I take pride in being the one who wrote the most songs for P Jayachandran: Sreekumaran Thampi
Mail This Article
Sreekumaran Thampi recalled his association with veteran singer P Jayachandran who passed away on Thursday and said they shared a brotherly bond, beyond friendship. “We came from similar backgrounds, shared life experiences, and mirrored each other in character. Both of us spoke our minds openly, without hesitation, expressing whatever thoughts crossed our minds. Through it all, the brotherhood between us remained unshaken, steadfast in its strength.
I first met Jayachandran in 1966, and our connection blossomed into a relationship that spanned six decades. Over all those years, not once did we part ways or find ourselves at odds over even the smallest issue. I can’t recall a single moment when we harboured any grievances toward each other. Our bond was so deep and unwavering that any notion of discord was simply non-existent. In fact, I always insisted that certain songs be sung only by him. I made sure to express this to several music composers directly. Renowned composers like Arjunan Master and Dakshinamoorthi Swami also had a preference that certain songs they composed had to be sung by Jayachandran, and they specifically called on him to bring those compositions to life.
Although Yesudas is hailed as the Ganagandharvan, I often told people that some songs could only reach their true potential when sung by Jayachandran. I can point to numerous such songs, and hearing them, you’d understand why only Jayachandran’s voice could do justice to them.
It was three years after I had first met Jayachandran that my sister's wedding took place. When I told him about it, he immediately responded, “Tampi’s younger sister is my younger sister too. I will perform at the wedding with Ganamela. I will come and sing.” That was the bond we shared. The Ganamela was staged at the Haripad temple, and the venue was packed with people. It was an unforgettable event. Dakshinamoorthi Swami also graced the occasion with a classical music concert,” Thampi recalled.
He said he felt lost with Jayachandran's departure. “When I heard about Jayan’s departure, I couldn’t bring myself to describe it as a simple “big loss.” It feels as though I’ve lost one of my greatest strengths. I can’t even fathom a music scene without Jayan in it. From "Ninmaniyarayile Nirmala Shayyayile..." to "Sandhyakkenthinu Sindooram" and "Malaramban Ezhuthiya Malayala Kavithe..." Jayan made so many of my songs hits, and these songs remain super hits even today.
Although not for movies, Jayan still recorded a few songs penned by me recently. Just three months ago, he recorded a song for me for a social media platform, and he happily sang a song about the Haripad temple. As soon as I heard the news of his departure, I left for Thrissur. Along the way, I have the countless songs and the cherished moments we shared together to reflect on....”