View source for K. J. Yesudas

{{short description|Indian singer}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = K. J. Yesudas
| image = K.J Yesudas.JPG
| caption = Yesudas in June 2011
| birth_name = Kattassery Joseph Yesudas
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1940|01|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Fort Kochi]], [[Kingdom of Cochin]]<br>(present-day [[Kerala]], India)
| alias = Dasettan, Ganagandharvan
| alma_mater=[[Swathi Thirunal College of Music]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]]
| occupation = {{hlist|[[Singer]]|[[composer]]|music producer}}
| years_active = 1961–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Prabha|1970}}
| children = 3, including [[Vijay Yesudas]]
| awards = [[List of titles, honours and major awards received by Yesudas|Full list]]
| honours = [[Padma Shri]] (1975)
[[Padma Bhushan]] (2002)
[[Padma Vibhushan]] (2017)
| website = {{URL|drkjyesudas.com}} {{dead link|date=July 2021}}
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| background = solo_singer
| genre = {{flat list|
* [[Indian classical music]]
* [[playback singer|Playback singing]]
* [[Filmi]]
}}
| instrument = Vocals
| label = {{flat list|
* [[Tharangini Records|Tharangni]]
* [[HMV]]}}

}}
| signature = K. J. Yesudas signature.svg
|honorific-suffix = 
| | 
}}
{{Indian name|Yesudas|Kattassery Joseph}}'''Kattassery Joseph Yesudas''' ([[Help:IPA/Malayalam|/jeːʃud̪aːs/]]; born 10 January 1940) is an Indian [[playback singer]] and musician who sings Indian classical, devotional and film songs.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Rajadhyaksha |first1=Ashish |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SLkABAAAQBAJ&pg=PA240 |title=Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema |last2=Willemen |first2=Paul |date=2014-07-10 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-94318-9 |pages=240 |language=en}}</ref> He is widely considered one of the greatest singers in the history of [[Music of India|Indian music]]<ref name="hindu_jan10">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/article78427.ece|title=Music legend Yesudas turns 70|date=10 January 2010|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=8 January 2011|location=Chennai, India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303195202/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/article78427.ece|archive-date=3 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="rediff_2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2001/may/07yesu.htm|title='I don't sing trendy music'|publisher=[[Rediff]]|access-date=2009-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225021305/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2001/may/07yesu.htm|archive-date=25 February 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> and a cultural icon of [[Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-05-12|title=An icon's music and musings|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/right-in-the-middle/an-icons-music-and-musings-66416.html|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sivapriyan |first=ETB |date=25 September 2020 |title=S P Balasubrahmanyam and wife performed 'padha pooja' on Yesudas |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/s-p-balasubrahmanyam-and-wife-performed-padha-pooja-on-yesudas-892941.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929131225/https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/s-p-balasubrahmanyam-and-wife-performed-padha-pooja-on-yesudas-892941.html |archive-date=29 September 2020 |website=[[Deccan Herald]]}}</ref> Yesudas is estimated to have recorded more than 50,000 songs<ref name="radioandmusic.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/yesudas-receives-cnn-ibn-indian-year-award#|title=Yesudas receives CNN-IBN 'Indian of the Year' award|date=17 December 2011|access-date=2016-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313022001/http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/yesudas-receives-cnn-ibn-indian-year-award|archive-date=13 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> in various [[Languages of India|Indian languages]], including [[Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Kannada]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Tulu language|Tulu]], [[Hindi]], [[Odia language|Odia]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=K.J Yesudas all odia songs|url=https://gaana.com/artist/k-j-yesudas/odia-songs}}</ref> [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]] as well as [[Arabic]], [[English language|English]], [[Latin]], and [[Russian language|Russian]], in a career spanning six decades.<ref name="hindu_feb01">{{Cite news |last=Kurian |first=Sangeeth |date=3 September 2002 |title=Those magical moments... |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/those-magical-moments/article28380148.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131042021/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/those-magical-moments/article28380148.ece |archive-date=31 January 2021 |access-date=31 January 2021 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref name="hindu_sep02">{{Cite news |last=Padmanabhan |first=Savitha |date=8 February 2001 |title=Life devoted to music |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/02/08/stories/09080706.htm |url-status=usurped |access-date=19 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029163613/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/02/08/stories/09080706.htm |archive-date=29 October 2009}}</ref> He is often referred to as ''Gaanagandharvan'' ({{translation}} The Celestial Singer).<ref name="tbi">{{Cite web |last=Wangchuk |first=Rinchen Norbu |date=2020-01-10 |title=Here is Why KJ Yesudas is Known as 'Celestial Singer' |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/208934/kj-yesudas-greatest-singer-malayalam-tamil-hindi-telugu-illaiyaraja-ar-rahman-india-nor41/ |access-date=2020-11-14 |website=[[The Better India]] |archive-date=4 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804234741/https://www.thebetterindia.com/208934/kj-yesudas-greatest-singer-malayalam-tamil-hindi-telugu-illaiyaraja-ar-rahman-india-nor41/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Yesudas holds the record for singing 11 songs in different languages in a single day.<ref>{{Cite news |last=നായർ |first=അനീഷ് |date=2020-01-10 |title=അര നൂറ്റാണ്ടിനിടെ ഗാനഗന്ധർവൻ എത്ര പാട്ടുകൾ പാടിയിട്ടുണ്ടാവും? |newspaper=Malayala Manorama |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/music/indepth/k-j-yesudas-birthday/2020/01/10/k-j-yesudas-favourite-songs-list.html |access-date=2021-07-13}}</ref> He has also composed a number of Malayalam film songs during the 1970s and 1980s.

