For many years, if you took an early morning flight out of the Bangalore HAL Airport, you could start your journey auspiciously – listening to a golden male voice intoning “Om Namo Narayanaya”or ”Om Namah Shivaya”. The well-meaning Sankars Bookshop owner would be playing a CD of Yesudas's recitations. The whole airport would fill with the divine chant and one would just be transported by the Golden Voice.
K.J. Yesudas is a singer whose popularity spans the entire country and also two worlds of music – classical and films. He is well known to be endowed with a golden heart as well as a golden voice. His voice is the envy of every male singer. Equally, Yesudas is active in serving social causes following the motto of Narayana Guru, "One caste, One religion and One God for all humanity". He is an ardent devotee of Goddess Mookambika.
Under the watchful gaze of Mysore Vasudevachar and T. Chowdiah !
Vidwans K.J.Yesudas, T.G.Tyagarajan (violin), Tanjore Upendran (mridangam),
Bangalore Venkataram (Ghatam) - "Parvathi" April 13, 1987. !
The singer with the highest number of Best Male Playback Singer National Awards, K. J. Yesudas has also made a name for himself as a classical Carnatic musician. He was first taught classical music by his father, Vidwan Augustine Bhagavathar. After studying at the Swathi Thirunal Academy, Yesudas finally underwent advanced training under the all-time great Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. Since '60s, Yesudas has maintained a very busy musical career on the Carnatic stage and at the same time as a multi-lingual playback singer in Indian cinema. He is an icon for many stars: actor Kamal Hassan, Oscar-winning music director A. R. Rahman, film director Adoor Gopalakrishnan, and noted playback singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.
Yesudas's association with Parvathi started eventfully. He was first billed by Mr. Srikantiah to sing on 14 April 1976. But he did not turn up and an upset Mr. Srikantiah had to arrange for Vidwan Neyyattinkara Vasudevan to sing on that day instead of Vasudevan's own slot the next day. Next morning at daybreak, Vidwan Yesudas called Mr. Srikantiah to explain how his party had been stranded on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway due to vehicle trouble. He agreed to sing on the 18th April instead, and a young Mysore Nagaraj got a chance to accompany him (see photo below). And the concert, featured here, turned out to be very successful. From that day began a deep bond of family friendship between Yesudas and Srikantiah. Mysore rasikas heard Yesudas in large numbers that day, and thereafter always turned up in full strength as Yesudas performed at Parvathi for many years.
How's that singing voice, these days?
Two veteran friends Yesudas and K.Srikantiah kidding each other !
Mr. Srikantiah recollects his recent visit to Kerala to attend Yesudas's son Vishal's wedding at Trissur on 22-8-2010. During the marriage ceremony, precisely at the auspicious time of Muhurtham, the recording of Yesudas's rendering of "Seetha Kalyana Vaibhogame " was played in the background. This Thyagaraja kriti was so melodious, emotional and moving in Yesudas's voice that Mr. Srikantiah was deeply touched and and entralled.
The Parvathi Concert (April 18,1976)
K.J.Yesudas ----Vocal
Mysore M Nagaraj -----Violin
Erode Gururajan ------Mridangam
Sheshagiri Das -----Khanjira
Manjunath ----Ghatam
Notice Mysuru's young Violin prodigy in support of the Veteran Yesudas !
01.Sarasijanabha – Nata Varnam – Palghat parameshwara Bhagavathar *** 02. Vaathapi Ganapathim – Hamsadhwani – Muthuswami Dikshithar *** 03.Paavanaguru – Hamsanandi – Lalitha Dasar*** 04.Neekelana -Devamanohari – Ramnad Srinivasa Iyengar*** 05. Teliyaleru Rama- Dhenuka – Thyagaraja *** 06.Ksheerasagara-Devagandhari- Thyagaraja*** 7.Sarasijanabha Todi – Swathi Thirunal*** 08.Sree Ramam Ravikulabdhisomam -Narayana Gowla – Muthuswami Dikshithar*** 9.Muruganai Kaana Ayiram Kann- Abheri – Arulavan*** 10.Om iti Brahma - Upanishad*** 11. Mangala darshana dayike Mookambike- Ragamalika*** 12.Chand Akela - Film song*** 13. Athisaya ragam -Film song*** 14.Bhaja Govindam-Ragamalika-Shankaracharya***
15. Yogeendraanam -Kapi, Sindhubhairavi -Narayaneeyam***16. Pavamana – Mangalam
