Malayalam film industry's first techno-musician K. J. Joy passed away in Chennai in the wee hours on Monday, said industry sources.
He has worked in nearly 200 films, including 12 Hindi films.
The tag of techno-musician came to Joy as he began the trend of using technology, including the use of key board in South Indian cinema for the first time.
77-year-old Joy, hailing from Thrissur, began his music career as an accordion artiste under his guru M. S. Viswanathan, who launched him as a full time music director in the 1975 Malayalam film 'Love Letter', after which he never looked back.
It was Joy's experiments that led to a drastic change in the Malayalam film music scene and he also gained attention for his music direction in films starring Jayan.
He also composed many eternal youth songs, including the very hit song 'En Swaram Poovittum Ganame', that people cherish to this day.
Some of the over two hundred films he composed music for are: Ivan Ende Priyaputran, Chandanachola, Aradhana, Snehayamuna, Mukkuvane Snehicha Bhootham, Lisa Madalasa, Sayujyam, Itha Oru Theeram, Anupallavi, Sarpam, Shakti, Hridyam Padunnu, Chandrahasam, Manushya Mrigam and Karimpucha.
He had also worked as an assistant in more than 500 films for various music directors.
The FEFKA Directors Union and Malayalam playback singer-cum-composer M G Sreekumar, condoled his death.
"My heartfelt condolences. May his soul rest in peace," Sreekumar said in his condolence message on Facebook.
After suffering a stroke, Joy had been mostly keeping to his house in Chennai, where the last rites would be held.
(With inputs from agencies)