Yesudas won the [[National Film Award (India)|National Award]] for the [[National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Best Male Playback Singer]] record eight times,<ref name="record">{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=P. K. Ajith |date=14 April 2018 |title=A record most melodious for this singing legend |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/a-record-most-melodious-for-this-singing-legend/article23543531.ece |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> the [[Filmfare Awards South]] five times, and the State Award for the Best Playback Singer forty-three times, including awards given by the state governments of [[Kerala]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]], and [[West Bengal]].<ref name="hindu_jan10" /> He was awarded the [[Padma Shri]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/padma-vibhushan-is-another-stepping-stone-for-k-j-yesudas/articleshow/56789500.cms|title=Padma Vibhushan is another stepping stone for K J Yesudas - Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=26 January 2017 |access-date=28 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620030709/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/padma-vibhushan-is-another-stepping-stone-for-k-j-yesudas/articleshow/56789500.cms|archive-date=20 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> in 1975, the [[Padma Bhushan]] in 2002, and the [[Padma Vibhushan]] (second-highest [[Indian honours system|civilian award]]) in 2017 by the [[Government of India]] for his contributions towards the arts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://india.gov.in/myindia/padmabhushan_awards_list1.php?start=300 |title=Padma Bhushan Awardees&nbsp;– Padma Awards&nbsp;– My India, My Pride |publisher=India.gov.in |access-date=2011-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010010826/http://india.gov.in/myindia/padmabhushan_awards_list1.php?start=300 |archive-date=10 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2005, he was honoured with the [[J. C. Daniel Award]], [[Government of Kerala|Kerala government]]'s highest honour for contributions to Malayalam cinema. In 2011 Yesudas was honoured with the [[CNN-IBN]] outstanding achievement award for his contributions in the music field. In 2006, he sang 16 film songs in four [[South Indian]] languages on the same day at [[AVM Productions|AVM Studio]], [[Chennai]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/12/01/stories/2006120100400200.htm |title=One for the records |date=1 December 2006 |access-date=2010-05-01 |location=Chennai, India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418081649/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/12/01/stories/2006120100400200.htm |archive-date=18 April 2010 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Early life==
K. J. Yesudas was born in [[Kochi]], in [[Kerala]], in a [[Roman Catholics of Malabar|Latin Catholic]] Christian family to [[Augustine Joseph]] and Elizabeth Joseph. His father was a well-known [[Malayalam]] classical musician and stage actor.<ref name="tbi" /> Yesudas was the second of seven children, preceded by an elder sister named Pushpa, and followed by four younger brothers - Antony (Antappan), Babu, Mani, Justin and a younger sister, Jayamma.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-01-10 |title=KJ Yesudas: A name that spells melody |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/kj-yesudas-turns-80/article30522919.ece |access-date=2020-11-14 |website=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=4 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204175059/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/kj-yesudas-turns-80/article30522919.ece |url-status=live |last1=Nagarajan |first1=Saraswathy |last2=M |first2=Athira |last3=Pradeep |first3=K. }}</ref> Among these siblings, Pushpa and Babu died of fever at a young age, and Justin, the youngest brother, died under mysterious circumstances in February 2020, aged 62.

