K. P. Udayabhanu Biography 
K. P. Udayabhanu was a Malayalam playback singer and music director who concentrated most in the golden era of Malayalam music. In 2009 he was honoured with Padma Shri by Indian government for his contributions to Malayalam cinema. Kananachayayil aadumeykkan and Vellinakshathrame ninne nokki of Ramanan, Pennale pennale of Chemmeen, Anuraga nadakathin of Ninamaninja Kalpadukal, Ponvalayillenkilum of Kutti Kuppayam, Thamara Thumbi Vava of Puthiya Akasam Puthiya Bhoomi, Chudukanneeralen and Tharame tharame of Laila MajnuVadaruthee malarini of Sathyabhama, Pennayi pirannenkil, Viralonnillenkilum of Veluthambi Dalawa, and Velutha penne velutha penne of Nairu Pidicha Pulivalu are his most memorable songs. Udayabhanu died on 5 January 2014 in Thiruvananthapuram. He was suffering from Parkinson's disease.
He was born on 6 June 1936 in Tharoor, Palakkad district of Kerala. His parents were N. S. Varma and Ammu Nethyaramma. Noted music scholar K. P. Appukutta Menon and freedom fighter K. P. Kesava Menon were his uncles. His father was a businessman and his childhood days were spent at Singapore. He lost his mother at the age of 7 and he returned back to India. After school education, Udayabhanu joined the Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidyalaya in Kalpathy where he got the guidance in Carnatic music from famous musicians like Erode Viswanatha Iyer, Palghat Mani Iyer, M. D. Ramanathan, Palghat Srirama Bhagavathar and Flute Krishna Iyer.
In the year 1970, he married the famous singer Vijayalekshmi and the couple had one son. His career started through All India radio in 1955 where he started as an announcer. He had a long association with AIR for 38 years. For a brief period, he worked as a music teacher at Lawrence School, Lovedale also. His first film song was Enthinithra panchasara for the film Nairu Pidicha Pulivalu in 1958. Though he has sung only a few songs around 60, he is always remembered as one of the most loved Malayalam voices all time.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 12, 2014
