his rich composition for Malayalam films.[9]

Film career edit

Jerry Amaldev debuted in the Malayalam industry through Fazil's Manjil Virinja Pookkal in 1980 and won the Kerala State Award for Excellence in Music Direction for the same. Before that, he used to work as an assistant to the great Indian Music Director Naushad. He was trained in North Indian Vocal Music under Madhusoondan Patwardhan of Vishnu Digambar Sangeet Vidyalaya, Pune. Since the debut was a hit in Malayalam he got really busy in Mollywood and had worked for around 75 films. He conducted a musical ceremony during the Pope's visit to India with a choir of 500 and an orchestra of 40. He also composed songs for some Bollywood movies.[citation needed]

But during the early time of the millennium, he suddenly disappeared from Malayalam industries. No.1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North is the last known film that he had composed for any Malayalam films. After quitting the Malayalam film industry he started teaching music at the American International School, Chennai. He is now working at Choice School, Cochin, where he teaches school students music along with composing music for various socially relevant films and television serials. He now teaches at the Asian Christian College of Music – www.accm.org.in, Kottayam as the professor of History of Music & Conducting where he is the academic adviser.

He made a comeback in 2016 by being the music director for the songs in the film Action Hero Biju directed by Abrid Shine, and starring Nivin Pauly.

Family edit

He was married to Jolly Jerry Amaldev and has three daughters Meera, Sangeeta and Dahlia. His wife died in 2008 due to cancer. Currently, he lives in Palatty, Kannachanthodu Road, Kochi.

Awards edit

Partial Discography edit

Year Film Lyricist Notes
1980 Manjil Virinja Pookkal Bichu Thirumala He won Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director.

Background score was done by Guna Singh for which he won Kerala State Film Award for Best Background Music

1981 Dwandha Yudham P. Bhaskaran
1982 Pooviriyum Pulari Poovachal Khader
1982 Oru Vilippadakale P. Bhaskaran
1983 Swapnalokum O. N. V. Kurup
1983 Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku Bichu Thirumala
1984 Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu Bichu Thirumala Background score is done by Johnson.
1985 Kaanathaya Penkutty Sebastian Paul
1985 Puli Varunne Puli Bichu Thirumala
1985 Scene No. 7 P. Bhaskaran
1985 Punnaram Cholli Cholli O. N. V. Kurup Background score is done by Johnson.
1985 Koodum Thedi M. D. Rajendran Background score is done by Johnson.
1985 Guruji Oru Vakku Bichu Thirumala Background score is done by Johnson.
1985 Adhyayam Onnu Muthal M. D. Rajendran
1986 Aalorungi Arangorungi Poovachal Khader
1986 Adukkan Entheluppam Bichu Thirumala
1986 Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam Mullanezhi Background score is done by Shyam.
1986 Vivahithare Ithile Bichu Thirumala
1986 Sunil Vayassu 20
1986 Oppam Oppathinoppam Bichu Thirumala
1986 Neela Kurinji Poothappol Kavalam Narayana Panicker
1986 Ennennum Kannettante Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, Madhu Muttam, Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan
1991 Aparahnam He won Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director, shared with Perumbavoor G. Raveendranath.
1991 Ganamela Sasi Chittanjoor, Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri.
1995 No. 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North Girish Puthenchery
2016 Action Hero Biju Santhosh Varma, B K Harinarayanan All songs except, Muthe Ponne Pinangalle, were done by him. Muthe Ponne Pinangalle were done by V Suresh Thampanoor.


Background score is done by Rajesh Murugesan.

Notable Malayalam songs edit

  • Aayiram Kannumayi Kathirunnu

- Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu

References edit

  1. ^ "Master of melodies". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  2. ^ "Jerry Amaldev – Music Composer". WebIndia123.com. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  3. ^ "Jerry Amaldev Foundation". Jerry Amaldev.com. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Watch Jerry Amaldev Video". OV Guide.com. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  5. ^ "Jerry Amaldev BIOGRAPHY". Hungama.com. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  6. ^ "Liturgical Music Traditions and their Evolution in India – Jerry Amaldev". Archived from the original on 5 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ "KRLCC Awards Announced". Archived from the original on 1 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Jerry Amaldev".
  9. ^ "Jerry Amaldev". Veethi.com. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  10. ^ "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Light Music". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.

External links edit

  • http://www.jerryamaldev.com – Official Website