Thrissur: The demise of renowned playback singer P Jayachandran, affectionately called ‘Bhava Gayakan,’ has left a deep void in the Indian music industry. Kerala’s Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar expressed his sorrow, stating, “His endearing voice that charmed audiences for six decades will go on to soothe people's hearts.” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also paid tribute, highlighting Jayachandran's unique ability to touch the hearts of people across India. He said, “The journey of the song that transcended time and space has come to a halt. It can be said that there is no Malayali who has not been touched by Jayachandran's songs.” He further praised the singer for his extraordinary contributions in bringing vocal music to the masses, adding, “The curtain falls here on a melodic wonder that has captured the hearts of generations.” Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan described Jayachandran as a “rare voice” that captivated music lovers for five decades.

The career of a legend

Born on March 3, 1944, in Ernakulam, P Jayachandran’s voice became synonymous with love, longing, and devotion. Throughout his illustrious career, he recorded over 16,000 songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi, earning widespread recognition for his profound contribution to Indian music. Jayachandran’s legacy includes several prestigious accolades, including the National Film Award, the Kerala government’s J C Daniel Award, Kerala State Film Awards five times, and Tamil Nadu State Film Awards twice. His rendition of “Shiva Shankara Sharana Sarva Vibho” from Sree Narayana Guru earned him the National Award.

A journey that began in high school

Before becoming a household name, Jayachandran completed his graduation in Zoology from Christ College, Irinjalakuda. He worked at a private firm in Chennai before his passion for music took over. It was there that he was spotted by producer Sobhana Parameswaran Nair and director A Vincent, who invited him to sing for a film. He debuted in 1965 with the song Oru Mullappoo Malayumayi from the movie Kunjali Marakkar. However, his first released song was “Manjalayil Mungithorthi” from Kalithozhan.

A voice that defined Malayalam music

Jayachandran’s music resonated deeply with listeners. He collaborated with some of the most renowned composers in Indian music, including G Devarajan, M S Baburaj, M K Arjunan, Ilaiyaraaja, and A R Rahman. Some of his most iconic Malayalam songs include Neelagiriyude Sakhikale, Swarnagopura Narthaki Shilpam, Anuraga Ganam Pole, Pookkal Panineer Pookkal, and the timeless classic Onnini Sruthi Thazhthi Paduka Poonkuyile. His partnership with Ilaiyaraaja resulted in several hit Tamil songs that remain popular to this day.

Jayachandran's legacy and personal life

In addition to his remarkable career, Jayachandran also appeared in films like Trivandrum Lodge, Nakhakshathangal, and Sreekrishnaparunth. He is survived by his wife, Lalitha, daughter Lakshmi, and son Dinanathan, who is also a singer. The funeral arrangements will be announced later.

With PTI inputs