Jayachandran

Jayachandran Biography

Jayachandran, fondly called ‘Bhava gayakan’ is a veteran playback singer of South Indian films who has given valuable contributions to music lovers. He has won one National awards till now, along with 8 state awards, 4 each from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. He has acted in a few movies like M.T. - Hariharan team’s Naghashatangal as singer. Most recently he appeared in the movie - Trivandrum Lodge too. He won National awards for the song “Sivashankara” of Malayalam movie Narayana Guru in the year 1985, music given by Devarajan. He won his first state awards for the song ‘Suprabhatham’ of the movie Panitheeratha veedu. He is the first winner of Swaralaya awards started in the year 2001. He debut Bollywood with A.R.Rehman song ‘Milo waha waha’ of Ada most recently.

Jayachandran was born to a musician Ravivarma Kochaniyan Thampuran of Ernakulam. He started singing in churches at the age of 8. During his college days at Irinjalakuda, he participated in many Mrithangam and light music competitions, emerged as winner too. He got opportunity to sing in Malayalam movies, at a time when Yesudas was shining at top. Yet, with the opportunities he got he did his maximum. It was with Jayachandran’s voice that music director R.K. Shekar recorded the song, ‘Velli then kinnam pol’ of the movie Pen pada, that’s believed to be the first composition of A.R.Rehman, son of R.K.Shekhar. He won his second Kerala state awards for the song ‘Ragam Sree ragam’ of Bandhanam. Songs like Upasana and Laksharchana were big hits during 70’s.

Gradually he shifted to Tamil movies and music maestro Illayaraja has given him the maximum opportunities. ‘Raasathi unne kaannaathe kankal’ of the movie Vaidehi kaathirunthal, need special mention. He has won Tamil state awards for A.R.Rehman song ‘ Kaattaazham Kaattuvazhi’.

It was music director Vidya Sagar who rediscovered Jayachandran and brought him back to Malayalam industry. The song ‘Prayam thammil moham nalki’ of the movie Niram was a roaring hit at campuses and earned him a state award too. His best songs in the comeback journey include Neeyoru Puzhayayi of Thilakkam (State awards), Ariyathe of Ravana Prabhu (Asianet Awards), Aarum of Nandanam and Swayamvara chandrike of Chronic Bachelor.   

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Updated: June 14, 2013