Augustine Joseph's dearest friend, Musician Kunjan Velu Bhagavathar was the first guru of him. Kunjan Velu was the disciple of Nadaswara Chakravarthi [[T. N. Rajarathnam Pillai]]. Yesudas started his academic music training at [[RLV College of Music and Fine Arts|R. L. V. Music Academy]], [[Thrippunithura]] and completed the ''Ganabooshanam'' course. Later he studied at [[Swathi Thirunal College of Music]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]] under the tutelage of the [[carnatic music]] maestro K. R. Kumaraswamy Iyer and [[Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer]] but could not complete his studies due to financial constraints. For a brief period, he also studied music under Vechoor Harihara Subramania Iyer, after which he took advanced training from [[Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-10 |title=With 70,000 songs to his credit, legendary singer Yesudas turns 78 |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/music/2018/01/10/legendary-singer-yesudas-turns-78.html |access-date=2020-11-14 |website=[[Malayala Manorama]] |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114110818/https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/music/2018/01/10/legendary-singer-yesudas-turns-78.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2021, Yesudas completed 60 years as a playback singer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Soman |first=Sandhya |date=2011-09-09 |title=Book on Yesudas tracks the men who made the star |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Book-on-Yesudas-tracks-the-men-who-made-the-star/articleshow/9916686.cms |access-date=2020-11-14 |website=[[The Times of India]] |archive-date=30 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030200112/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Book-on-Yesudas-tracks-the-men-who-made-the-star/articleshow/9916686.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Career==

===Debut and early career: 1960s===
[[File:Onvk2.JPG|thumb|250px|left|Yesudas with poet and lyricist [[O. N. V. Kurup]]]]
Yesudas recorded his first popular song ''Jaathi Bhedam Matha Dwesham'' (music: [[M. B. Sreenivasan]]) on 14 November 1961. The singer considers those four lines he got to sing to start his career in films as a huge blessing as it was written by none other than Sree Narayana Guru, the most respected saint-poet-social reformer of Kerala. The film was [[Kalpadukal]] (1962), based on social reform during the life and times of [[Narayana Guru|Sree Narayana Guru]]. He associated with popular singers of those times like [[P. Leela]], [[Santha P. Nair]], [[K. P. Udayabhanu]], [[S. Janaki]] etc. and lyricists like [[P. Bhaskaran]] and Nambiyath. He sang the lines of poet [[Kumaran Asan]] for this film.  
After the initial years he became the most sought after by established music directors of that time, [[M. B. Sreenivasan]], [[G. Devarajan]], [[V. Dakshinamoorthy]], [[Br Lakshmanan]], [[M. S. Baburaj]] and many others. Thus began his career in [[playback singer|playback singing]] which included the Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada movies thereafter.<ref name="rediff_2001" />

He got the first major break with the hit Malayalam film named ''[[Bharya (1962 film)|Bharya]]'' ( music by [[G. Devarajan]] and lyrics by [[Vayalar Ramavarma]]). In 1967, he sang hit songs in the composition of M.S.Baburaj for the film ''[[Udhyogastha]]'' directed by [[P.Venu]]. He also sang in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] for ''[[Bommai (1964 film)|Bommai]]'' first (music: [[S. Balachander]]), but the first released movie was ''[[Konjum Kumari]]'' (music: Veda). 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.<ref name="stateofkerala.in" /> The trio of Salil, Yesudas and [[Prem Nazir]] entered the Malayalam Cinema Industry of the 1970s.

