Top 25 Malayalam film duets of K. J. Yesudas and K. S. Chithra
No doubt, K. J. Yesudas and K. S. Chithra are the most talented and most popular playback singers of Malayalam cinema ever. While Yesudas started his career way back in the early 1960s, Chithra joined the list of Malayalam playback singers in the early 1980s. Since then they recorded several memorable tracks together. In this list I shall list 25 of the best romantic duets of K. J. Yesudas and K. S. Chithra, recorded in Malayalam. For convenience I have sorted them based on alphabetic order, and here we go! Please go through my list of top 100 Chithra songs too.
1. Aadhyamay Kanda Naal from Thooval Kottaram (1996) – Music: Johnson, Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
Let me begin the list with a song filmed on Jayaram, Manju Warrier and Sukanya. Thooval Kottaram was a love triangle with a happy and surprising end. Jayaram and Sukanya played romantic couple in the film.
2. Akashadeepam Ennum Unarum from Kshanakathu (1990) – Music: Sharreth, Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
This romantic movie had a tragic end. This extremely popular romantic song was filmed on less-known actors, Niyaz Musaliyar and Parvathy.
3. Azhake Nin from Amaram (1991) – Music: Raveendran , Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
The song contains some of the best songs of the year. Azhake is the romantic track filmed on Maathu and Ashokan, who play teenagers.
4. Enthinu Veroru Sooryodayam from Mazhayettum Mumpe (1995) – Music: Raveendran, Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
One of the finest and extremely popular duets of Yesudas and Chithra, the song was filmed on Mammooty and Shobana, who makes a perfect couple on screen. Shobana played a paralyzed girl in the movie. Annie who played a college girl completed the love triangle.
5. Gopangane from Bharatham (1991) – Music: Raveendran , Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
Bharatham is a milestone movie of Mollywood, which gave so much importance to Carnatic awards, and bagged numerous accolades too. This particular track was filmed on Mohanlal and Urvasi. Raveendran Master tuned it based on Naatta raga.
6. Gopika Vasantham from His Highness Abdullah (1990) – Music: Raveendran , Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
This evergreen romantic track was filmed on Mohanlal and Gauthami, who played a romantic pair in the film. All the songs based on Carnatic ragas became extremely popular, and this particular song was based on Shanmukhapriya raga. In fact Mohanlal did many movies in the 1990s, which gave preference to Carnatic music. The album included 6 tracks, and Gopika Vasantham is the single Chithra track.
7. Kaanumbol Parayamo from Ishtam (2001) – Music: Mohan Sitara, Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
Ishtam is known for some nice piece of music by Mohan Sitara. Kaanumbol Parayamo filmed on Navya Nair, Nedumudi Venu, Jayasudha and Dileep was the most popular song of the movie.
8. Kaathirippo from Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (1997) – Music: Vidyasagar, Lyrics: Gireesh Puthenchery
The song filmed on Manju Warrier and Jayaram is all about waiting and deep patience behind it. the movie included some of the finest solos of both the playback singers.
9. Kanaka Nilave from Kauravar (1992) – Music: S. P. Venkatesh, Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
The song was a huge chartbuster when it got released. It starred Mammootty and Anju, who played a wedded couple with short span of being together. Anju has appeared as a child artist in Mammootty movies in the 1980s.
10. Kannadi Koodum Kooti from Pranaya Varnangal (1998) – Music: Vidyasagar, Lyrics: Gireesh Puthenchery
As the title of the film suggests, the movie is all about colours of love and youth, and this musical campus film and its songs were huge chartbusters. The success of its songs also established the career of Vidyasagar in Malayalam cinema. This song is widely regarded as one of the finest songs filmed on Manju Warrier who exhibits her dancing skills, and the song was filmed as a dream sequence with Manju and Suresh Gopi as romantic couple. Manju also plays a double role in this particular song.
11. Kodamanjin Thaazhvarayil from Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal (2000) – Music: Ilaiyaraaja, Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
The song was filmed on the splendid beauty of the hill station of Ooty. The movie starring Jayaram and Lakshmi Gopalaswamy won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam for the millennium year. Choreographer Kala won National Film Award for Best choreography for the songs of Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal (especially Ghana Shyama song). Music maestro Ilaiyaraaja recorded three versions of this song – a duet of K. J. Yesudas and Chithra and their solo versions. Among all, duet version became extremely popular.
12. Kunnimani Kannazhaki from Priyam (2000) – Music: Berny Ignatius, Lyrics: S. Ramesan Nair
The song was filmed on Kunchakko Boban and newcomer Deepa Nair, and the movie was inspired from the plot of ‘Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke’. However the lead actress never appeared in movies later.
13. Mayilayi Parannuvaa from Mayilpeelikkavu (1998) – Music: Berny Ignatius, Lyrics: S. Ramesan Nair
This romantic song was filmed on Jomol and Kunchakko Boban. The movie was based on the theme of incarnation, which failed to create wonders at box office. I often feel that intro of chartbuster Vidya Sagar song, Karimizhi Kuruviye was inspired from the intro of this song.
14. Mounam Swaramaay from Aayushkalam (1992) – Music: Ouseppachan, Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
The song had two versions – a solo version in the voice of Yesudas, and a duet version. The duet version was filmed on Jayaram and Maathu, shown as a newly wedded couple. The solo version was shown towards the end of the film, after the death of Jayaram’s character.
