Born Kattassery Joseph Yesudas on 10th January 1940, India's iconic singer is known to Malayalis as 'Gana gandharvan' (The Celestial Singer). A truly gifted talent in classical, devotional and playback, Yesudas has in his kitty more than 40,000 songs in a number of Indian languages, including Bengali, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu as well as Arabic, English, Latin, and Russian, in a career spanning more than five decades.
Yesudas has won the national award for the best male playback singer eight times, the recent one in 2018. (He was even at the centre of a controversy over his participation in the 65th National film award function amid a call by a few artistes in his home state to boycott the function.)
He has also bagged the state award for the best playback singer 43 times, Filmfare Awards five times, and many other laurels given by the state governments of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and West Bengal. He was also honoured by the nation with the Padma Shri in 1977, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan (second-highest civilian award) in 2017 for his exemplary contributions towards arts.
Listen to some of his most remembered and popular songs in Tamil language.
1) En iniya pon nilave - Moodu Pani - Ilaiyaraaja
This song from the 1980 Tamil movie Moodu Pani marks the first association between A R Rahman and Ilaiyaraaja. A R Rahman, then known as Dileep, worked as a sound programmer in this film. The film's soundtrack and score were composed by Ilayaraja and this was his 100th movie. Gangai Amaran was the main lyricist of the movie.
2) Senthazhampoovil - Mullum Malarum - Ilaiyaraaja
Mullum Malarum, 1978 film was directed by J Mahendran. The soundtrack is by Ilaiyaraaja. Mullum Malarum features no duets, which was considered a rarity for Tamil cinema at that time. The song 'Senthampoovil', penned by Kannadasan, was sung by K J Yesudas.
3) Raja raja chozhan - Rettai Vaal Kuruvi - Ilaiyaraaja
Released in 1987, this Tamil song was also composed by Ilaiyaraaja in Keeravani raga.
4) Poove sempoove - Solla Thudikudhu Manasu - Ilaiyaraaja
The 1988 Tamil movie by B Lenin features a very melodious 'Poove sempoove' by Ilaiyaraaja in the Carnatic raga Gourimanohari.
5) Kanne kalaimane - Moondram Pirai – Ilaiyaraaja
Balu Mahendra's flick Moondram Pirai was composed by Ilaiyaraaja in 1982. 'Kannai kalaimane' song touched the hearts of the audience with remarkable performances by Kamal Haasan and Sridevi. The number, based in Kaapi raga, also has shades of the raga Natabhairavi. It is said to have been written by Kannadasan in about two minutes time, after listening to the film's story and the situation for the song. It was also his last recorded song before his death.
6) Aarariraro naan ingu paada - Raam - Yuvan Shankar Raja
The 2005 movie by director Ameer saw some great music from Yuvan Shankar Raja.
7) Kanavu Kaanum - Neengal Kettavai -Ilaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraja's music and background score was widely acclaimed post the release of this 1984 movie by Balu Mahendra.
8) Vellai Pura Ondru - Puthu Kavithai – Ilaiyaraaja
S P Muthuraman's hit remake of a 1976 Kannda movie too had some amazing music sequences. Listen to this number by Yesudas here.
9) Deivam Thandha Veedu - Aval Oru Thodarkathai - M S Viswanathan
K Balachandran's 1974 Tamil movie was one among the most popular cult movies from the industry. Penned by Kannadasan, the music was rendered by yet another legend M S Viswanathan.
10) Amma endrazhaikatha-Mannan–Ilaiyaraaja
1992 Tamil film Mannan by P Vasu was the remake of a 1986 Kannada movie. It starred Rajinikanth, Vijayashanti, Kushboo, Manorama and others. The songs were composed by Ilaiyaraaja and was penned by P Vasu.
