Birthday wishes to Ganagandharvan Yesudas

Growing up as a Malayali kid, I was fortunate to be introduced to K J Yesudas, from a young age. His Malayalam devotional songs were a cherished morning tradition in our household. Even now, the first sound that fills my home is his captivating 'OM' chanting, resonating with his enchanting voice.

Yesterday marked the 85th birthday of this living legend. In light of this special occasion, I feel compelled to share my reflections on this extraordinary vocalist.

K  J Yesudas was born in Kochi to Augustine and Elizabeth Joseph. His father was a prominent figure in Malayalam classical music and also a stage actor. Yesudas began his classical singing journey at a young age, learning from Kunjan Velu Bhagavathar, a music teacher and family friend. He later pursued formal music education at the R L V Music Academy in Thrippunithura, where he completed the Ganabooshanam course. He continued his studies at Swathi Thirunal College of Music in Thiruvananthapuram, studying under renowned carnatic music legends K R Kumaraswamy Iyer and Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. However, financial difficulties prevented him from finishing his education. At one concert, he expressed gratitude for not completing his formal training, stating, I am fortunate that I could not complete my musical studies; I remain a student forever.

Yesudas made his mark in the music industry with his first hit song, Jaathi Bhedam Matha Dwesham, composed by M B Sreenivasan, on November 14, 1961. He views those four lines as a significant blessing, especially since they were penned by the revered Sree Narayana Guru, a prominent saint, poet, and social reformer from Kerala. This song was featured in the 1962 film Kalpaadukal, which focused on social reform during Sree Narayana Guru's era and earned a Certificate of Merit at the National Awards.

Throughout his career, he collaborated with renowned singers of the time, such as P Leela, Santha P Nair, K P Udayabhanu, and S Janaki, as well as lyricists like P Bhaskaran and Nambiyath. He also lent his voice to the verses of poet Kumaran Asan. As his career progressed, he became a highly sought-after artist among leading music directors, including M B Sreenivasan, G Devarajan, V Dakshinamoorthy, B R Lakshmanan, and M S Baburaj, paving the way for his illustrious journey in playback singing across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada films.

Yesudas made his Hindi debut with a song for the unreleased film Jai Jawan Jai Kissan in 1971, but it was his rendition in Basu Chatterjee's Chhoti Si Baat that truly marked his arrival in the industry. The track Jaaneman Jaaneman Tere Do Nayan became an instant sensation. Interestingly, he shares his birthday with the director.

Following this success, Yesudas' songs featured in the film Chitchor, which was a musical triumph featuring melodies like Gori Tera Gaon Bada Pyara, Jab Deep Jale Aana, and Aaj Se Pehle, Aaj Se Zyada. This film solidified his presence in the Hindi music landscape. He went on to lend his voice to many prominent actors in Hindi cinema, such as Amitabh Bachchan, Amol Palekar, Kamal Hassan, and Jeetendra, collaborating with renowned music directors like Ravindra Jain, Bappi Lahiri, Khayyam, Raj Kamal, and Salil Chowdhury. 

One of Yesudas's most notable partnerships was with Ravindra Jain, resulting in a series of some beloved hits. Their collaboration produced timeless classics such as Gori Tera Gaon Bada Pyara, Aaj Se Pehle, Aaj Se Zyada, and Jab Deep Jale Aana, showcasing Jain's ability to fully harness Yesudas's vocal talents.

Some of his other iconic Hindi tracks include Ka Karoon Sajni Aaye Na Balam from Swami, Dil Ke Tukde Tukde Karke from Dada, Madhubana Khushboo Deta Hai from Saajan Bina Suhagan, Maana Ho Tum Behad Haseen from Toote Khilone, Mohabbat Bade Kaam Ki Cheez Hai from Trishul, Chand Jaise Mukhde Pe in Sawan Ko Aane Do, Kahan Se Aaye Badra in Chashme Buddoor, Surmayi Ankhiyon Mein in Sadma and O Bhavre in Daud.

Yesudas is renowned for having recorded over 50,000 songs in various Indian languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Tulu, Hindi, Odia, Bengali, and Marathi, as well as in Arabic, English, Latin, and Russian. His illustrious career has spanned over sixty years.

He has been awarded the National Award for Best Male Playback Singer eight times, the most by any artist. Additionally, he has received the Filmfare Awards South five times and has been honored with the State Award for Best Playback Singer forty three times, including accolades from the state governments of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and West Bengal.

In acknowledgment of his significant contributions to the arts, Yesudas was bestowed with the Padma Shri in 1975, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2017. He also received the J C Daniel Award in 2005, which is the highest honor from the Kerala government for contributions to Malayalam cinema.

When it comes to compiling his Malayalam treasures, a blog just won't cut it.