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K J Yesudas can be likened to Dravid (that these two gentlemen have their b'days just a day apart may be just a coincidence. Or may be not) while SPB can be said to be the Tendulkar of film singing, the bigger legend in most reckoning.
But for some, Dravid is the real thing.
But for some, Dravid is the real thing.
For me, growing up in the late 70s & 80s -- peak years of Yesudas -- his impact was particularly resonant. It was because of him that many of us like me, then impressionable youngsters, got hooked on to Carnatic music. His contribution to Carnatic music goes beyond mere singing.
In this short thread, I'll put up some of his semi-classical offerings from various language films, but majority from Malayalam.
I've left marquee hits from HH Abdullah, Bharatham, Sargam et al. I've had to literally leave out hundreds of such songs. Embarrassment of riches!
I've left marquee hits from HH Abdullah, Bharatham, Sargam et al. I've had to literally leave out hundreds of such songs. Embarrassment of riches!
I start off with, like all Carnatic lessons, with Mayamalavagowlai. The most famous Thulasi Dhalamulache from Rudraveena in Telugu. Very few people can hold a song without any accompaniment. KJY had a voice that required no background embellishment.
As I said I avoided the more famous Sankarabaranam Raghuvamsapathe from Bharatham. But this one is my personal favourite from Sopanam. An unfussy
rendering of Sarojadalanethri.
rendering of Sarojadalanethri.
This from Swathi Thirunal is my go-to song when sad, and of course, when happy, too. I've a bigger love relationship with this Charukesi (Kripayapalaya) than even with my wife. On another day, will tell you about my fascination for Anant Nag in this film.
A racy and classy Chakravagam (Paarthasarathim) in Kudumbasametham. Those snappy swaram towards the end are a tribute to his singing genius.
https://www.youtbe.com/watch?v=3SgOjRIWb28
https://www.youtbe.com/watch?v=3SgOjRIWb28
This was among KJY's earliest appearances on screen. In this song, Nakshatradheepangal, don't miss the looping swara delivery, a tribute to one of his gurus Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar
The starting Kambhoji in this ragamalika (Kattile Pazhmulam) is something I can listen to all day. An yesteryear hall-of-famer.
This is a no-brainer. An all-time heart-stealer of Malayalis, and others, too: Sreeragamo. Those Karaharapriya phrases, you can practically take it to your grave.
Another all-season special for years. Yes, Nitish 'Krishna' Bharadwaj in a Malayalam movie. The uncomplicated tune (Johnson) & singing, whenever you hear it can instantly transport you to Kerala. 'Devanganangal' is so metaphorical of that State's music
This is from a movie, but I forget which. This rendition on Allah shows why music is beyond religion and actually uplift you spiritually. Allah Kripah, in Kaapi, is crisp and sweet. That earnest in the voice. Uffffff!
Well, KJY's voice is needed to showcase the devotion of Hanuman for Lord Rama. I've tears in my eyes whenever I listen to this song. Happiness? Bhakthi? Sadness? I dunno what.
One more from the never-ending assembly of amazing numbers that Malayalam movies kept throwing up through KJ Yesudas. Though this is from a Hindi music director, Naushad. An ode to love this lovable number.
I had to include this duet, Swapnangale, just for that Sahana bit. A ragam that always gets my mood up. And Dakshinamoorthy master, the music director, what a true legend. The partnership between the duo is one for the ages.
We move to Bengali, and most of KJY's amazing hits have come for that genius Salil Chowdhury. But this duet, Anga Sangame, with Kavita Krishnamurthy, came under the baton of Bappi Lahiri. Enjoy it! Brilliant it is.
Talking of Bappi Lahiri, I have to shove in his amazing Hindi melody. (A bit reminiscent (in phases) of the Tamil song Then Sindhude Vanam.) There is a Latha version of the song. But KJY overshadows her at higher octaves quite effortlessly.
This is a 13-min+ tour de force. The music director Ravindra Jain is reported to have said that if he ever got the vision in his eyes, he would want to see Yesudas sing. Shadjane Paya, in a sense, is a precursor to Devasabathalam in HH Abdullah
The above film, Tansen, never got released. A few of KJY's Hindi songs were part of movies that never made it to theatres. His first ever Hindi song, Ni Sa Ga Ma Pa Ni, was from Anand Mahal that never saw light of the days. But the song is a classic now. Speaks of KJY's greatness
From one Ni Sa Ga Ma Pa Ni to Ni Sa Ga Ma Pa Pa. And this is from Odisha. At one point in the late 70s and 80s KJY was so busy across languages that he had the most air miles in the country. Flights would wait till he arrived.
This is a State award winner in Karnataka. A big hit there from the film Malayamarutham. This Saramathi raga is pleasant and that impromptu alapana in the middle is stuff of great singing.
I can keep going on all night. But already this thread has gotten big. So we will end with one of my Tamil favs. A Kerala Christian singing for a Bengali (Salil Chowdhury) on the beauty of Cauvery, the lines of Ilango Adigal ... அறிந்தேன் வாழி காவேரி!
அறிந்தேன் வாழி, Yesudas! #HBD