In 1970 he was nominated to head the [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi|Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy]] and was the youngest person ever to occupy the post.<ref name="stateofkerala.in">{{cite news|url=http://www.stateofkerala.in/news/k%20j%20yesudas%20the%20indian%20play%20back%20singing%20legend.php |title=CDR K J YESUDAS THE INDIAN PLAYBACK SINGING LEGEND'S RAGS TO RICHES |publisher=stateofkerala.in |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205230708/http://www.stateofkerala.in/news/k%20j%20yesudas%20the%20indian%20play%20back%20singing%20legend.php |archive-date= 5 December 2011 }}</ref>

===Bollywood: 1970s===
After a decade of singing in South Indian movies, Yesudas got a break in [[Bollywood]] in the early 1970s. The first Hindi song he sang was for the movie ''Jai Jawan Jai Kissan'' (1971), but the first released movie was ''[[Chhoti Si Baat]]'', which resulted in his becoming popular for singings songs like "Jaaneman Jaaneman". He has sung Hindi songs for many leading actors in Hindi cinema including [[Amitabh Bachchan]], [[Amol Palekar]] and [[Jeetendra]]. He has sung many evergreen Hindi film songs for music directors including [[Ravindra Jain]], [[Bappi Lahiri]], [[Mohammed Zahur Khayyam|Khayyam]], [[Raj Kamal]] and [[Salil Chowdhury]].

Yesudas' most popular Hindi songs are in the 1976 movie ''[[Chitchor]]'', with music given by [[Ravindra Jain]].

On 14 November 1999, Yesudas was presented with an honorary award by [[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]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.asianetindia.com/news/kj-yesudas-completes-50-glorious-years-singer_300940.html |title=KJ Yesudas completes 50 glorious years as singer |publisher=Asianet india |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124040600/http://www.asianetindia.com/news/kj-yesudas-completes-50-glorious-years-singer_300940.html |archive-date=24 January 2012 }}</ref>

In 2001 he sang for album ''Ahimsa'' in [[Sanskrit]], [[Latin]] and English and in a mix of styles including [[New-age music|new-age]] and Carnatic.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/02/19/stories/09190704.htm |title=Ahimsa Album |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |date=19 February 2001 |access-date=2011-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210180308/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/02/19/stories/09190704.htm |archive-date=10 December 2006 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> In his music concerts in the Middle East he sings [[Arabic]] songs in the [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]] style.<ref>{{cite web|author=Vineet Pillai |url=http://www.indien-netzwerk.de/navigation/ereignisse/artikel/yesudas/yesudas_interview-eng.htm |title=Exclusive&nbsp;– Interview with Yesudas on 15th November 2003 |publisher=Indien-netzwerk.de |date=15 November 2003 |access-date=2010-05-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531061214/http://www.indien-netzwerk.de/navigation/ereignisse/artikel/yesudas/yesudas_interview-eng.htm |archive-date=31 May 2010 }}</ref> He frequently serves as a cultural ambassador for India through his performances abroad, promoting Indian music.

In 2009 Yesudas began a cross-country musical campaign against terrorism in Thiruvananthapuram, with the motto 'Music For Peace'.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/news/2009/yesudas-musical-campaign-peace-130109.html |title=Yesudas' Musical Campaign for peace |date=13 January 2009 |publisher=oneindia.com |access-date=9 January 2012 |archive-date=17 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117112833/https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/news/2009/yesudas-musical-campaign-peace-130109.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Kavita Karkare, wife of [[Hemant Karkare]], handed over the torch to Yesudas to mark the launch of the 'Shanthi Sangeetha Yatra'.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/12/stories/2009011258340300.htm |title=Tributes paid to Hemant Karkare |date=12 January 2009 |access-date=2010-05-01 |location=Chennai, India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103205714/http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/12/stories/2009011258340300.htm |archive-date=3 November 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=dead }}</ref> Yesudas has performed for 36 times in the 36-year-old Soorya Music festival organised by Soorya Krishnamoorthy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thiraseela.com/main/specialStories.php?id=472|title=Gaanagandharvan graces the Soorya festival for the 36th time|website=thiraseela.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630110641/http://thiraseela.com/main/specialStories.php?id=472|archive-date=30 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Yesudas is married to Prabha.  Their marriage was on 1 February 1970. They have three sons, Vinod (b. 1977), Vijay (b. 1979) and Vishal (b. 1981). Their second son [[Vijay Yesudas]] is a musician who won the [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer|Kerala State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer]] in 2007, 2012 and 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nritoday.net/movies-a-music/336-kj-yesudas-singer-with-a-golden-voice |title=Dr. KJ Yesudas: Singer with a Golden Voice |author=Ajay Gosh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222062233/http://www.nritoday.net/movies-a-music/336-kj-yesudas-singer-with-a-golden-voice |archive-date=22 February 2014 }}</ref>

