VirgieSalter103 at 10:13, 27 March 2026

2026-03-27T10:13:47Z

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{{Distinguish|A. P. Udhayabhanu}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Family name hatnote|Kizhakke Potta|lang=Malayali}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = K. P. Udayabhanu
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| birth_name = Bhanuprakash
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1936|06|06}}
| birth_place = Tharoor, [[Malabar District]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]] (present day [[Palakkad district|Palakkad]], [[Kerala]], India)
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2014|01|05|1936|06|06}}
| death_place = [[Thiruvananthapuram district|Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], India
| instrument =
| Genre =
| occupation = {{hlist|[[Playback singer]]|[[Music composer]]}}
| years_active = 1958 {{endash}} 2010
}}

'''Kizhakke Potta Udayabhanu''' (born Bhanuprakash; 6 June 1936 {{endash}} 5 January 2014) was an Indian playback singer and music director, mainly in [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam films]]. In 2009, he was awarded the [[Padma Shri]], India's fourth highest [[Indian honours system|civilian honour]].<ref name=Mangalam /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Parayath|first=Prakash|date=2014-01-09|title=With music in his heart…|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/with-music-in-his-heart/article5557520.ece|access-date=2021-09-01|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

He represented India at the 1985 [[ABU Popular Song Contest]].<ref name="Euroviox">{{cite web|url= https://eurovoix-world.com/abu-popular-song-contest/#:~:text=The%20ABU%20Popular%20Song%20Contest,the%20mid%20to%20late%201980s.|title= ABU Popular Song Contest|website=Euroviox|access-date=1 January 2025}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Udayabhanu was born to N. S. Varma and Ammu Nethyaramma at Tharur in the present-day [[Palakkad district]].<ref name=NDTV /> He was the nephew of music scholar K. P. Appukutta Menon<ref name=NDTV /> and [[freedom fighter]] [[K. P. Kesava Menon]].<ref name=NIE>{{cite news|title=Musician K P Udayabhanu Passes Away|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Musician-K-P-Udayabhanu-Passes-Away/2014/01/06/article1985121.ece|access-date=6 January 2014|newspaper=The New Indian Express|archive-date=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107104856/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Musician-K-P-Udayabhanu-Passes-Away/2014/01/06/article1985121.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref> Udayabhanu spent his childhood in Singapore, where his father ran a business.<ref name=NIE /> Following his mother's death, he returned to India at the age of seven.<ref name=NIE /> Udayabhanu joined the Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidyalaya in [[Kalpathy]] and started learning music under the guidance of Erode Viswanatha Iyer, [[Palghat Mani Iyer]], [[M. D. Ramanathan]], [[Palghat Srirama Bhagavathar]], and Flute Krishna Iyer.<ref name=NDTV /> Udayabhanu married singer Vijayalekshmi in 1970 and they had a son, Rajeev Udayabhanu.<ref name=Mangalam/> Vijayalekshmi died in 2007.<ref name=TOI />

Udayabhanu started his career as an announcer in [[All India Radio]] in 1956, where he worked for 38 years.<ref name=NDTV /> In 1964–65, he worked as music teacher at [[Lawrence School, Lovedale]],<ref name=NI>{{cite news|title=Veteran Malayalam playback singer K P Udayabhanu passes away|url=http://netindian.in/news/2014/01/05/00027421/veteran-malayalam-playback-singer-k-p-udayabhanu-passes-away|access-date=6 January 2014|newspaper=Net Indian}}</ref> but quit it in 1965 and rejoined All India Radio in the same year.<ref name=DCB /> He was also the [[Public Relations Officer]] to [[K. Karunakaran]] twice.<ref name=Mangalam/><ref name=DCB />

His favourite singers were [[K. J. Yesudas]] and [[K. S. Chithra]].<ref name=DCB /> [[M. Balamuralikrishna]] was his favourite [[Carnatic music]]ian.<ref name=DCB /> [[Bade Gulam Ali Khan]] and [[Bhimsen Joshi]] were his favourite [[Hindustani music]]ians.<ref name=DCB />

