Renowned playback singer P Jayachandran, known as Bhava Gayakan for his deeply emotive renditions, passed away on Thursday evening at the age of 80. He died at a private hospital in Thrissur, Kerala, after being admitted following a collapse at his residence. Hospital sources reported that the singer, who had been unwell for some time, breathed his last at 7:55 PM.
He has to his credit over 16,000 songs in many languages such as Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. Known for his unparalleled contributions to the Indian music, he has many awards under his belt. Those include National Film Award and J C Daniel Award conferred by Kerala State Government. Five times he received the Kerala State Film Awards and Tamil Nadu State Film Awards twice. His rendition of the song “Shiva Shankara Sharana Sarva Vibho” in Sree Narayana Guru also won him a National Award.
March 3, 1944, is Jayachandran’s birthday, as he was born in Ernakulam and was the offspring of a household rich in culture. He was a third son from the couple formed by Ravi Varma Kochaniyan Thampuran of the Tripunithura Kovilakam, and Subhadra Kunjamma of the Chendamangalam Paliam House. His musical journey began during his school days, where he excelled in both mridangam and light classical music. At the 1958 state school kalotsavam, he won first place in the mridangam competition and met K J Yesudas, marking the beginning of a lifelong connection.
Jayachandran’s first playback singing experience was in 1965, with the song “Oru Mullappoo Malayumayi” for the film Kunjali Marakkar, written by P Bhaskaran. His first released song, however, was “Manjalayil Mungithorthi” from Kalithozhan. He has sung for music maestros like G Devarajan, M S Viswanathan, Ilaiyaraaja, A R Rahman, and Vidyasagar. His association with Ilaiyaraaja saw many Tamil super hits, like “Rasathi Unna Kanatha Nenju” from Vaidehi Kathirundal.
Jayachandran’s death has left a gaping hole in the music world. Tributes came pouring from across the country, with Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar describing his voice as one that charmed audiences for six decades and would continue to comfort hearts for years to come. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan noted how Jayachandran’s songs had transcended time and space, touching the lives of Malayalis and music lovers across India. He pointed out the singer’s ability to express unique emotional expressions and his role in showcasing the beauty of the Malayalam language to the world.
Opposition Leader V D Satheesan called him one of the rare voices listeners could never tire of, praising his distinctive singing style that captivated audiences for over five decades.
Survived by his wife, Lalitha, daughter Lakshmi, and son Dinanathan, who is also a singer, Jayachandran’s body will be brought to his residence in Thrissur for public homage before the funeral, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday at his ancestral home in Chendamangalam. His passing marks an irreplaceable loss for the world of music, leaving behind a legacy that will resonate for generations.