[[File:Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Rajat Kamal Award to Padma Vibhushan Dr. K.J. Yesudas (Best Male Playback Singer) for the film VISWASAPOORVAM MANSOOR (Malayalam), at the 65th National Film Awards Function, in New Delhi.JPG|250px|thumbnail|left|Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Rajat Kamal Award to Yesudas]]
[[Narayana Guru|Sree Narayana Guru]]'s message, "One religion and One God for all humanity", influenced young Yesudas in his dealings with his fellow men. He had his own heroes among the musicians too. [[Mohammed Rafi]], [[Chembai|Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar]] and [[Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna|Balamurali Krishna]] are the ones he admires the most.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2001/may/07yesu.htm |title='I do not sing trendy music': Yesudas |work=Rediff.com |date=7 May 2001 |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601053019/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2001/may/07yesu.htm |archive-date=1 June 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Yesudas has been visiting [[Mookambika|Kollur Mookambika temple]], [[Kollur, Udupi district|Kollur]], Karnataka on his birthday to sing keerthans of [[Saraswati|Saraswati devi]], the Goddess of knowledge, music and the arts. The music festival started on his 60th birthday in 2000. The nine-day music festival begins every January at Kollur Mookambika Temple.
On Sunday, 10 January 2010, he celebrated his 70th birthday (Sapthathi) at Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple with 'Sangeetharchana' (classical devotional songs), along with 70 singers before goddess Mookambika. The Sangeetharchana included "Pancharatna Gayana" of Thyagaraja's poems. He also took part in the Vidyarambha function. [[All India Radio]] broadcast the special Sangeetharchana all over Kerala. Yesudas also has many songs devoted to Lord Ayyappa including the hit song "Harivarasanam".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jaimusiconline.com |title=Gandharva of songs : K.J Yesudas celebrates 70th birthday |publisher=Non Resident Kerala Associations |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227012349/http://jaimusiconline.com/ |archive-date=27 December 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2009/k-j-yesudas-birthday-190109.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711072431/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2009/k-j-yesudas-birthday-190109.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 July 2012 |title=Yesudas celebrated Birthday at Kollur |publisher=Oneindia Entertainment |date=19 January 2009 |access-date=2010-05-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=PTI |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/article78427.ece |title=Music legend Yesudas turns 72 |work=The Hindu|date=10 January 2012 |access-date=2010-05-01 |location=Chennai, India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303195202/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/article78427.ece |archive-date=3 March 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article220681.ece |title=Yesudas celebrates 70th birthday in Kollur |publisher=The New Indian Express |date=11 January 2010 |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307180546/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article220681.ece |archive-date=7 March 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2002, during [[Marad massacre]], he visited the place along with the veteran poet [[Sugathakumari]], and conducted classes against violence. [[Harivarasanam]], a devotional song musical version composed by [[G. Devarajan]], recited before closing the temple at [[Sabarimala]] was sung by Yesudas. Though there have been many different renditions of this song by many different renowned singers, [[Sabarimala]] officially uses Yesudas' voice for [[Harivarasanam]] every day.<ref name="hindu_jan10" />

