P Jayachandran, an expressive singer who stood apart in the crowd

For Malayalis, KJ Yesudas is 'Gaana Gandharvam', the celestial singer, while P Jayachandran, who passed away on Thursday, January 9, was the expressive singer, 'Bhava Gayakan'. Among the playback singers, Keralites unanimously awarded the top two slots to Yesudas and Jayachandran, in that order. Debates still rage about the remaining ranks.

Jayachandran, however, was not concerned about the rankings. His priority was songs, and it was the only one on his list of preferences. Music, like his famous song, was a glorious 'upasana', or worship. He preferred listening to songs to singing. Muhammed Rafi, P Susheela, Latha Mangeshkar, S Ganaki, Kishore Kumar, TM Soundararajan, Manna Dey, Mukesh, Hemant Kumar, Udayabhanu, Yesudas, who sings 'Thamasamenthe varuvaan...", Kamukara singing "Ekaanthathayude apaara theeram...", he never had enough of songs and singers.

Jayachandran's greatness lies in the fact that he spoke more about other singers and their songs, and little about himself, even as he immersed himself in music's vast ocean. Even while he stood aside more as a melophile, he touched Malayali hearts with his magical voice.

Jayachandran's expressive voice brightened emotions — be it love, desolation, sadness, or devotion — and took them to greater heights. It became a magical calmness that enveloped the listener.

His earlier songs, 'Manjalayil mungithorthi...', 'Neelagiriyude sakhikale...', 'Swarnagopura narthakee shilpam...', 'Karpooradeepathin Kaanthiyil...', 'Ashtapadiyile nayike...', 'Thiruvabharanam charthi vidarnnu...', 'Kattumozhukkum kizhakkottu..', 'Rajeevanayane nee urangu...', 'Ramzanile chandrike...', 'Nandyarvatta poo chirichu...', 'Anuraga gaanam pole...', 'Harshabashpam choodi...', 'Ekantha padhikan...', 'Sharadindu malardeepa nalam...' 'Yadukula Rathidevanevide...', "'Sandhyakkenthinu sindooram...', 'Ninmaniyarayile nirmalashayyayile...', 'Upasana, upasana...', 'Mallikapoovin madhuragandham...', 'Madhuchandikayude chayathalikayil...', 'Nunakkuzhi kavilil naghachithramezhuthum...', 'Nin padangalil nrithamadidum...', 'Mallika Banan...', 'Kallolini vana kallolini...', 'Karimukil kattile...', 'Chandanathi kadanjeduthoru...', 'Chandanathil kadanjeduthoru...', 'Kevalamarthyabhasha, 'Malayalabhashathan...', 'Kattukurinji poovum choodi...', etc., will be counted as all-time best in Malayalam.

There was a lull in Jayachandran's career. However, he came back with excellent songs. 'Shishirakaala meghamidhuna...', 'Viralthottal viriyunna penn poove...', 'Ariyathe, ariyathe...', 'Therirangum mukile...', 'Swayamvara Chandrike...', 'Nin Manimukiladakal...', 'Keranirakaladum oru harita charutheeram...', Kallayi kadavathe...', 'Kannil kannil minnum kannadiyil...', 'Pemikkumbol neeyum njaanum...', 'Marannittumenthino...', 'Neeyoru puzhayaayi thazhukumbol...', 'Enthe innum vanneela...', 'Ararum kaanathe aromal thaimulla...', 'Poove poove palappove...', 'Vattayila panthalittu...', 'Onnumindanullil theeramoham...', 'Ekakiyaam ninte swapnangalkkokkeyum...', 'Alilathaliyumaayi varoo nee thingale...', 'Olanjali kuruvi...', stand testimony to Jayachandran's maturing-with-age mellifluous voice and pure rendition.

Beyond borders

Jayachandran has sung more than 1,000 Tamil and over 100 Kannada and Telugu songs. This is in addition to the three songs he had sung in Hindi.

Jayachandran, the actor
Jayachandran had tried his hand in acting as well. He was the second hero in the movie, 'Krishnaparunthu'. 'Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback', 'Nakhakshathangal', 'Trivandrum Lodge' were his other movies. When asked why did not continue acting, his reply was cryptic: "People's tolerance has a limit," he said. Jayachandran also recalled what AT Ummer asked him: "Don't you have any other job?"

Irinjalakkuda resident, born in Ernakulam

Jayachandran was born at Ravipuram, Ernakulam, as the third child of Ravi Varma Kochaniyam Thampuram of the Tripunithura Kovilakam and Subhadrakunjamma of Paliyam at Chendamangalam on March 3, 1944. Sudhakaran, Sarasija, Krishnakumar and Jayanthi are his siblings.
The family later shifted to Chendamangalam, and Paliyam in Irinjalakkuda. Jayachandran was brought up amidst the beats of chenda, chengila, maddalam, and ilathalam. Traditional art forms that the little Jayachandran saw while growing up made him take to arts. His first love then was the Chenda. He learned the percussion instrument under Appu Marar of the Unnayi Warrier Samithi.

