THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Veteran singer and noted music director Bombay S Kamal passed away at a private hospital here at 9.45 pm on Monday. He was 83. It was four days ago that he was admitted to the hospital following respiratory difficulties. Though he was shifted to the ICU, he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest. Kamal is survived by wife Beena and three children. The time of the funeral will decided later.
Kamal has composed songs for 13 films. His debut was in the film ‘Nilavilakku’ in 1986 in which he rendered music for the song ‘Devi sukruthanandamayi’ sung by K J Yesudas and P Susheela.He has also composed songs for films including ‘Aksharathram’(1991), ‘Sheershakam’ (1991), ‘Police Diary’ (1992) and ‘Shanthi Nilayam.’ He also penned the title song of the Mohanlal-starrer ‘Keerthichakra.’ Twenty-nine of the 33 songs composed by him were sung by K J Yesudas. He was a winner of the Swaralaya Guruvandanam Award for the year 2012. A disciple of renowned music director M S Baburaj, Kamal was active in the world of music by singing for albums and ‘gana melas.’
Born at Abdul Rehman Street near Victoria Terminus, Mumbai, Kamal received attention as singer since the age of seven by singing Rafi hits. After landing in Kerala, he became a familiar face in Kozhikode. Under the guidance of Baburaj, he matured as a singer and became popular through the ‘mehfils’ presented in houses. After shifting his base from Kozhikode, Kamal was staying at Poojappura here.