Legendary singer P Jayachandran dies at 80
P Jayachandran, who has sung more than 16,000 songs in various languages, predominantly in Malayalam, since 1967 and received dozens of awards, breathed his last on Thursday. He was 80. He had been undergoing treatment for cancer.
Renowned as the "Bhava Gayakan" (Singer of Emotions), P Jayachandran lent his voice across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. His emotive renditions of love, longing, and devotion immortalised countless songs, earning him a place among the most celebrated voices in Indian cinema.
Born on March 3, 1944, in Ernakulam, Jayachandran’s initial foray into the arts involved traditional percussion instruments like the chenda and mridangam. His schooling at institutions in Chendamangalam, Aluva, and Irinjalakuda, as well as his active participation in youth festivals, honed his musical talents.
In 1958, at Kerala’s inaugural State School Youth Festival, he achieved recognition in both light music and percussion.
Jayachandran's professional breakthrough came in 1965 when he recorded the song Oru Mullappoomalayumaayi for the film Kunhalimarikkar. Though the film’s release was delayed, the song opened doors for him in the industry. Soon after, his performance of Manjalayil Mungi Thorthi in the film Kalithozhan became an instant hit.
Over the years, he worked with legendary composers such as G Devarajan, Ilayaraja, and AR Rahman, delivering timeless classics like Neelagiriyude Sakhikale, Ramsanile Chandrikayo, Prayam Nammil Moham Nalki, and Kallayikadavathe. His work extended beyond film music to non-film albums, with notable contributions like Onnini Sruthi Thazhthi and Smrithithan Chirakileri Njan.
After a brief hiatus in the late 1980s, Jayachandran staged a spectacular comeback in 1999 with Prayam Nammil from the Malayalam film Niram.
Jayachandran’s contributions earned him numerous awards, including the National Film Award for Best Playback Singer, five Kerala State Film Awards, the JC Daniel Award, and Tamil Nadu’s Kalaimamani Award.
Jayachandran is survived by his wife, Lalitha, daughter Lakshmi, and son Dinanathan, who has followed in his father’s footsteps in the music industry.