==Music company==
In 1980 Yesudas established the [[Tharangini Records|Tharangani Studio]] at [[Trivandrum]]. In 1992 the office and studio were moved to [[Chennai]], Tamil Nadu and the company was incorporated in the US in 1998. Tharangni Studio and Tharangni Records became a recording center in Kerala which, for the first time, brought out audio cassettes of [[Malayalam film]] songs in stereo. The record company also had a voice mixing studio in Studio27, Chennai. The studio continues to produce and present events of Yesudas, both for film and [[Indian classical music]] concerts throughout the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralatourism.org/leadinglights/dr--k--j--yesudas-4.php|title=Dr. K. J. Yesudas|publisher=keralatourism.org|access-date=18 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601083704/http://www.keralatourism.org/leadinglights/dr--k--j--yesudas-4.php|archive-date=1 June 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Awards and honours==
{{Main|List of titles, honours and major awards received by Yesudas}}
[[File:The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Vibhushan Award to Dr. K.J. Yesudas, at the Civil Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 13, 2017.jpg|thumb|The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Vibhushan Award to Dr. K.J. Yesudas, at the Civil Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 13 April 2017]]
Yesudas has recorded over 50,000 songs and has won scores of accolades including the coveted [[Padma Shri]] (1975),<ref name=PadmaShri>{{cite web|title=Padma Shri Awardees|publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]|url=http://archive.india.gov.in/myindia/padmashri_awards_list1.php?start=1620|access-date=2014-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204165547/http://archive.india.gov.in/myindia/padmashri_awards_list1.php?start=1620|archive-date=4 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Padma Bhushan]] (2002),<ref name=PadmaBhushan>{{cite web|title=Padma Bhushan Awardees|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs|url=http://archive.india.gov.in/myindia/padmabhushan_awards_list1.php?start=320|access-date=2014-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204165432/http://archive.india.gov.in/myindia/padmabhushan_awards_list1.php?start=320|archive-date=4 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Padma Vibhushan]] (2017)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://padmaawards.gov.in/PDFS/PadmaAwards-2017_25012017.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-01-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129231739/http://www.padmaawards.gov.in/PDFS/PadmaAwards-2017_25012017.pdf |archive-date=29 January 2017}}</ref> and eight National Awards for Best Playback Singer.

* [[National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer]] a record 8 times by the Government of India<ref name="record" />
* [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer]] a record 25 times for the best playback singer by the Government of [[Kerala]]
* [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Male Playback|Tamil Nadu State Film Awards]] 5 times for the best playback singer by the Government of [[Tamil Nadu]]
* West Bengal State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer by the Government of West Bengal (1 time)
* [[Nandi Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Andhra Pradesh State Film Awards]] 4 times for the best playback singer by the Government of [[Andhra Pradesh]]
* [[J. C. Daniel Award]] from [[Government of Kerala]]
* [[Honorary degree|Honorary doctorate]]s from [[Annamalai University]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-05-07 |title='I don't sing trendy music' |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2001/may/07yesu.htm |access-date=2020-09-16 |website=[[Rediff.com]] |archive-date=19 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619205218/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2001/may/07yesu.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[University of Kerala|Kerala University]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Brief History of the University |url=https://www.keralauniversity.ac.in/history |website=[[University of Kerala]] |access-date=8 November 2020 |archive-date=30 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230043516/https://keralauniversity.ac.in/history |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala|MG University]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-05-19 |title=Varsity confers honorary doctorate on CJI, Yesudas |url=https://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20090519/1256889.html |access-date=2020-11-08 |website=WebIndia123 |archive-date=17 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117112900/https://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20090519/1256889.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Anandalok Best Male Playback Award]] 1 time for the best playback singer.
* [[Sangeetha Kalasikhamani]], 2002 by The Indian Fine arts Society, Chennai
* [[B. Sarojadevi|Padmabhushan B. Sarojadevi National Award]] (2015) by ''Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan'', Bangalore.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2015/apr/12/Saroji-Devi-Honours-Yesudas-741466.html |title=Saroji Devi Honours Yesudas |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-date=17 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117112834/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2015/apr/12/Saroji-Devi-Honours-Yesudas-741466.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Rajyotsava Prashasti|Karnataka Rajyotsava Award]] from [[Government of Karnataka]] in the year 2017<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/padma-vibhushan-yesudas-among-sixty-two-chosen-for-rajyotsava-award.html?fromNewsdog=1 |title=Singer Yesudas among 62 chosen for Karnataka Rajyotsava Award |access-date=13 August 2020 |archive-date=17 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117112834/https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/padma-vibhushan-yesudas-among-sixty-two-chosen-for-rajyotsava-award.html?fromNewsdog=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*Karnataka State Film Award (1991)Best Playback Singer Male, Film Ramachari Song Nammura Yuvarani
* [[Yesudas Award|Swaralaya Yesudas award]] is a prestigious award for music artists in recognition of their outstanding performance. The award is instituted jointly by Swaralaya, an organisation that promotes music and [[Kairali TV|Kairali Channel]], based in [[Trivandrum]], Kerala. Awards have been given annually since 2000. Yesudas presents the awards at a ''Gandharva Sandhya'' every January.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/01/20/stories/2003012008080300.htm|title=Swaralaya awards presented|date=20 January 2003|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=18 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304221841/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/01/20/stories/2003012008080300.htm|archive-date=4 March 2010|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/16/stories/2007121654810500.htm|title=Swaralaya award for Shankar Mahadevan|date=16 December 2007|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=18 March 2010|location=Chennai, India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424081543/http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/16/stories/2007121654810500.htm|archive-date=24 April 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/12/stories/2009011258340300.htm|title=Tributes paid to Hemant Karkare|date=12 January 2009|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=18 March 2010|location=Chennai, India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103205714/http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/12/stories/2009011258340300.htm|archive-date=3 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Admiration ==
In his acceptance speech of winning the Swaralaya Kairali Yesudas Award (2006), [[AR Rahman]] said "I'm greatly honoured by Swaralaya's gesture, and getting this award from my most favourite singer Mr Yesudas. He is one of my most favourite voices' ever in the world." On another occasion during an interview he said of Yesudas, "his voice is unmatched, his voice is god given and I've been hearing his songs since I was 3 years old"

