Singer and music director K G Jayan passes away at 90

KOCHI: Singer and music director K G Jayan passed away Tuesday morning. He was 90. He is the father of actor Manoj K Jayan. He died at his residence in Tripunithura. Jayan of Jayavijayan, who is famous for his devotional songs and film songs, passed away now. His twin brother K G Vijayan died in 1988.

It has been 69 years since Padma Shri Jayan came to the music world and left his mark on the music world. Jayan's 90th birthday celebrations were held last year.

Jayan, who made music his life, not only in the world of Carnatic music, but also in the field of film songs and devotional songs, became a devotee of his own style.

Jayavijayas were born to Gopalan Tantri and Narayaniamma at Kadamputra Madom on the banks of Meenachilar in Kottayam Nagampadam. His father, Gopalan Tantri, who was a disciple of Gurudev, learned the musical taste of the twins and took them to Raman Bhagavatar to teach them singing at the age of six. Later Mavelikara Radhakrishna Iyer and Alathur Brothers became their gurus. They passed Ganabhushanam from Swathi Thirunal Sangeetha Akademi.

They had their advanced training from Carnatic giants like Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar for 18 years and under Dr Balamuralikrishna for six years. The untimely death of his twin brother K G Vijayan in 1988 left Jayan depressed, but he forgot his grief through Ayyappa songs. Jayan was honored with the Padma Shri and the Travancore Devaswom Board honored him with the Harivarasana award for his ayyappa songs. He also received the Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award.

Jayan's rendered Ayyappa songs many years before the deeparadhana for makaravilakku in Sabarimala. Jayan once said: 'For 42 years me and my brother (Vijayan) have sung continuously at Sannidhanam. The song will start when the Thiruvabharan procession reaches the Sannidhanam. The sanctum sanctorum will open only after our song is over’. It was when he went to Sabarimala sometime in the 1950s that Jayan sang for the first time while sitting on the flagpole, seeing Ayyappan in his mind. He was also lucky enough to climb the steps with Chembai Swami.

P Leela's song 'Ishta Daivame Swami Saranamayyappa', first composed by Jayavijayan for HMV Gramophone Records, became the first Ayyappa Bhakti song sung by a woman. Yesudas's first devotional song 'Darshanam Punya Darshanam' Sreekovil nada thurannu, ellamellam Ayyappan, Shreesabareesha Deenadayala, Pathinetten Padiyeri, nallathu varuthuka, vandiperiyarum medum nadappathayakki.. and the list of Ayyappa devotional songs went on.

Concerts were held at thousands of venues within and outside the country. Jayan was able to make musical talents like Yesudas, S P Balasubramaniam, Sheerkazhi Govindarajan, T M Soundararajan, S Janaki, P Susheela, Vani Jayaram and many others sing. He composed music for 19 films in Malayalam and four in Tamil. The first film was 'Bhumiyile Malakha'. Nakshatradeepangal thilangi, Hridayam Devalayam etc. are still favorite songs of the music experts.

The song 'Radhathan Premathodano’ penned by S Ramesan Nair and music composed by Jayan is still in the minds of the people. K G Jayan's wife late Sarojini was a teacher. Manoj K Jayan and Biju K Jayan are his sons.