Mohan Sithara

Mohan Sithara 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, Shreya Ghoshal, Sujatha Mohan, Madhu Balakrishnan, G. Venugopal, Vidhu Prathap, Afsal, Manjari, Jyotsna Radhakrishnan, and Biju Narayanan.

Early life
Mohan Sithara was born at Peruvallur, Mullassery, near Chavakkad, Thrissur, Kerala, India, in 1959. 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
 * Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare
 * Varshangal Poyathariyathe
 * Mizhiyithalil Kanneerumaayi
 * Kudumbapuranam
 * Aalilakkuruvikal
 * Maamalakalkkappurath
 * Deerghasumangalee Bhava
 * Devadas
 * Mudra
 * Eenam Maranna Kaattu
 * Njaattuvela
 * Innale (Background Score)
 * Chanakyan
 * Vachanam
 * Parampara
 * His Highness Abdullah (Background Music)
 * Marupuram
 * Maalayogam
 * Ammayude swantham Kunjumeri
 * Manju peyyunna Raathri
 * Santhwanam
 * Mukha Chithram
 * Georgekutty C/O Georgekutty
 * Aviraamam
 * Holiday
 * Utsavamelam
 * Mukhamudra
 * Ponnaramthottathe Raajaavu
 * Ayalathe Adheham (Background score)
 * Ente ponnu thamburaan (Background score)
 * Kallan Kappalil Thanne
 * Sathyaprathijna
 * Avarude Sanketham
 * First Bell
 * Kunjikuruvi
 * Ormakkurippukal
 * Aalavattam
 * Kulapathi
 * Kaavadiyaattam
 * Aparna
 * Porutham
 * Ponnuchaami
 * Vakkeel Vasudev
 * Johny
 * Oru Kadamkadha Pole
 * Ottayadippaathakal
 * Kilivaathil (Mrinaalam)
 * Varaphalam
 * Chanakya Soothrangal
 * Chief Minister K.R. Gowthami
 * Daivathinte Vikrithikal
 * Avan Ananthapadmanabhan
 * Orkathirunnappol
 * Special Squad
 * Munpe Parakkunna Pakshi
 * Maanthrikante Praavukal
 * Poovukalku Punyakaalam
 * Kaliveedu
 * Excuse Me Ethu Collegila?
 * Saare Jahaan Se Achcha
 * Snehadooth
 * Kalyana Unnikal
 * Kottappurathe Koottukudumbam
 * Ishtadanam
 * Arjunan Pillayum Anchu Makkalum
 * Kadhaanaayakan
 * Mayaponman
 * Manthri Kochamma
 * Manthrikumaran
 * Nakshathrathaaraattu
 * Harthaal
 * Varum Varaathirikkilla
 * Deepasthambham Mahaashcharyam
 * Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum
 * Mazhavillu
 * Joker
 * Dada Sahib
 * Varnakkazhchakal
 * Valliettan
 * Sahayaathrikaykku Snehapoorvam
 * Nalacharitham Naalam Divasam
 * Ishtam
 * Karumaadikuttan
 * Unnathangalil
 * Sundara Purushan
 * Vakkaalathu Naaraayanankutti
 * Raakshasa Rajavu
 * Sharjah To Sharjah
 * Nakshathrangal Parayaathirunnathu
 * Chethaaram
 * Oomapenninu Uriyadappayyan
 * Kunjikoonan
 * Pranayamanithooval
 * Kaattuchembakam
 * Basketball
 * Snehithan
 * Nammal
 * Kuberan
 * Swapnakkoodu
 * War And Love
 * Pattanathil Sundaran
 * Anyar
 * Sadanandante Samayam
 * Mr. Brahmachari
 * Singaari Bolona
 * Meerayude Dukhavum Muthuvinte Swapnavum
 * Choonda
 * Zameendaar
 * Kazhcha
 * Koottu
 * Udayam
 * Thanmathra
 * Hridayathil Sookshikkaan
 * Raappakal
 * The Don
 * Kali
 * Karutha Pakshikal
 * Palunku
 * Anchil Oral Arjunan
 * Payum Puli
 * Nanma
 * Nagaram
 * Aakaasham
 * Swarnam
 * Shakespeare M.A. Malayalam
 * Aayirathil Oruvan
 * Pathaam Adhyaayam
 * Bhagavan
 * Dalamarmarangal
 * Bhramaram
 * Malayaali
 * Sufi Paranja Katha
 * Ividam Swargamaanu
 * Mithram (Not released yet)
 * Currency (Background Score)
 * Yugapurushan
 * Nallavan
 * Advocate Lakshmanan - Ladies Only
 * Inganeyum Oral
 * Oridathoru Postman
 * Kayam

2011
 * Ithu Nammude Katha
 * Yaathra Thudarunnu
 * Shankaranum Mohananum
 * Kanakompathu
 * Ulakam Chuttum Valiban
 * Pachuvum Kovalanum
 * Vellaripravinte Changathi

2012
 * Last Bench
 * Aazhakkadal
 * Naadabrahmam
 * Ezham Suryan
 * Mullamottum Munthirichaarum
 * Bhoopadathil Illatha Oridam

2013
 * Ayaal
 * Breaking News Live

2014
 * My Dear Mummy
 * To Noora with Love
 * Color Balloon
 * Little Superman 3D

