Veteran playback singer P Jayachandran passes away at 80

P Jayachandran

Legendary playback singer P Jayachandran, widely celebrated as ‘Bhava Gayakan’ for his unparalleled ability to evoke deep emotions through his music, passed away on Thursday evening in Thrissur. He was 80 years old.

Jayachandran's illustrious career spanned over five decades, during which he recorded more than 16,000 songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. His soulful renditions, especially those from the 1970s and 1980s, continue to resonate with music lovers across generations.

The singer won the National Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1986 and was honoured with the prestigious J C Daniel Award in 2020 for his immense contributions to Malayalam cinema. He bagged five Kerala State Film Awards and two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for his exceptional vocal performances.

Born into the Cochin Royal Family, Jayachandran's father, Ravivarma Kochaniyan Thampuran, was a musician. Jayachandran’s passion for music was evident during his school days, where he excelled in light music and mridangam performances at state youth festivals.

After earning a degree in Zoology, he moved to Chennai, where a chance meeting with director A Vincent led to his debut in playback singing. His first song, Manjalayil Mungi Thorthi, from the 1966 Malayalam film Kalithozhan, became an evergreen classic.

Jayachandran’s soulful melodies like Neelagiriyude (Panitheeratha Veedu, 1972) and Raasaathi Unna (Vaidehi Kaathirundhal, 1984) remain iconic.

Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed their condolences. The Governor remarked, “His endearing voice that charmed audience for six decades will go on to soothe people’s hearts.”

Jayachandran is survived by his wife, Lalitha, daughter Lakshmi, and son Dinanathan, who has followed in his father’s footsteps as a singer. Funeral arrangements will be announced soon.