KOCHI: Sunny Stephen is not an unknown name in the Kerala music scene. His mellifluous compositions have always struck a chord with Malayali music lovers across the globe. After taking a short break from the popular music scene, Sunny is about to hit the charts with his latest spiritual album. He will explore the wider possibilities of music through Music therapy - the power of music and yoga.
Sunny was the talk of the town a few years back for the soulful songs in Karunam. His compositions in that iconic Jayaraj movie garnered many laurels including the Kerala State Award for the best Music Direction. This musician claims to have composed around 3,600 songs in his illustrious career. From ghazals to devotional songs, he has touched upon almost all areas of music including Western music.
“My mother was a Carnatic exponent. We were in Singapore during our early years and my mother used to teach us the basics of Carnatic music. More than any toy it was music that interested me. My entry into music world was quite coincidental,” says Sunny.
In 1986 when St John Paul II arrived in Kerala, Sunny had composed devotional songs with which his choir team comprising 120 singers welcomed the Pope. Since then he has been dabbling with myriad genres of music.
“I have learnt Carnatic music under KK Antony at Kalabhavan. Later I got a chance to get to know Western music from Trinity College of Music London. Thrissur Ramdas taught me the basics of Hindustani. So I have tried to be familiar with various genres to be affluent in music,” says Sunny.
Sunny had given music to around five feature films and 27 television serials such as Thapasya, Niramala, Desadana Pakshi and Omana Thinkal Pakshi.
Sunny’s other hits include uthradapooviliyil, mohana raga tharangam, adikkarin manchal, and omana thinkal pakshi. He has also penned lyrics for many popular songs. He was once a jury member of the reality show ‘Voice of the Week’ aired in a Malayalam television channel.
Sunny Stephen’s is one of the most sought-after names in the devotional music circuit as he has delivered hits like Aathmavin Aazhangalil, Pithave Anantha Nanmayakum, Aakulanakaruthe Makane, and Tharilam Meyyil. Thirunaama Keerthanam Paaduvanallenkil is an all-time favourite of many Christian believers.
“I don’t concentrate on a particular community while designing albums. I have also done the musical renditions of the entire poetic works of Sree Narayana Guru,” says Sunny. He has contributed to an opera, based on the life of Florence Nightingale, Angels of Mercy, which was presented at the Chicago National Convention by the Nurses Association of America.
Sunny is all set to go for a world tour conducted by the World Peace Organisation to give motivational speeches across the globe. Currently he is working on two albums - a romantic and spiritual one - simultaneously.