Udayabhanu died on 5 January 2014 at his home in [[Thiruvananthapuram]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://netindian.in/news/2014/01/05/00027421/veteran-malayalam-playback-singer-k-p-udayabhanu-passes-away| work=netindian.in | title=Veteran Malayalam playback singer K P Udayabhanu passes away | date=5 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/veteran-malayalam-singer-k-p-udayabhanu-dies-467340| work=ndtv.com | title=Veteran Malayalam singer K.P Udayabhanu dies | date=5 January 2014}}</ref> He was suffering from [[Parkinson's disease]].<ref name=NDTV>{{cite news|title=Veteran Malayalam singer K.P Udayabhanu dies|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/veteran-malayalam-singer-k-p-udayabhanu-dies-467340|access-date=6 January 2014|newspaper=NDTV}}</ref>
[[Aparna Balamurali]], a popular young actress and singer, is his grandniece, being the daughter of his nephew Balamurali, who is himself a professional musician.

==Career==
Udayabhanu recorded his first film song ''Enthinithra panchasara'' for the film ''[[Nairu Pidicha Pulivalu]]'' in 1958.<ref name=TOI>{{cite news|title=Udayabhanu passes away|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Udayabhanu-passes-away/articleshow/28455156.cms|access-date=6 January 2014|newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref> In his career, he sang more than 50 songs.<ref name=NDTV /> The most notable songs are ''Kananachayayil aadumeykkan'' (''[[Ramanan (film)|Ramanan]]''), ''Anuraga nadakathin'' (''[[Ninamaninja Kalpadukal]]''), ''Ponvalayillenkilum'' (''[[Kutti Kuppayam]]''), ''Thamara Thumbi Vava'' (''[[Puthiya Akasam Puthiya Bhoomi]]''), ''Vellinakshathrame ninne nokki'' (''Ramanan''), ''Chudukanneeralen'' (''[[Laila Majnu (1962 film)|Laila Majnu]]''), ''Tharame tharame'' (''Laila Majnu''), ''Vadaruthee malarini'' (''Sathyabhama''), ''Pennale pennale'' (''[[Chemmeen]]''), ''Pennayi pirannenkil'', ''Viralonnillenkilum'' (''[[Veluthambi Dalawa (film)|Veluthambi Dalawa]]''), and ''Velutha penne velutha penne'' (''Nairu Pidicha Pulivalu'').<ref name=NDTV /><ref name=Yahoo>{{cite web|title=കെ.പി. ഉദയഭാനു അന്തരിച്ചു|url=http://malayalam.yahoo.com/%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%86-%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%BF-%E0%B4%89%E0%B4%A6%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%AD%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%81-%E0%B4%85%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%81-154901453.html|publisher=Yahoo Malayalam|access-date=6 January 2014}}</ref> His last song was ''Kaatu Paranjathum'' recorded for the 2010 film ''[[Thanthonni]]''.<ref name=NDTV /><ref name=TOI /> He sang this song after a break of 40 years from his last recorded film song.<ref name=Mangalam/> He composed music for the films ''[[Samasya]]'', ''Velichamillatha Veedhi'', and ''Mayilpeeli''.<ref name=NDTV /><ref name=DCB>{{cite web|title=എന്റെ പ്രണയം ചുറ്റുമുള്ള എല്ലാ ജീവജാലങ്ങളോടുമാണ്- കെ.പി. ഉദയഭാനു|url=http://www.dcbooks.com/blog/k-p-udyabhanu-interview-with-ramesh-gopalakrishnan-dc-books-blog/|publisher=DC Books|access-date=6 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106150621/http://www.dcbooks.com/blog/k-p-udyabhanu-interview-with-ramesh-gopalakrishnan-dc-books-blog/|archive-date=6 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The songs ''Kili chilachu'' from ''Samasya'' and ''Indu sundarasmitham thookum'' from ''Mayil Peeli'' and several light music hits were broadcast through all India radio like 'oru pattu paduvan', 'athramelinnum nilavine' etc... were highly popular.<ref name=Mangalam>{{cite web|title=അന്ത്യമാം രംഗം തീര്‍ന്നു; വെള്ളിനക്ഷത്രം മാഞ്ഞു: കെ. പി. ഉദയഭാനു അന്തരിച്ചു|url=http://www.mangalam.com/print-edition/keralam/136170|publisher=Mangalam|access-date=6 January 2014}}</ref><ref name=DCB />