Jayachandran's father was a melophile and a fine singer. It took the boy closer to the music. His mother, who recognised Jayachandran's taste in rhythmic beats, arranged for Ramasubbayyar to teach him the mridangam. His father made Jayachandran sing his favourite songs. He also sang at a nearby church, and the Sahitya Samajan event at his school.

He learned cinema songs and sang them. He did not have any other foundation in classical music. KV Ramanathan Master, a teacher at the Irnjakkuda National High School and writer of children's literature encouraged Jayachandran. Jayachandran began his education at the Paliyam School at Chendamangalam. He had his primary education at St Mary's High School in Aluva and Irinjalakkuda National High School. After graduating in Zoology from Christ College, Irinjalakkuda, he worked briefly at a private firm in Madras (now Chennai).

Shobhana Parameshwaran Nair and A Vincent, who heard Jayachandran singing at an orchestra event in Chennai, gave him an opportunity to sing in cinemas. "Kunhali Marikkar" was the first movie for which Jayachandran sang. He later sang a Devarajan composition, "Tharunyam than thamarapoovanathil...", for the movie, "Kalithozhan". It was followed by Malayalam's evergreen-hit song, "Manjalayil mungithorthi...".

"I found a new voice, a confident male voice in Malayalam," Devarajan Master later said. Jayachandran later quit his job and became active in the world of music. He married Lalitha in 1973. The couple has two children, Lakshmi and Dinanathan. Dinanathan had sung for a few movies.

Singer Yesudas, Mridangam Jayachandran
Jayachandran was a student at National High School when Kerala oragnised its first-ever school youth festival in 1958. Jayachandran participated in the light music and mridangam competitions. He came first in mridangam, and second in light music. Yesudas topped the light music competition.

The valedictory function of the youth festival saw Yesudas singing, with Jayachandran accompanying him in the mridangam. The three festivals that followed saw Jayachandran bagging the first prize in light music and mridangam competitions.

Alone in the crowd
Jayachandran was different from other singers, who practised regularly to maintain their voices and followed a strict regimen. Jayachandran ate everything but for cold food. He slept and woke up late. Yoga or any other exercise was not in his scheme of things. He was a vegetarian. He did not learn classical music, which he regretted. His hobby was listening to music. Jayachandran claimed that listened to Mohammed Rafi, Manna Dey. Soundararajan, MM Raja, Latha Mangeshkar, P Susheela, and others to sharpen his skills. Rafi and Susheela were his favourite singers.

Yesudas
Jayachandran used to say that Yesudas was like an elder brother to him. His elder brother Sudhakaran and Yesudas were close friends. Sudhakaran had sung in Yesudas's orchestra, and Jayachandran always maintained that his brother was a better singer than him. Jayachandran used to celebrate vacations with Yesudas, his youth fest friend, in Chennai. Sudhakaran died in 1989, and hence Yesudas had been Jayachandran's elder brother. "Jayan's success is that the audience recognises him on listening to his song," Yesudas had said.

G Devarajan
Jayachandran saw G Devarajan as his guru. He used to say that Devarajan Master created the singer in him. He visited Devarajan regularly in his latter days. However, their first meeting was far from being friendly. When he first met Devarajan, the master composer asked the young singer if he had studied classical music. "No," said Jayachandran. "I won't allow those who have not studied classical music in my songs," Devarajan replied.

Devarajan Master's response did not affect Jayachandran since he then had no plan to become a playback singer. However, the maestro asked him to visit the studio the next day. "Come to the company tomorrow. Let's see," he said.
Jayachandran was not sure whether to meet Devarajan the next day. However, Devarajan sent a man to take Jayachandran to the studio, and taught him two songs, "Thaarunyam than thaamarappovanathil..." and "Manajalayil mungi thorthi...". Jayachandran was also told that Yesudas would be singing "Manjalayil...," and he should learn it to practise music. However, even as he repeatedly sang "Manjalayil..." Jayachandran felt emotionally attached to the song. He recorded both songs. Since the song would not be used in the movie, Jayachandran was not tense while singing "Manjalayil...".

While he was about to leave, he asked Krishnan Nair at the studio about Yesudas's arrival to record the song. "Who, Dasettan? Dude, you're singing this song. Master composed the song for you," Nair said, adding that Devarajan deliberately did not inform Jayachandran that he would be singing the song. Jayachandran was stunned. Later, Devarajan Master taught Jayachandran and became his pillar of strength.

Festivals

Festival venues were Jayachandran's weakness. Wandering around the festival venues gave him an elated feeling. Satchidandan was Jayachandran's classmate in college. He personally knew Anand, Innocent, and K Radhakrishnan (ISRO), all residents of Irinjalakkuda. He also had a close relationship with M Jayachandran.