THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Music director R Somashekaran (77), who became famous through the film song 'Puliyilakkarayolum Pudava Chutti', passed away on Monday. He died at 5.15 am yesterday at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He was undergoing treatment for old age-related diseases.

He composed music for films like Jathakam, Ardram, Ayal, around 50 serials and 40 albums. He also composed many devotional songs. Somashekaran entered the film industry in 1982 by composing songs for the film 'Ithum Oru Jeevitham'. The song 'Puliyilakkarayolum Pudava Chutti' from the movie 'Jathakam' released in 1989 will forever mark him in the hearts of the audience. Somashekaran, who had worked as a medical laboratory technician in the health department, later went to Oman. Although he got an opportunity to compose music for the film 'Kireedam', he lost the opportunity due to his difficulty in getting leave from his work abroad. His days as an expat created a long hiatus in his musical career. He used to compose music for films during the holidays. He started focusing on television serials and albums when a second foray into cinema proved to be a difficult one.

Somasekharan lived with his family at Kairali Nagar in Kanjirampara, Thiruvananthapuram. Wife Jayamani. Children-Jayasekhar, Jayashree and Jaydev. Director Suresh Unnithan is his younger brother.