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P Jayachandran | Photo: Mathrubhumi

Kochi: The mortal remains of renowned singer P Jayachandran will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Chendamangalam here on Saturday. The final rites are scheduled to begin at 12:30 pm and are expected to conclude by 3:30 pm.

Earlier in the morning, his body was moved from his residence in Thrissur's Poonkunnam to the National Higher Secondary School in Irinjalakuda, where he studied, before being taken to his ancestral home.

A steady stream of admirers has been visiting the ancestral home to pay their respects.

On Friday morning, the singer’s body was brought from the hospital to his residence in Poonkunnam, where prominent figures from the film, music, and political spheres, along with the public, offered their last respects. Later, his body was kept at the Sangeetha Nataka Akademi’s Regional Theatre for public homage before being returned to Poonkunnam.

Luminaries attend memorial services
Notable personalities, including actors Mammootty, Mohanlal, Jayaram, and Dileep; legendary singer K J Yesudas; lyricist and music director Sreekumaran Thampi; singers Sujatha Mohan, MG Sreekumar, and K S Chithra; Revenue Minister K Rajan; Forest Minister A K Saseendran; veteran Kathakali artist Kalamandalam Gopi; lyricist Rafeeq Ahmed; and Congress leader V M Sudheeran, were among those who paid their respects.

Legacy of singer
Known as 'Bhava Gayakan' for his emotive renditions of love and devotion, Jayachandran sang over 16,000 songs across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. His illustrious career earned him numerous awards for best playback singer, cementing his place in the annals of Indian music.

A battle against illness
Jayachandran, who had been undergoing cancer treatment for a year, was admitted to Amala Hospital in Thrissur last week after his condition worsened. Though he was briefly discharged on Wednesday, he was readmitted on Thursday evening and passed away that night at 7:54 pm.