Dr. KJ YESUDAS
FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:
Dr. KJ YESUDAS
Dr. KJ YESUDAS, born in Cochin, Kerala, on 10th January
1940, is one of the best singers and musicians of India having already sung
50000 songs in many Indian languages like Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada,
Hindi, Odia, Bengali, and Marathi, and foreign languages such as Arabic,
English, Latin and Russian, among others. As a multi-lingual and multi-genre
singer like playback, Carnatic, devotional, and spiritual, reigning in the
music world for the past six decades and still going great guns, he earned a majestic
title ‘GAANA GANDHARVAN’ (The Celestial Singer).
It
was in 1961 that Yesudas first recorded for a Malayalam movie. It was a verse
written by Sri Narayana Guru. Offers soon started just pouring in after a
couple of more releases. From then on, there was no looking back for him and he has been in success streaks as one of the most accomplished
singers of the country.
His honeyed, soothing and silky voice has stood him in good stead as
a multi-dimensional, multi-faceted and versatile singer. His magnificently melodious, mesmerizingly mellifluous, and marvelously mellow voice has been entertaining and enthralling people across the world for
decades.
In the Bollywood, the trio Music Composer Ravindra Jain-KJ
Yesudas-Female singer Hemlata was very successful in presenting many all-time
hit Hindi songs.
He has so far received the following major awards, titles and honours,
among others.
o Padma Bhushan, 2002
o Padma Shri, 1975
o Honorary Doctorate by Annamalai University,
Tamil Nadu in 1989.
o Honorary Doctorate by Kerala University,
Kerala in 2003.
o Honorary Doctorate by Mahatma Gandhi
University, Kerala in 2009.
o Asthana Gayakan (Official Singer) by
Government of Kerala
o Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1992
o Asthana Vidwan (Official Teacher) by Udupi,
Sringeri, and Raghavendra mutts.
Sangeetha Sagaram (Music Ocean) in 1989.
o Sangeetha Chakravarthy (Music Emperor) in
1988 by Pallavi Narasimachary.
o Sangeetha Raja (Music King) by Chembai in
1974.
o Sangeetha Ratna (Music Jewel) by Lt.
Governor of Pondicherry M.M. Lakhera.
o Swathi Ratnam (Swathi Jewel).
o Sapthagiri Sangeetha Vidwanmani in 2002.
o Bhakti Sangita Geetha Sironmani in 2002.
o Gaana Gandharva by G. Sankara Kurup.
o Geetanjali Award by The ex-president of
India Neelam Sanjiva Reddy.
o Sur Singar Samsad Award in 1976.
o Kalaimamani Award by Government of Tamil
Nadu.
o Star of India Award by Lt. Governor of
Pondicherry M.M. Lakhera.
National Citizens Award in 1994.
o Mar Gregorius Award Governor RL Bhatia in
2006.
o Kerala Ratna by Jaihind TV in 2008.
o The Annual Latha Mangeshkar Award by
Government of Madhya Pradesh in 1992.
o Dr. Pinnamaneni and Seethadevi Foundation
Award in 2000.
o Senate member in the International
Parliament for Safety and Peace, an organization incorporated in the United
States.
o An Honorary award for Outstanding
Achievements in Music and Peace by UNESCO in 1999.
o Ghantasala Melody King Award in 2005.
o Sathyan Memorial Film Award for Lifetime
Achievement in 2008.
o Susheela National Music Award in 2009.
o Jaycee Foundation Film Award for Best Singer
in 2009.
o Social Excellence Award in 2010.
o Mirchi Awards for Best Singer and Lifetime
Achievement in 2010.
o Sree Chithira Thirunal Trust National Award
in 2010.
o Swaralaya - Eenam Award in 2010 - Decade's
Best Talent in Malayalam Music Symphony Award in 2010
o Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram in 2010, highest
music award given by Government of Kerala
o Jaihind TV Film Award 2010 for Best Male
Playback Singer Award for the song Pinne Ennodonnum from the movie Shikkar.
o Amrita-FEFKA Lifetime Achievement Award in
2011.
o Swaralaya-Devarajan Award in 2011
o CNN-IBN Indian of the Year Award in 2011.
o M. K. Raghavan Vakkeel Award, instituted by Sree
Narayana Sangam in memory of M. K. Raghavan, former Labour Minister and S. N.
Trust General Secretary, in 2012.
o Harivarasanam Award, instituted by
Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in 2012.
o SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award, 2013.
o Dynamic Man of the Millennium Award by K. G.
Foundation in 2013.
o Harmony Award by Marthoma Research Academy
in 2013.
o Special Award by Government of Kerala for
his overall contributions in diverse fields.
The array and line-up of the above awards and honours conferred on him speak volumes of
his grand success as a versatile singer. There is absolutely no need to elaborate
any more on his name and fame as an all-round and multitalented singer. Isn’t
it?
Making his foray and inroads into
singing in many Indian languages, he shot into All-India fame as a celebrated
multi-lingual singer. No wonder, he could deeply etch and engrave his
voice in the Indian psyche as a popular playback singer. Becoming a famous
performer in almost every major city of the world, he was invited by the Soviet
Government as back as 1968 as a cultural delegate of India to tour the erstwhile USSR.
He also had the honour of being one of
the few Indian artistes to perform at London’s famed Royal Albert Hall in 2001
and also the Sydney Opera House in 2006.
One can appreciate his magnanimity in
the following incident. After bagging Kerala’s state award for Best Male
Playback-singer for a record 23 times, Yesudas himself requested the state
government in 1987 not to consider him for future awards, so as to ensure that other
meritorious singers would not face neglect.
His spiritual orientations are well known. He has sung many
devotional numbers on Hindu Gods, specifically Lord Ayyappan of Whom he is one
of the ardent devotees.
Needless to say, Yesudas reigns and
shines as a legendary singer even during his lifetime.
PRANAMS and ALL THE BEST to him.
(R.SAMPATH)
10/1/2022
A well researched article on a legendary singer on his birthday. Besides cinema Singing, he also performed Carnatic concerts. In fact his carnatic music program was sponsored by Tamil Nadu Circle in 2004 or 2005. I attended this program which was a sell out program. K.J. Jesudoss first sang in Tamil for பொம்மை movie. நீயும் பொம்மை நானும் பொம்மை.
ReplyDeleteDr. K. J. Jesydoss is always magnetic voice. No words to say beyond.
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