There are many things that we all do with Aruma. But P. Jayachandran adores his own songs. Even on his 79th birthday today, it is amazing how he brings songs out of his vocal tract with such care and delicacy.
Jayachandra Sangeet Yatra of fifty-seven Kollam has this kind of ‘patinja bhava’ throughout. Perhaps, a rare opportunity that only Brahmanandan and G.Venugopal have got in Malayalam.. It is even more surprising that in the new age, when many people say that good songs are decreasing, songs from the same genre are being produced to keep the music lovers as Jayachandra lovers.
Jayachandran is a talent who ‘enchanted singing with age’ when he came back after not singing in films for more than a decade. He continued to do so for the next two decades.
The age of Vijaya ‘Vidya’
It was Vidyasagar who gave Jayachandrabhava a new era with ‘Nira’ directed by Kamal. In the lyrics of Bichu Tirumala, ‘Prayam Namil Moham Phai…’, the fans took it as if it was written that it was a song that should fly over Jayachandran’s age. Jayachandran was around fifty five years old when he sang that time. Even today on his 79th birthday, Jayachandran continues to sing and enchant.
Many of the best Jayachandra songs were born in later times through Vidyasagar, who composed the melody for Jayachandran’s second coming. Poove Poove Palappoove… (Devaduthan; Composer: Kaitapram), No One Sees… (Chandrotsavam; Composer: Girish Puthanchery), Kannil Kasithumpagal… (Dreams; Composer: Girish Puthanchery), Marannittumentino… (Second Bhava; Composer: Girish Puthanchery), Ente Anu Mindila… (Gramophone; Composer: Girish Puthanchery), Alilakavile Thingale… (Pattalam; Composer: Girish Puthanchery), Akhakadalin Angekarailai… (Chanthupot; Composer: Vayalar Saratchandravarma), Malarvakakompat … (And Always; Written by: Rafeeq Ahmed) and Sundara Jayachandra’s sweets spread with Vidya Touch!
Kallaikkadavath of the song
It was the Kaitapram brothers who gifted Jayachandramadhurima with the song ‘Neeoru Puzhayai…’ from ‘Tilaka’.. When Kaitapram Damodaran Namboothiri’s composition was accompanied by the beautiful music of his brother Kaitapram Viswanathan, Jayachandran made it sound like a beating heart.
A handful of beautiful songs written by Kaitapram for various composers were born in the new era. Nee Manimukiladakal… (Vellithira; Music: Alphonse Joseph), Aru Gai… (Puliwal Kalyanam; Music: Berni Ignatius), Kallaikkadavamte… (Perumazhakalam; Music: M. Jayachandran), Vattaila Pandalit…, One Thodanalulil… (Attention of Travelers; Music: Johnson), Swayamvara Chandrike… (Chronic Bachelor; Music: Deepak Dev) and Azhake Kanmaniye… (Kasthuriman; Music: Ousepachan) are among the enticing list.
Jaya Keraliyam!
In recent times we have heard some beautiful songs that mark Kerala through Jayachandrasabda. The one that got the most attention was ‘Keranirakaladum…’ (Image: Water Festival) with lyrics by Biyar Prasad and music by Alphonse. When Jayachandran sings ‘I am a Malayalee…’ we think of it as Malayalam’s own expression. This song was composed by East Coast Vijayan and composed by Bijibal in the movie ‘Jilebi’. In Thrissur’s own song ‘Poorangade Pooramullaru…’, Jayachandran sings his countryman with solemnity. This song from ‘Punyalan Agarbathisi’ was also composed by Bijibal. Written by: Santosh Verma.
It is not just an adjective to say that any Malayalee is transported back to the youth of nostalgia when he hears Jayachandra’s song ‘Mannappam Chutupuliikana Kalam…’ (Written by: B.K.Harinarayanan, Music by: Ratheesh Vega).
Like a love song…
How many Jayachandra songs that spread love in anyone in this twenty-first century?! One of them is the beautiful song ‘Premikkanda nee and nimum neeril tehinum phulam…’ from ‘Salt and Pepper’ and stand on top of memory (Written by: Rafeeq Ahmed, Music: Bijibal). Unknowingly, Unknowingly… (Ravana Prabhu; Girish Puthanchery, Suresh Peters), Fingers Touched… (Phantom; Girish Puthanchery, Deva), Eye-to-Eye Flashing… (Gauri Shankaram; Girish Puthanchery, M. Jayachandran), I don’t know why. .. (My Boss; East Coast Vijayan, M. Jayachandran) and Olanjalikuruvi… (1983; B.K. Harinarayanan, Gopi Sundar) are ‘Jaya Geethams’ that make the mind fall in love.
In Rabindra Sangeet…
Jayachandran has a strong friendship with Ravindran before coming into the film. But, in later times, for some reason this Indra and Chandran did not join in many songs. However, ‘Alilathali…’ composed in the late period of Rabindran Sangeet (Mizhi and two; composed by Vayalar Saratchandra Varma) became one of the most beautiful collections in Jayachandran’s melody collection. The beauty of the Jayachandran-Ravindran association blossomed.
A ‘New Age’ of Expressions
The same word is repeated twice in the refrain of the song ‘Etinenennariilla…’ in ‘My Bossi’. No matter how many times you listen to ‘Chundattak’, a very beautiful tree with Jayachandra’s voice, when you sing the second one after you don’t know what the first one is.
It is from this perfectionist of melody that we hear the intriguing song ‘Podimeesha Mulakkana Kalam…’ (Picture: Pa.Va; Written: Santhosh Verma, Music: Anand Madhusudanan). We enjoy a bandati mela with that song. This pulsation can also be felt in the Vidyasagar songs ‘Aartoum Ararotoum…’ (composed by Murugan Kattakkada) and ‘Alilakavile…’ from the film ‘Bhaiya Bhaiya’.
The song ‘Peithaliinja Sansuk…’ (Captain; B.K. Harinarayanan, Gopi Sundar) also keeps us glued to our song. Jayachandran has rated the song ‘Patuppeteelannu Namam…’ (Nidhish Naderi, Vishwajith) from the same movie as one of the rarest songs in his career.
Jayachandran has sung the entire beauty of the song from ‘Meghamalhari’, ‘Ponnushuss nennam neeratuvan varumee’, written by ONV and composed by Ramesh Narayanan, in one word ‘Soundarya Teerthakadavil’.
Even though he had not sung a single song after the age of fifty-five, the connoisseurs of Malayalam songs would have marked him at his peak. But the new times and new songs continue to bless him as a voice that is cherished by generations without any age.