When two legends sang the same song in their own versions – Yesudas & Jayachandran

Malayalam’s Bhaava Gayakan P. Jayachandran passed away yesterday late night and this is my humble tribute to one of my favourite singers all time. When it comes to Malayalam playback singing, the name which is always taken after K. J. Yesudas is of course, P. Jayachandran. With his demise, golden era of Malayalam cinema losses one of its priceless chapters.

When we talk about those golden ages, the professional competition between K. J. Yesudas and P. Jayachandran can be compared to the legacy of Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar – Two great names which represented music in their respective film industries. Rafi and Kishore still stay as legends, and that’s exactly the same way, Yesudas & Jayachandran of Malayalam film industry will also be represented, Rafi & Yesudas – both trained in classical music while Kishore Kumar & Jayachandran never took formal training, yet created a niche of their own and a huge fan following base too.

People frequently talk about how, during the ruling era of Yesudas, Jayachandran didn’t get equal opportunities. In this column, I would like to discuss about a few songs, which were rendered by both these artists in their own voices. Voices of both these legends can never be compared, & I won’t be discussing about it as well. This column is simply a tribute to the great singer, who was so humble and sweet, just like his voice. Miss you and thanks a lot for singing countless songs I have been listening from early childhood.

A single song and two expressions

How will it look like when Malayalam’s Gaana Gandharvan and Bhaava Gayakan render their voices for same song in their own styles? Though a few, those songs have stayed alive in our hearts testing times, outlived and still rain and blossom as infinite emotions. When it comes to Bollywood, Tum Bin Jaoon Kahan recorded in the voices of both Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar has always been come into discussion, even after 4 decades. Let us check a few of such Malayalam songs sung by the greatest legends of Malayalam music – Yesudas & Jayachandran.

In 1981 a movie titled Pathira Sooryan was released whose album included a song, Saugandhikangale Vidaruvin, Samadhiyil Ninnunaruvin. The song was written by Sreekumaran Thampi and composed by Dakshinamoorthy in Hamsanadham raga. Though the song looks simple, both the singers sang their version with ease. Both versions appear so different, because they never imitated the other’s style of singing. Though both the singers have sung many duets together, it was the first song recorded in the voices of both the singers.

Every Malayali is familiar with the iconic ‘Harivarasanam’ song sung by Yesudas, and its cover version has been sung by many singers. Jayachandran also owns a version of ‘Harivarasanam’ which is included in the devotional album Sabarimala released by East Coast. His expressions (bhaavam) while rendering the song were different. No wonder, he is known by the name ‘Bhava Gayakan’. His rendition didn’t go well with some people because they believed Harivarasanam exclusively belongs to Yesudas. To add, the iconic Vigneswara Janma Naalikeram song was recorded in Jayachandran’s voice.

“Kanakasimhaasanathil” – The perfect comic jugalbandi

There is one extremely popular jugalbandi song in 1974 film, Arakkallan Mukkalkkallan. While Yesudas rendered his voice for Prem Nazir, Jayachandran turned Adoor Bhasi’s ghost voice. The track was composed by V. Dakshinamoorthy and the lyrics were written by P. Bhaskaran. Both the singers handled the classical song with ease, adding a humour touch. Probably, it was the first popular duet recorded in the voices of both the singers.

Many duets have been recorded in their voices later. ‘Samayaradhangalil njangal’ from Chiriyo Chiri (1982) is still popular. The song was born in the combo of Raveendran and Bichu Thirumala. The line ‘Sakalithilum Porule Nee Kaatharuleedaname’ was sung by both singers in two different styles.

Paadam Paadam from Aaromalunni, Krishna Nee Varumo from Kuyiline Thedi, Ividamaaneeswarasannidhanam from Babu Mon, Ambili Manavaatti from Ee Nadu etc are a few more.

Some reminiscences from past

There is a pleasant moment captured by camera eyes long back in 1958, when both the legends shared the same stage during the closing ceremony of 2^nd Kerala School Kalolsavam. In the photo we can see Yesudas performing Carnatic music while young Jayachandran is playing Mridungam. Venue was Thiruvananthapuram Model School. When results were declared, Yesudas earned first prize for light music and Jayachandran won first prize for Mrudangam. Before the closing ceremony a special performance of first prize winners were arranged and both the legends performed together for the first time. Their association started that day! Famous Nagaswaram artist P. Govindan Kutty played harmonium for them, which was a coincidence that time. During those days, only first prize was declared.

