Dr. K J Yesudas

Dr. K. J. Yesudas is one of the famous Indian classical musicians as well as a renowned playback singer. He has recorded numerous songs in many Indian as well as foreign languages. His contribution in promoting Indian music is immense. Thus he is known as the "Cultural Ambassador of India". Yesudas has sung in both Tamil and Hindi film industry, but is most famous for his Malayalam songs. He has been honored with many awards and titles and he continues to spin magic with his melodious voice. He has sung popular film songs, classical, Carnatic and devotional songs.

Early Life

Yesudas was born on 10th January, 1940, in Kochi (Kerala) as Katttassery Joseph Yesudas. His father was Augustine Joseph Bhagavathar, while his mother was Elizabeth Joseph. Yesudas started to receive training in Carnatic music at a very young age. His first Guru was his father Augustine Joseph Bhagavathar, a well-known theater artist and a classical singer. After that, he joined the R.L.V. Music Academy in Thrippunithura for training. He later went to the Sree Swathithirunal Music Academy for higher studies. One of the most senior and respected performers of Kerala, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar trained him in classical music. Yesudas won a gold medal at the age of seven at a local music competition in Kochi. He has recorded in many languages that include Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tulu, Russian, Arabic, Latin and English.

Career

Yesudas began his career in playback singing in Kollywood in the early 60's; and by mid 70's, he entered Bollywood. He has bagged seven National Film Awards for the best singer category in the Indian film industry. In 2006, he sang 16 film songs in four South Indian languages on the same day at AVM Studio, Chennai.

Yesudas has performed in many major cities around the world. In his music concerts in the Middle East, he sings Arabic songs in the Carnatic style. He frequently dons the role of a cultural ambassador of India through his numerous performances abroad by promoting Indian music.

He is the only singer who has been accorded the title Asthana Gayakan (official singer) of Kerala state. He has been awarded the Padma Shri (1973) and Padma Bhushan (2002).

In 1965, he was invited by the Soviet Union government to perform at music concerts in various cities in the USSR and also sang a Russian song over Radio Kazakhstan. In 1970, he was nominated to head the Sangeetha Nataka Academy of Kerala and was the youngest person ever to occupy that post.

In 1971, Yesudas with his musical troupe traveled all over Kerala to raise funds for the Indian Prime Minister's National Defense Fund during the Indo-Pakistan War. He also became the senate member in the International Parliament for Safety and Peace.

He has taken the words of Sree Narayana Guru, "One Religion, One Caste for all humans" to heart. On November 14, 1999, Yesudas was presented with an honorary award by the UNESCO for "Outstanding Achievements in Music and Peace" at the "Music for Peace" event in Paris, a concert held to mark the dawn of the new millennium and whose attendees included artistes such as Lionel Richie, Ray Charles, Montserrat Caballé, and Zubin Mehta.

His unparalleled record of winning state awards for best singer in five regional languages of India and winning National awards for best singer seven times in three languages places him among the most versatile singers India has ever seen.

Titles, Honours and Major Awards

Padma Bhushan, 2002

Padma Shri, 1975

Doctorate by Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu in 1989.

D.Litt by Kerala University, Kerala in 2003.

D.Litt by Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala in 2009.

Asthana Gayakan (Official Singer) by Government of Kerala

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1992

Asthana Vidwan (Official Teacher) by Udupi, Sringeri, and Raghavendra mutts.

Sangeetha Sagaram (Music Ocean) in 1989.

Sangeetha Chakravarthy (Music Emperor) in 1988 by Pallavi Narasimachary.

Sangeetha Raja (Music King) by Chembai in 1974.

Sangeetha Ratna (Music Jewel) by Lt. Governor of Pondicherry M.M. Lakhera.

Swathi Ratnam (Swathi Jewel).

Sapthagiri Sangeetha Vidwanmani in 2002.

Bhakti Sangita Geetha Sironmani in 2002.

Gaana Gandharva.

Geetanjali Award by The ex-president of India Neelam Sanjiva Reddy.

Sur Singar Samsad Award in 1976.

Kalaimamani Award by Government of Tamil Nadu.

Star of India Award by Lt. Governor of Pondicherry M.M. Lakhera.

National Citizens Award in 1994.

Mar Gregorius Award to Governor RL Bhatia in 2006.

Kerala Ratna by Jaihind TV in 2008.

The Annual Latha Mangeshkar Award by Government of Madhya Pradesh in 1992.

Dr. Pinnamaneni and Seethadevi Foundation Award in 2000.

Senate member in the International Parliament for Safety and Peace, an organization incorporated in the United States.

An Honorary award for "Outstanding Achievements in Music and Peace" by UNESCO in 1999.

Susheela National Music Award in 2009.

National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer seven times by the Government of India.

State Film Awards Twenty three times for the best Playback singer by the Government of Kerala.

State Film awards Eight times for the best Playback singer by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

State Film awards Five Times for the best Playback singer by the Government of Karnataka.

State Film awards Six times for the best Playback singer by the Government of Andra Pradesh.

State Film awards One time for the best Playback singer by the Government of West Bengal.

National Awards

1972, Film Name: Achanum Bappayum, Language: Malayalam, Song: Manushyan Mathangale

1973, Film Name: Gaayathri, Language: Malayalam, Song: Padmatheerthame Unaru

1976, Film Name: Chitchor, Language: Hindi, Song: Gori Tera Gaon Bada

1982, Film Name: Megha Sandesam, Language: Telugu, Song: Aakasa Desana

1987, Film Name: Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam, Language: Malayalam, Song: Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam

1991, Film Name: Bharatham, Language: Malayalam, Song: Rama Kadha Gaana Layam

1993, Film Name: Sopanam, Language: Malayalam