From engineering at Rajagiri to scoring global hits with electronic and folk fusion
In short: Before he was an award-winning composer for Malayalam cinema, Jakes Bejoy was an engineer and a video game intern. Discover how a master's degree from Stanford and work on Disney classics paved the way for a unique musical signature.
The musical identity of Jakes Be/joy is defined by a sophisticated blend of contemporary electronic production and deep-rooted regional traditions. His approach often involves rigorous research into folk elements; for instance, his score for the 2020 film Ayyappanum Koshiyum integrated specific tribal music from Kerala. This ability to bridge the gap between modern textures and ancestral sounds has made him a prominent figure in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu cinema.
Bejoy's path to film composition was far from linear. After earning a bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology in Kochi, he pursued a master's degree in Music Science and Technology at Stanford University. This academic background in both engineering and music science provided a foundation for his work in the global gaming industry. After completing his postgraduate degree, he held an internship at Activision Blizzard involving the Guitar Hero franchise, and later joined Disney's audio department for projects like Brave, Cars, and Toy Story 3.
In 2013, Bejoy returned to India to focus on film scoring, making his debut with the thriller Angels in 2014. His career has since been marked by significant industry recognition, including winning the South Indian International Movie Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam in 2021. His recent output has been particularly prolific, with a string of major releases scheduled for 2025, including Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra and Officer on Duty. Beyond his compositions, he contributes to the industry's governance as a member of the executive committee of the Music Directors’ Union (FEMU) within the Film Employees Federation of Kerala.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Jakes Bejoy
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