In 1984, Udayabhanu launched the musical troupe ''Old is Gold'' which has conducted several stage shows in India and abroad.<ref name=Mangalam/> Udayabhanu represented India at the Asia Pacific Popular Song contest in Singapore in 1985. He was also the chief conductor of the Drums of India music programme which was organised as part of the Republic Day celebrations in 1985.<ref name=Mangalam/> He was the chief conductor and composer of ''Bharatiyam'' conducted in [[Thiruvananthapuram]]. He conducted choral groups in all Indian languages from Delhi Central Production Unit and Delhi [[Doordarshan]].<ref name=NI /> He composed 32 poems by renowned Kerala poets in connection with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Independence.<ref name=Mangalam/> He conducted music for more than 100 patriotic songs. Of these, more than 80 were in [[Malayalam]].<ref name=DCB /> The rest were in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Kannada]], [[Hindi]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Assamese language|Assamese]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]], [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], and [[Oriya language|Oriya]].<ref name=DCB />

According to Malayalam film historian Balagopal, Udayabhanu's voice was specially suited for sad songs in melodramatic films of the 1960s and 1970s.<ref>{{cite news|title=Renowned Malayalam singer KP Udayabhanu passes away|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140106/news-current-affairs/article/renowned-malayalam-singer-kp-udayabhanu-passes-away|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106204456/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140106/news-current-affairs/article/renowned-malayalam-singer-kp-udayabhanu-passes-away|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 January 2014|access-date=6 January 2014|newspaper=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref>

==Awards and recognitions==
*Recipient of [[Padma Shri Award]], 2009.<ref name=Mangalam/>
*[[Sangeet Natak Akademi]] Award for creative music, 2002.<ref name=Deshabhimani>{{cite web|title=ഉദയഭാനുവിന്റെ മൃതദേഹം ഔദ്യോഗിക ബഹുമതികളോടെ സംസ്കരിച്ചു|url=http://www.deshabhimani.com/newscontent.php?id=401447|publisher=Deshabhimani|access-date=6 January 2014|archive-date=6 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106220738/http://www.deshabhimani.com/newscontent.php?id=401447|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship]], 2004.<ref name=Mangalam/>
*Kamukara award, 2006.<ref name=Yahoo />
*[[B. R. Ambedkar]] "Kalasri" Award by Bharatheeya Dalit Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, 2003.<ref>{{cite web|title=Melody on song|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003010901940200.htm&date=2003/01/09/&prd=thlf&|work=The Hindu|access-date=9 January 2014}}</ref>
*[[National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Music Direction]], 1994 (''Myth of the Tree'', ''Serpant Mother'').<ref>{{cite web|title=42nd National Film Festival|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/42nd_nff_1995.pdf|publisher=Government of India|access-date=6 January 2014}}</ref>
*Honoured by Kerala government for outstanding contributions to Malayalam film industry, 1981.<ref name=Yahoo />
*[[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]], 1987.<ref name=Yahoo />
*Honoured by [[All India Radio]] for outstanding contributions to broadcasting in Kerala, 1999.<ref name=Mangalam/>

==Positions held==
*Member- [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]]<ref name=Mangalam/>
*Member- [[Kerala Kalamandalam]]<ref name=Mangalam/>
*Member- Board of Studies (Music), [[Calicut University]]<ref name=Mangalam/>
*Member- Board of Studies (Music), [[Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala|Mahatma Gandhi University]]<ref name=Mangalam/>
*Member- Film Censor Board (thrice)<ref name=Mangalam/>
*Member- Kerala State Film Awards Committee (thrice)<ref name=Mangalam/>
*Member- Audition Board, All India Radio<ref name=Mangalam/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20210316143823/http://www.kpudayabhanu.com/ K. P. Udayabhanu Foundation website]}}
{{Padma Award winners of Kerala}}
{{Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Winners of Kerala}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Udayabhanu, K. P.}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian male playback singers]]
[[Category:Film musicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language playback singers]]
[[Category:People from Palakkad district]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Singers from Kerala]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male singers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]]

K. P. Udayabhanu - Revision history

VirgieSalter103 at 10:13, 27 March 2026