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K. J. Yesudas

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Dr.Kattassery Joseph Yesudas (alternate: Jesudas, Malayalam:കാട്ടശ്ശേരി ജോസഫ് യേശുദാസ്), born January 10, 1940, is one of the premier Indian classical musicians and a leading Playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. His film songs, mostly in Malayalam,Tamil and Hindi continue to please millions throughout the world. He was born in Fort Kochi, Kerala to Augustine Joseph and Elizabeth Joseph. His father, who was his first guru (teacher), was a well-known Malayalam classical musician and stage actor of his time. He joined the Music Academy in Thrippunithura and won a gold medal for music at a local competition in Fort Kochi at age seven. He later trained under the legendary Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar in Classical Music, and this training, abruptly cut short by the guru's demise in 1974, still stood him in good stead. His soul-stirring voice lends itself well to both Indian classical, devotional and popular songs. Some popular classical songs rendered by Yesudas are Vathapi Ganapathim, Krishna Nee Begane Baaro , 'Yentha Nedu Wo', 'Kshira Saagara'.

Yesudas, a talent discovered by Salil Chowdhury and nurtured by Ravindra Jain, has sung more than 40,000 songs for many languages including Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam, Gujarati, Oriya, Arabic, Sanskrit, Latin and English through his long career.

His first song as a playback singer was for the Malayalam movie Kalpadukal (1961). His first Hindi song was for the movie Anand Mahal, with music scored by Salil Chowdhury, a long-standing collaborator. Two major Indian languages where he has not sung in are Kashmiri and Assamese. He has recorded a solo album called Ahimsa, produced by Ricardo Barrantes' Solarwind Music (USA). It is unique in that it has Yesudas singing in Sanskrit, Latin and in English and in a mix of styles including New-Age and Carnatic conveying the message of Ahimsa and peace.

In 1965, he was invited by the Soviet Union government to perform at music concerts in various cities in the U.S.S.R. In 1971, Yesudas with his musical troupe travelled around Kerala to raise funds for the Indian Prime Minister's National Defense Fund during the Indo-Pakistani War. He also became Senate member in the International Parliament for Safety and Peace, an organization incorporated in the USA.

In November 14, 1999, Yesudas was presented an honorary award by UNESCO for "Outstanding Achievements in Music and Peace" at the "Music for Peace" event in Paris, a concert held to mark the dawn of the new millennium and whose attendees included artistes such as Lionel Richie, Ray Charles, Montserrat Caballé and Zubin Mehta.

He was awarded the Padmashree (1973) and Padma Bhushan (2002) by the President of India.

Contents

Scholarship

Role models

Shri.Narayana Guru's great message, "One caste, one religion and one God for all humans", influenced young Yesudas in his dealings with fellow men. In the music world, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna and Mohammed Rafi are his major heroes.

Family

--> Yesudas and his wife Prabha have three sons, Vinod, Vijay and Vishal. The family resides in Chennai and Florida. His son Vijay is a singer and sings in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu.

Titles, Honours and Major Awards

National Awards

In Hindi

Yesudas's most popular Hindi songs are from the 1976 movie Chitchor with music given by Ravindra Jain. The greatest tribute paid to him is cited during an interview with Ravindra Jain, wherein the blind music director confessed that if he ever happened to regain vision, the first person he would like to see was Yesudas. Yesudas's greatest association in Hindi was with Ravinder Jain and the duo combined to produce memorable including Oo Goriya re (from the film Naiyya - directed by Prashanth Nanda),Sunayna (from the film Sunayna). The film in which Yesudas sang the most memorable Hindi songs is claimed to be Saawan ko aane do with music given by the notable late Shri Raj Kamal. Songs like Jaanam, Chand jaise mukhde pe and Tujhe Dekh Kar Jagwale Par (from Saawan Ko Aane Do), Kahan se aaye badra (from Chasme Baddoor),Ni Sa Ga Ma Pa (from Anand Mahal) etc leave even the lover of modern songs spell bound.

During an interview with Spice Music Channel, he told the interviewer that a song he sang for the unreleased Hindi movie Tansen was his all time favorite song in Hindi. Major Hindi musicians worked with him are Naushad, Ravi, Ravindra Jain, and Salil Chowdhury. Sitaron Mein Tu Hi is one of his hit music album.

In Malayalam

Pdmabhushan Dr. KJ Yesudas has been singing many unforgettable songs in Malayalam since 1961.

In 60s -70 s he made hit songs with music maestro M.S Baburaj, G Dvarajan, Dakshinamurthy, and Salil Chowdhury. The trio combination of Salil-Yesudas and Prem Nazir (the evergreen hero of Malayalam Cinema) took the Malayalam Cinema Industry of the 70's by storm. As a matter of fact, it was generally agreed that Yesudas's voice was the most ideal one for Prem Nazir.

Legendary songs with Baburaj are : Thamasamenthe varuvan - Bhargavi Nilayam (1964), Nadhikalil- Anaarkali (1966), Ennale Mayangumbol - Anveshichu Kandethiyilla (1967), Ekareyanente Tamasam - Karthika (1968), Pranasaki –Pareeksha 1969, Orupushpam - Pareeksha 1969.