Jayachandran has never learnt classical music, something he always had guilt. Though he started formal training under Balamurali Krishna, he couldn’t complete it. While he was working at Parry Chemicals in Chennai, his brother Sudhakaran who was also in Madras took him to recording sections of Yesudas. Sudhakaran was a close friend of Yesudas. They used a bike frequently for such journeys and in occasion, the three of them once went to watch the movie Taj Mahal on a single bike. After they returned to the room, Yesudas was singing while Jayachandran kept rhythm. In fact, it was Yesudas who took Jayachandran to recording studio and introduced him to music composer Devarajan.

Though Jayachandran is best known as a singer, he has played cameo, lead role and full-length supporting roles on Malayalam screen too. He played lead role in 1979 film, Krishnapparunthu, which marked his screen debut. Later he portrayed himself in 1983 film, Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback. But his most memorable role onscreen was Hariharan’s iconic film, Nakhakshathangal (1986). He played Vineeth’s Namboothiri neighbour, a singer which well suited his tastes. We can see him singing in the film. He also recorded some iconic songs – “Kevala Marthya” and “Vreelaa Bharithayaay”, composed by Bombay Ravi. After a long gap in acting, he acted for the last time in 2012 film, Trivandrum Lodge.

Some of Jayachandran’s popular songs

Before I wind up, I would like to list some of his evergreen songs. He recorded 16000+ songs in a career spanning to exactly 6 decades Manjilayil Mungi Thorthi from Kalithozhan was his first hit song. He later recorded songs in all other south Indian languages too. Rasathi Unna Kanatha Nenju from Vaidehi Kathirunthal composed by Ilaiyaraja is his most popular Tamil film song. It took many years for singing his first song in Hindi. A. R. Rahman introduced him to Bollywood through Ada… A Way of Life in 2010. He rendered his voice for the duet, “Milo Wahan Wahan” aside Alka Yagnik.

It was Vidyasagar who rediscovered Jayachandran voice in the late 1990s. It was his return to singing after a hiatus, where his fans saw him in new avatar. Jayachandran’s career can be classified as before “Prayam Nammil Moham Nalki” song and after that. In every album he sang after that, his song stood out. He ruled throughout 2000s though he sang only less number of songs. Most of his romantic songs have been huge chartbusters. Because of this, his singing has been equally appreciated by different generations.

A few more Jayachandran hits in Malayalam

“Anuragaganam Pole” – Udyogastha

“Upasana Upasana” – Thottavadi

“Karimukil Kattile” – Kalli Chellamma

“Nin Paadangalil Nrithamaadidum” – Naazhika Kallu

“Poornendu” – Kurukshetram

“Chandanathil Kadanjeduthoru” – Shastram Jayichu Manushyan Thottu

“Malayala Bhasha Than” – Prethangalude Thaazhvara

“Mallikaabaanan Thante Villeduthu” – Divyadarshanam

“Ishtapraneshwari” – Chukk

“Rajeeva Nayane Neeyurangu” – Chandrakantham

“Karutha Thonikkaara” – Aksharangal

“Nin Maniyarayile” – C.I.D. Nazir

“Harshabashpam Thooki” – Muthassi

“Ekanda Padhikan Njan” – Ummachu

“Thiruvabharanam” – Lankadahanam

“Sandhyakenthinu Sindooram” -Maaya

“Manivarnanillatha Vrinavanam” – Miss.Mary

“Neelagiriyude Sakhikale” – Panitheeratha Veedu

“Ragam Sreeragam” – Bandhanam

“Pinneyum Inakuyil Pinangiyallo” – Aalmaram

“Madhuchandrikayude” – Anaachadhanam

“Moham Kondu Jnan” – Shesham Kaazhchayil

“Sivasankara Sarva Saranya Vibho” – Sree Narayana Guru

“Kevala Marthya” and “Vreelaa Bharithayaa” – Nakhakshathangal

“Prayam Nammil” – Niram

“Premikumbol Neeyum Njanum” – Salt N’ Pepper

“Therirangum Mukile” – Mazhathullikilukkam

“Shishirakaala” – Devaragam

“Olanjali Kuruvi” – 1983

“Ithaloornnu Veena” – Thanmathra

“Neeyoru Puzhayaayi” -Thilakkam

“Kannil Kaashi” – Dreams

“Poove Poove” – Devadoothan

“Aaru Paranju” – Pulival Kalyanam

“Ariyathe Ariyathe” – Ravanaprabhu

“Pattil Ee Pattil” – Pranayam

“Sharadambaram” – Ennu Ninte Moideen

“Swayamvara Chandrike” – Chronic Bachelor

“Marannittumenthino” – Randam Bhavam

After the pandemic, we lost so many beautiful voices who represented the golden era of Indian film music – Lata Mangeshkar, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jayaram, Bhupinder Singh, and the most recent name added to the list is Jayachandran. Your music will always prevail.