2015
 * Life Full of Life

2016
 * Sukhamaayirikkatte
 * Mud Maza

Highlight songs

 * Pranayakatha (Deepasthambham Mahascharyam)
 * Uchalu Tirumalava (Mamalakalkkappurath)
 * Raree rareeram raro (Onnu Muthal Poojyam Varae)
 * Neermizhippeeliyil
 * Ila Kozhiyum sisirathil
 * Sahyasaanu sruthi
 * Pathinezhinte Poomkaralin (Vellaripraavinte Changaathi)
 * Pranathosmi
 * Mullapoovin muthe
 * Enthe nin pinakkam
 * Kananakuyilinu kathilidanoru
 * Hrudaya Mrudanga
 * Pramadavaniyil veendum
 * Krishna née en krishnamanee
 * Unnee vavao ponnunnee
 * Swarakanyakamar
 * Mindathedi kuyile (Thanmaathra)
 * Thekkini kolaya chumaril (Sufi Paranja Katha)
 * Ithaloornu veena (Thanmaathra)
 * Mele vellithinkal (Thanmaathra)
 * Annarakkanna vaa (Bhramaram)
 * Kaattru veliyedi kannamma (Thanmaathra)
 * Pokathe kariyilakkatte (Loudspeaker)
 * Shivadam shivanamam (Mazhavillu)
 * Dhwani tharanga tharalam
 * Kanneer mazhayathu (Joker)
 * En ammae onnu kaanaan (Nammal)
 * Pon kasavu njoriyum
 * Moonnaam thrukkannil
 * Indraneelam choodi agraharam thedi
 * Kukku kukku kuyile
 * Oru mathavumanyamalla
 * Kodi kodi adimakal
 * Thekko Thekkorikkal (Vellaripraavinte Changaathi)
 * Kaanumbol parayamo (Ishtam)
 * Chanchala dhruda pada thaalam (Ishtam)
 * Swapnam thyajichal swargam labhikkum (Raakshasaraajaavu)
 * Chandanathennalay njan ninte lolamaam
 * Ponnavani vettam thirumuttam
 * Chembarundin chelunde
 * Kunjurangum koottinullil
 * Swarajathi paadum pynkilee
 * Irulin Mahanidrayil ninnunarthi nee
 * Sukhamanee nilaavu (Nammal)
 * Oru mazhappakshi paadunnu
 * Manimukilae nee
 * Kannivasantham kaattil moolum
 * Inayarayannam kulichu keri
 * Agadha neela samudrachuzhikalil
 * Thanka manassu amma manassu (Raappakal)
 * Kallyana prayamaanu
 * Ilam manju mulam
 * Manassu oru manthrikakkoodu
 * Deepankuram poothorungumaakaasam
 * Kettu tharaattinte thaalam
 * Dhanumasappenninu poothaalam
 * Enikkum oru naavundenkil
 * Kadanja chandanamo nin meni
 * Prema madhu thedum
 * Makara nilavil madhuravumaayi
 * Karimizhiyaale oru kadha parayaam njaan
 * Marakkaam ellam marakkam (Swapnakkoodu)
 * Malarkili inayude (Swapnakkoodu)
 * Pedi thonni aadyam kandappol
 * Kannanaayaal Raadha venam (Pattanatthil Sundaran)
 * Pukkikkuyile kallikkuyile (Anyar)
 * Neeyarinnjo neelakkuzhali (Sadaanandante Samayam)
 * Omalale ente manassin
 * Tharivala kayyalenne (Sadaanandante Samayam)
 * Kaananakkuyilinu
 * Kuyile nin kurumkuzhalil
 * Kannuneer puzhayude theerathu (Meerayude Dukkhavum Muthuvinte Swapnavum)
 * Thaamarakkanna
 * Kuttanadan kayalile (Kaazhcha)
 * Kalabhakkuri charthende
 * Jugnu re Jugnu re (Kaazhcha)
 * Aalmaram chaayum neram
 * Ammaanam chemmaanam
 * Meda ponveyiloothiyurukki
 * Neeyente paattil sreeragamayi
 * Sindoora sandhye parayoo
 * Snehathin poo nulli
 * Aalilakkanna
 * Chanthu pottum chenkelassum
 * Kilivaathilil kaathorthu njan
 * Ponnolathumbi
 * Ravin nilakaayal
 * Mazhayil rathri mazhayil (Karuttha Pakshikal)
 * Puthumazhayay pozhiyam
 * Manassee saanthamakoo
 * Thalolam thane thaaraattum
 * Vala nalla kuppi vala vangitharum
 * Manithaliyay ee manam thelinju
 * Kunkuma malarukalo virinju
 * Kaattu thulli kayalolam
 * Niranazhi Ponnin (Valyettan)
 * Ninte kannil virunnuvannu
 * Annarakkanna vaa
 * Vaa vaa thaamarappenne

Awards
State Film Critics Award
 * 1989 – Best Music Director -Mudra,Chanakyan

State Film Critics Award
 * 1992 – Best Background Music Director -Daivathinte Vikruthikal

Mathrubhumi Medimix Film Award 1999
 * 1999 – Best Music Director -Vasantiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum,Deepasthambham Mahascharyam

Film Fare Award 2000
 * 2000 – Joker

AVT Grihalakshmi T V Award 2006
 * 2006 – Best Music Director -Serial : Minnukettu

Annual Malayalam Movie Award 2009, UAE
 * 2009 – Best Music Director

Ravindran Award 2009
 * 2009 – Best Music Director

Kerala State Film Awards 2009
 * 2009 – Best Music Director -Sufi Paranja Katha

Personal life
He is married to Beena and has two children. His elder child, Mobina, sang a few songs directed by him and now she is married. His son, Vishnu, is an upcoming Music Programmer. Vishnu has already composed a few albums and has been assisting senior composers in orchestration.