Legendary songs with Maestro Dakshinamurthy are Swapnangale Ningal - Kavyamela (1965), Kakkathamburatti - Inapravukal (1965), Hrudaya Sarassile - Paadunna Puzha (1968), Ponveyil - Nirthasala (1972).

Legendary songs with Devarajan Master are :Ashtamudi- Manavatty (1964), Manikya Veena- Kattu Pookkal (1965), Kattadichu - Thulabharam (1968), Thanga Bhasma- Koottukudumbam (1969), Aayiram Padasaram- Nadi (1969), Sangamam - Triveni (1970), Omalale Kandu- Sindhoora Cheppu (1971), Manushyan- Achanum Bappayum (1972), Indravallari - Gandharava Kshetram (1972), Padmatheerthame- Gayathri (1973).

Legendary songs with Salil Chowdhury. are Neela Ponmane- Nellu (1974), Kalakalam- Ee Ganam Marakkumo (1978), Madaprave Vaa- Madhanotsavam (1978), Shyama Meghame - Samayamayilla Polum (1978).

From 80 s his hit songs are with Maestro Raveendran, M G Radhakrishnan, Jerry Amaldev and Johnson. Yesudas made lot t of hit songs with Raveendran master. Ezhuswarangalum- Chiriyo chiri (1982), Pramadavam – His Highness Abdullah are legendary songs. Devanganagal Kayyozhinja tharakam from the film Njan Gandharvan (1991) is a legendary song by. Johnson.

In Tamil

He has been singing thousands of songs in Tamil.Yesudas's first song in Tamil film was in the film Bommai and the song was Neeyum Bommai. With Music Maestro Ilaya Raja he made lot of hit songs.Other major music directors worked with him are M. S. Viswanathan, A. R. Rahman, Rajkumar S A, S. Balachander, Vaidyanathan L, Deva,Gangai Amaran, Aadithyan, K. V. Mahadevan, Shankar Ganesh and Vidyasagar.

He had fortune to sing songs written by Subramanya Bharathy ( Yezhavuthu Manithan (1981) and Bharati (2000) ) and Kannadasan.The Magical voice that hooks all music lovers with melodies like 'Poove Sempoove' - Solla Thudikkuthu manasu, 'Aarariraro' - Raam, 'Raaja Raaja Chozan' - Rettai Vaal Kuruvi, Thendral Vanthu' - Thendrale Ennai Thodu, 'Kanne Kalaimaane' & 'Poongaatru' - Moondram Pirai, 'Vaa Vaa Anbe' - Agni Natchathiram , 'Vellai Puraa' - Pudhu Kavithai and lot of many other songs.He was awarded Kalaimamani Award and eight time State Award for the best playback singer from Tamil Nadu Government.

In Kannada

Gaana Gandharva, Yesudas has been perfoming a lot of classical, devotional and film songs in Kannada. Krishna Nee Begane Baaro ,a recording of live performance by this great musician when he visited Udupi in early 2002. He sung several Kannada compositions of Purandaradasa - The saint-poet who is revered as the father of Carnatic Music.

Anuragadalil Gandharva Gana - Gandharva, Hoovina Lokha Nammadu -Kempu Gulabi, Gouria Roopa Ninamma - Madura Preethi, Kele Kele Bharatha Mathe - Abhimanyu, Nagumoo Mohana - Rayaroo Bandaru Maavana Manege , Ramachaari Haduva ( Ramachaari ), Ee Yavvana Madhura - Ramarajyadhalli Raksharu , Yaakamma Beku - Sneha, Haadonda Naa Haaduvenu - Shruthi , Meru Giriyane - Sangliyaana, Mane Mandi Gella - Triveni ,Navarathri Nota Nayana Mohana - Shri Durgey Pooje, Ninnantha Kathaikaru - Ansumbava. Major Kannada musicians worked with him are Hamsalekha, Sudharsanam R, Rajkumar S A and Upendrakumar. Yesudas was awarded five times State Award for the best playback singer from Karnataka Government.

In Telugu

Ghantasala Melody King, Yesudas has been singing in both Classical and fillm songs in Telugu.

Meghasandesham-Navarasasumamalika, Kumkumathilakam-AalanagaPalanaga, Swayamvaram-Galivanalo, AadhiDampathulu-Kadalinigani,Yedadugulabandam-Yenduku, Hanthakudiveta-Regevyase, Grehaprevesam-DaarichupinaDevatha,Ugranarasimham-Veyikaluvula, Meghasandesham-SigalooAviViruloo, Rudrakali-Okakavi,OoruNidralechindi-ChickChickPillata, Kumkumathilakam-Momuna Bottetti SwatantranikiOopiripoyindi-ManasainaPriyathama are his some hit songs in Telugu.Yesudas was never treated as an outsider of Andhra Pradesh because of his proper pronunciation, thorough knowledge of Carnatic classical music and his proximity to Telugu heroes. His mesmerizing voice still sways the Telugu Land and also won him several Nandi awards. It is said that music directors like Ramesh Naidu, Satyam and Keeravani MM used to like Yesudas's voice a lot. He was awarded five times State Award for the best playback singer from Andhra Pradesh Government and he brought a National Award to Telugu in the film Meghasandesham

See also

External links

 

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