15. Oru Murai Vanthu from Manichitrathaazhu (1993) – Music: M. G. Radhakrishnan, Lyrics: Bichu Thirumala, Vaali
Both the movie and its songs were immensely popular when it got released. Shobana exhibits her dancing skills through this song, and Shridhar, Suresh Gopi and Mohanlal also appear in the song sequence filmed at famous Padmanabhapuram Palace, Thakkalai, and also Hill Palace, Tripunithura. The song included Tamil lyrics too. When the movie was remade to Tamil and Hindi, those songs too became extremely popular. Telugu and Bengali lyrics were added to the respective songs for authenticity. An interesting fact to add – The role of Mahadevan (a classical dancer in Nagavally’s story) was initially offered to actor Vineeth, who couldn’t accept the role that time. However he appeared in the Tamil, Kannada and Hindi remakes of the same movie.
16. Oru Raatri Koodi from Summer In Bethlehem (1998) – Music: Vidya Sagar, Lyrics: Gireesh Puthenchery
Gireesh Puthenchery’s lyrics lift the song to a new level, and the song was filmed on Manju Warrier and Suresh Gopi. I often feel that hidden silence behind this song adds extra beauty to this song.
17. Ponnil Kulichu from Sallapam (1996) – Music: Johnson, Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
The song was filmed on Dileep and Manju Warrier, who went on to establish as huge stars of Malayalam, and got married as well. In the song, lead actors perform on stage as singers, and the song also includes a few dream sequences.
18. Pooja Bimbam from Harikrishnans (1998) – Music: Ouseppachan, Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
This sad song was filmed towards the climax of the film starring Juhi Chawla, Mohanlal and Mammootty, and it shows the dilemma of a girl to make a choice between two persons, who are equally good. The movie also included very popular romantic duet of Yesudas and Chithra – Ponnambal Puzhayarambil, for which Yesudas used different voice modulations for two megastars. The Celestial Singer also experimented the same for the song, Ponne Ponnambili.
19. Poovinum Poonkurunnaam from Witness (1988) – Music: Ouseppachan, Lyrics: Bichu Thirumala
I couldn’t get the music video of the song, and hence I don’t know the artists filmed in this beautiful song. But I liked its unique pattern in tunes, and hence included in the list. The investigation thriller starred Parvathy in the pivot role, alongside a bunch of young actors.
20. Pranaya Vasantham from Njaan Ekanaanu (1982) – Music: M. G. Radhakrishnan, Lyrics: Sathyan Anthikkad
The movie is best known for its songs composed by M. G. Radhakrishnan, who gave first break to Chithra into playback singing and devotional songs. It’s the single duet of the album, which include popular solos like O Mridule and Rajani Parayoo. The song was filmed on Poornima Jayaram and R. Dilip.
21. Pranayatharangam from Gandharvam (1993) – Music: S. P. Venkatesh, Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
This extremely romantic song was filmed on Mohanlal and Kanchan. The movie was a major hit, and it included memorable songs like Maliniyude Theerangal.
22. Raagini Raagaroopini from Katha Ithuvare (1985) – Music: Johnson, Lyrics: Poovachal Khadar
The song was filmed on hot young pair of 1980s – Rehman and Rohini, and Raagini Raagaroopini was one of the early romantic hits of Chithra’s career.
23. Raavin Nilakkayal from Mazhavillu (1999) – Music: Mohan Sitara, Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
The song can be best categorized as Yesudas solo, as Chithra sings only a very few opening lines of the song. But those few lines sync-lipped by Preeti Jhangiani are extremely flawless, and no other singer except Chithra can sing those lines absolutely perfect. It adds an extra charm to the song, and that’s why I included this track in this list. Later Vineeth travels back to think about his lost love Praveena, and the precious time spent he spent with her. Kunchakko Boban also features in the song.
24. Sivadham from Mazhavillu (1999) – Music: Mohan Sitara, Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran
This Carnatic song was filmed on Vineeth, Kunchakko Boban and Preeti Jhangiani, and still very popular. In fact all songs of the movie got noticed, though the movie flopped. There are 7 tracks in the album of which 4 are duets of Yesudas and Chithra, and Ponnolathumbi is yet another popular track of the album.
25. Yaathrayaay from Niram (1999) – Music: Vidya Sagar, Lyrics: Girish Puthencherry
Let us end this list with this heart touching parting song. Both the movie and all its songs were extremely popular among the youth when got released, and the music album was a blend of both soft and peppy numbers. This particular song was filmed during climax of the film, where Shalini tries to depart Kunchakko Boban.
The list is not ending here….
Minnithennum Nakshathrangal from Niram
- Neeyen Kinavo from Hello My Dear Wrong Number
- Aradhana Nisha from Nokketha Dhoorathu Kannum Nattu
- Paaduvaanaay Vannu from Ezhuthapurangal
- Penninte Chenchundil from Guruji Oru Vaakku
- Aalila Manjalil from Soorya Gayathri
- Chandrakaantham Kondu from Patheyam
- Madhuvidhu Raavukale from Aadhyathe Kanmani
- Minnithennum Nakshathrangal from Niram
- Neerazhipenninte from Kizhakkan Patrose
- Poomariyil Thenmariyil from Johny Walker
- Premodaaranay from Kamaladalam
- Thechi Poove from Ratholsavam
- Kili Penne from Dosth
- Oru Kili Pattu Moolave from Vadakkumnathan
- Parayathe Ariyathe from Udayanaanu Thaaram
- Melleyen Kannile from Kusruthikurupp
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