One onstage mistake that made Jayachandran stop relying on memory for lyrics
His small lyric book was a common sight for those familiar with Jayachandran’s stage performances.
His small lyric book was a common sight for those familiar with Jayachandran’s stage performances.
His small lyric book was a common sight for those familiar with Jayachandran’s stage performances.
Years ago, veteran playback singer P Jayachandran performed at a musical event in the Middle East, captivating the audience with his mesmerising voice. Renowned for memorising the lyrics of almost all his songs, he did not refer to any notes during the event.
The crowd was deeply enthralled in the music, except for one man in the front row who seemed to be in a "different mood." He would stand up enthusiastically and applaud every time Jayachandran navigated through challenging portions of a song.
Then came "Neelagiriyude Sakhikale...", the song that won Jayachandran his first Kerala State Film Award in 1973 and a highlight of his stage shows. The audience remained mesmerised as he progressed through the pallavi, anupallavi (the opening and the subsequent portion of the song), and the first stanza.
However, after completing the second stanza and transitioning into the humming section, the man in the front row abruptly stood up and asked, "Hey, sir, how do you build a room at the tip of the hair?" The question startled Jayachandran, and it was then that he realised his mistake.
The original lyric read:
"Ninte neelavaarmaudichurulinteyettathil
Njaneetinte pookkoodi choodichotte"
What Jayachandran had inadvertently sung was:
"Ninte neelavaarmaudichurulinteyettathil
Njaneetinte murikoodi paniyichotte"
He had repeated the last line from the previous stanza, completely changing the meaning. While most of the audience appeared unaware of the error, the observant front-row enthusiast did not let it slide.
Recalling the incident, Jayachandran would later say, "I have sung that song at least a thousand times, yet I made a mistake. That experience taught me to stop relying solely on my memory. Since then, no matter how well I know a song, I always refer to the lyrics in my book.
"If the book isn’t available, I will call my friend Manoharan in Thiruvananthapuram to jot down the lyrics. Only after confirming the words do I perform. Singing from memory is no longer an option."
His small lyric book was a common sight for those familiar with Jayachandran’s stage performances. He owned four or five such books, each meticulously handwritten with song lyrics, including details about the film, composer, and lyricist. They ensured his performances remained flawless, avoiding any lyrical missteps.