[[Ravindra Jain]], in an interview wherein the blind music director confessed that if ever he happened to regain vision, the first person he would like to see would be Yesudas.

In 2003, billionaire and businessman [[B. R. Shetty]] gifted him his 1992 model [[Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit]] after listening his concert held at [[The Indian High School, Dubai]]. Shetty said: "I was not only touched by his concert but by the man himself who talked about God's kindness to mankind".<ref>{{cite web|title=Yesudas gets a Rolls Royce!|url=http://sify.com/movies/malayalam/fullstory.php?id=13325681|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031224023805/http://sify.com/movies/malayalam/fullstory.php?id=13325681|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 December 2003|website=[[Sify]]|access-date=26 June 2019|date=4 December 2003}}</ref>

[[Bappi Lahiri]] said in an interview with [[Filmfare]] in 2012: "'Yesudas' voice is touched by God. After Kishore Da(Kishore Kumar), he was another singer who brought out the best in me. He is a yogi, a mystic who lives for music. He takes your tunes to another level. And his note is perfect, you can rely on him to deliver it right the first time. Working with him made me touch base with my melodious side. He is vastly under-utilised in Hindi films. I wish Hindi film composers of today realise his genius and offer him assignments."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.filmfare.com/interviews/king-of-ooh-la-la-land-262.html|title=King of Ooh la la land|access-date=2016-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702015357/http://www.filmfare.com/interviews/king-of-ooh-la-la-land-262.html|archive-date=2 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Controversies ==
On 2 October 2014, Yesudas sparked a row while speaking at a public function on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, where he stated that "Women should not wear dress that trouble others. You should dress modestly and do not behave like men". This resulted in a number of protests from Women's Rights and Political organizations, who asked him to withdraw the comment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-29471518|title=KJ Yesudas: India singer criticised for 'sexist' jeans remark|date=2014-10-03|newspaper=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115113713/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-29471518|archive-date=15 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===As Actor===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !!Film !! Stars!! Director !! Role !! Language
|-
|1965||''[[Kavyamela]]''||[[Prem Nazir]]||[[M. Krishnan Nair (director)|M. Krishnan Nair]]||as himself||rowspan=4|[[Malayalam]]
|-
|1966||''[[Kayamkulam Kochunni (1966 film)|Kayamkulam Kochunni]]''||[[Sathyaneshan Nadar|Sathyan]]||[[P. Bhaskaran]]||as Khader 
|-
|1966||''[[Anarkali (1966 film)|Anarkali]]''<ref name="Anarkali">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/05/31/stories/2010053150270400.htm|title=Anarkali (1966)|author=B. Vijayakumar|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=31 May 2010|access-date=2011-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108194259/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/05/31/stories/2010053150270400.htm|archive-date=8 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Prem Nazir]], [[Sathyaneshan Nadar|Sathyan]]||[[Kunchacko]]||as Tansen
|-
|1973||''[[Achaani]]''||[[Prem Nazir]]||[[P. Bhaskaran]]||rowspan=5| as singer
|-
