The present invention provides organic dye compounds having their absorption maxima in a region ranging from the ultraviolet region to a relatively short wavelength visible region and uses thereof. The present invention provides specific monomethine cyanine dyes, light absorbents and optical recording media comprising the monomethine cyanine dyes, and a process for producing the monomethine cyanine dyes which comprises a step of reacting a quaternary ammonium salt of nitrogen atom-containing heterocyclic compound having a reactive methyl group with a quaternary ammonium salt of nitrogen atom-containing heterocyclic compound having an appropriate leaving group.