Fri Jan 10 05:45:03 UTC 2025: ## Veteran Playback Singer P. Jayachandran Passes Away at 80
**Trichur, Kerala –** Renowned playback singer P. Jayachandran passed away on January 9th, 2025, at the age of 80. He breathed his last at a hospital in Trichur after a period of illness.
Jayachandran, born on March 3rd, 1944, in Ernakulam, Kerala, had a prolific career spanning over six decades. He sang over 16,000 songs in various languages, including Tamil and Malayalam. Following in his father’s footsteps, he honed his musical talent, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in Zoology. His foray into film singing began after a performance in Chennai.
His contributions to the Tamil film industry began in 1973. He collaborated with legendary music directors such as M.S. Viswanathan, Ilaiyaraaja, S.A. Rajkumar, Deva, A.R. Rahman, Vidyasagar, Bharani, Srikanth Deva, and G.V. Prakash Kumar. His memorable Tamil songs include “Vasantha Kaala Nadigalile” (Moondru Mudichu), “Vazhkaiye Vesham” (Aaru Orupathu Varai), “Kaavi Thai Aranggerum Neram” (Anda 7 Nadgal), and many more featured in popular films like Vaidehi Kaathirundhaal and Poove Unakkaga.
Jayachandran’s smooth and captivating voice quickly made him a favourite among Tamil audiences, marking a shift towards softer vocals in the 1970s alongside singers like S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and K.J. Yesudas. He also won numerous accolades, including a National Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1975 for the Malayalam film “Sreeman Narayana Guru.” In 2000, he was the first recipient of the Swarna Laya Kairali Yesudas Award, presented by Yesudas himself, an artist he shared a stage with in his youth.
While his earthly journey has ended, Jayachandran’s melodious voice will continue to resonate in the hearts of music lovers for generations to come.
First Piper 