Thiruvananthapuram:  The voice that resonated with the Malayali soul in love, longing, joy and sorrow has fallen silent. The beloved playback singer P. Jayachandran (81) has passed away. He had been undergoing treatment for cancer for a year and breathed his last at a private hospital at 7:54 PM on Thursday.

He bid farewell, leaving behind melodies that touched the hearts of Malayalis. With a career spanning over half a century, he sang more than ten thousand songs, most of which became hits. He was always the voice of the heart, the rhythm of love. Malayalis gave him a fitting title: Bhava Gayakan (The Singer of Emotions).

Jayachandran received the J.C. Daniel Award in 2021 for his comprehensive contributions to Malayalam cinema, a National Award for Best Playback Singer, five Kerala State Awards, four Tamil Nadu State Awards, the Tamil Nadu government's Kalaimamani Award, and the Swaralaya Kairali Yesudas Award, among many others.

As his health deteriorated, he was admitted to Amala Hospital in Thrissur last week. Though discharged on Wednesday, he was readmitted on Thursday evening.

He is survived by his wife Lalitha and children Lakshmi and Dinanath, who are also singers. His siblings include Krishnakumar, Jayanti, and the late Sudhakaran and Sarasija.

His body will be kept for public homage at his residence in Poonkunnam from 8 AM to 10 AM and at Regional Theatre until 12 PM on Friday. The funeral will take place on Saturday at the Paliyam family cemetery in Chendamangalam, Ernakulam.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a statement, expressed his condolences.

"An unparalleled musical journey that transcended time and borders has come to an end. P. Jayachandran was a singer who captured the hearts of Malayalees, South Indians, and people across India. It can be said without hesitation that there isn't a Malayalee who hasn't been touched by his repertoire of songs. Whether it was film songs, light music, or devotional songs, Jayachandran's renditions always found a place in the listener's heart.

It was the unmatched emotional expression in his singing that set Jayachandran apart from his contemporaries. History will remember him as a singer who made extraordinary contributions in bringing the art of singing closer to the common man. The world recognized the captivating beauty of the Malayalam language through his enchanting voice. An era that mesmerized generations with its musical wonder has drawn its curtain.

The loss of Jayachandran is an irreparable void for the world of Malayalam music and, especially, for film music. As he bids farewell, it can be said that the memories and melodies he gifted us are immortal. Offering my deepest respects to his memory. Extending my heartfelt condolences to his family and sharing the grief as a member of the audience community," read the statement.

Minister for Culture Saji Cherian also paid his tribute and recalled how Jayachandran was honoured with the 2020 J.C. Daniel Award for his contributions to Malayalam cinema.

Taking to his Facebook post, Cherian wrote, "Legendary Singer P. Jayachandran passes sway. LDF government honoured P. Jayachandran's illustrious artistic journey by bestowing upon him the 2020 J.C. Daniel Award for his comprehensive contributions to Malayalam cinema. With timeless melodies numbering in the thousands, he won the hearts of Malayalees, securing a place in every listener's heart."

"Over a musical career spanning six decades, P. Jayachandran gifted audiences more than 10,000 songs across five languages. Each of his songs created a spring of emotions within us. His magical voice and soulful renditions will remain immortal. Deeply sharing the grief of his family, friends, and all Malayalees. Heartfelt tributes," the post further read.

Jayachandran was a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1986 for 'Sivasankara Sarva Saranya Vibho'. He also won multiple Kerala and Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. In 2020, the singer received the J.C. Daniel Award, the highest honour in Malayalam cinema, for his unmatched contributions to music and films.

Born on March 3, 1944, in Ernakulam, Jayachandran's career spanned five decades, during which he worked with legendary composers and directors, and left an indelible mark on the Indian music industry.