|1976||''Adhirshtam Azhaikkirathu''|| Thengai Srinivasan||A. Jagannathan||Tamil
|-
|1977||''[[Nirakudam]]''||[[Kamalhassan]]||[[A. Bhimsingh]]
|-
|1977||''[[Harshabashpam]]''||[[M. G. Soman]]||[[P. Gopikumar]]
|-
|1980||''[[Saranam Ayyappa]]''||[[Jayabharathi]]|| Dasarathan<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/people/dhasarathan-92751|title=Cinestaan|access-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209123943/https://www.cinestaan.com/people/dhasarathan-92751|archive-date=9 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>||[[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|-
|1981||''[[Pathira Sooryan]]''||[[Prem Nazir]]||[[P. Krishna Pillai]]||as saint||rowspan=4|Malayalam
|-
|2002||''[[Nandanam (film)|Nandanam]]''||[[Prithviraj Sukumaran|Prithviraj]], [[Navya Nair]]||[[Ranjith (director)|Ranjith]]||rowspan=3|as himself
|-
|2005||''[[Boyy Friend]]''||[[Manikuttan]]||[[Vinayan]]
|-
|2012||''[[Theruvu Nakshatrangal]]''||[[Tini Tom]]||Jose Maveily
|}

===As music composer===
*''Azhakulla Saleena'' (1973)
*''Theekkanal'' (1976)
*''Sanchari'' (1981)
*''Abhinayam'' (1981)
*''Poocha Sanyasi'' (1981)
*''Ellaam Ayyappan'' (1988)

==Discography==
{{Main|K. J. Yesudas discography}}
{{Main|K. J. Yesudas Tamil Discography}}
{{Main|List of Kannada songs recorded by K. J. Yesudas}}
{{Main|List of Hindi songs recorded by K. J. Yesudas}}

==See also==
* [[Swaralaya Yesudas Award]]
* [[List of Carnatic singers]]
* [[Harivarasanam]]

<ref>{{cite web |title=Playlist Ultimate K. J. Yesudas - Malayalam on Hungama.com |url=https://www.hungama.com/playlists/ultimate-k-j-yesudas-malayalam/2217/ |website=Hungama Music |access-date=8 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20210127205027/http://drkjyesudas.com/ Official website]
* [http://tharangni.com Tharangni Digital]
* {{IMDb name|0947748}}

* {{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051015/saturday/main1.htm |title=Article on Yesudas: 'For me music is God'|work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=15 October 2005 }}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{National Film Award Best Male Playback Singer}}
{{FilmfareAwardBestMaleSinger}}
{{Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South}}
{{SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2000–09}}
{{Music of Kerala}}
{{Padma Award winners of Kerala}}
{{Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Winners of Kerala}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yesudas, K. J.}}
[[Category:K. J. Yesudas| ]]
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Bollywood playback singers]]
[[Category:Male Carnatic singers]]
[[Category:Carnatic singers]]
[[Category:Hindustani singers]]
[[Category:Indian male playback singers]]
[[Category:Kannada playback singers]]
[[Category:Kerala State Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Tamil playback singers]]
[[Category:Malayalam playback singers]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Singers from Kochi]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Telugu playback singers]]
[[Category:Sanskrit-language singers]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards winners]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards South winners]]
[[Category:Film musicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in arts]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:Best Male Playback Singer National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:J. C. Daniel Award winners]]
[[Category:South Indian International Movie Awards winners]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship]]