Sushin Shyam: Malayalam Cinema's Music Voice
Sushin Shyam is one of the defining composers of the new wave of Malayalam cinema. Born on 13 February 1992 in Thalassery, Kannur, Kerala, he is a composer, instrumentalist, and singer who blends classical, folk, electronic, and metal into scores that serve the story — and he has won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director twice.
Early Life
Sushin was born in Thalassery in Kerala's Kannur district to Shyam Prakash and Kalavathi. Under his father's guidance — his father was a musician himself — Sushin learned to play the keyboard from an early age, including performing on stage at the age of three. He studied at St. Joseph's School and Mambaram School in Thalassery. He later relocated to Chennai in pursuit of opportunities in the music industry.
The Band Years
Sushin is a founding member of the folk metal band The Down Troddence. The band years shaped his ear for heaviness and texture — qualities that later showed up in his film scores, where metal, hip-hop, and electronic elements sit comfortably alongside folk and classical melody.
Learning the Craft
He honed his skills during a two-year stint working with music director Deepak Dev, programming background scores. He then collaborated with music director Rex Vijayan, programming background scores for Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films, and sang on "Thaazhvaram" for the film Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi. Encouraged by Rex, Sushin ventured into solo composition with the background score for Sapthamashree Thaskaraha in 2014.
The Breakthrough
Sushin's breakthrough as a composer came with films like Varathan (2018) and Kumbalangi Nights (2019). His work on Kumbalangi Nights — tender songs inspired by classical, ambient, and electronic music — earned him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director in 2019. He won the award a second time for Bougainvillea in 2024.
The Filmography
His work includes Minnal Murali (2021), Bheeshma Parvam (2022), Romancham (2023), Kannur Squad (2023), Manjummel Boys (2024), and Aavesham (2024), the last of which blends hip-hop, electronic, rock, and metal. Apart from composing, Sushin is also a skilled singer and instrumentalist who frequently performs his own tracks. On 4 July 2025, he made his debut as an independent music artist with the music video Ray. Sushin's scores are praised for complementing the narrative rather than overpowering it — music that stays with you because it belongs to the film.
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