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Romanian-born French composer celebrated for iconic film scores in French cinemaBorn in Bucharest to a musical family, Cosma studied violin and composition at the Bucharest Conservatory before moving to Paris in 1963. He gained fame through collaborations with director Yves Robert, notably for 'The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe' (1972). Composed over 300 film/TV scores, winning two César Awards ('Diva' 1982, 'Le Bal' 1983). Known for blending orchestral, jazz, and folk elements into accessible melodies.

• Nephew of Romanian composer and conductor Teodor Cosma; his mother was a pianist-composer, embedding music in his lineage
• Initially aspired to be a concert violinist but switched focus to composition after encountering film music opportunities
• Pioneered the use of electronic instruments alongside traditional orchestras in 1970s French cinema, notably in 'La Boum' (1980)
• Despite decades in France, maintained Romanian citizenship until naturalizing as French in 1980
• Faced plagiarism accusations in 2006 over similarities between his 'Banzaï' theme and a Dutch song; lawsuit was dismissed