 K J Jesudoss B'Day Spl Downloads
 Chennaionline.com takes great pleasure in wishing the popular playback singer K J Jesudoss a happy birthday and present a collection of some of his best numbers as legal, authorised downloads on this memorable occasion for the legion of his fans all over the world. We present both film hits and devotional numbers.
Kattassery Joseph Jesudoss, one of the greatest musicians in the annals of Indian music industry, turned 66 on January 10, 2006. Today, he is called Padma Bhushan but to most of the music industry, he is "Dasetta".
Born in Fort Cochin, Kerala, in southern India, to Augustine Joseph Bagavathor, a reputed Malayalam classical musician and stage actor, and Alikkutty Joseph, Yesudas was provided music education by his parents though they struggled to make both ends meet. He learnt Carnatic music from gurus in Kochi including his father, from the age of five.
 Early in life, inspiration came to him in the form of Moahmmed Rafi, Balamuralikrishna and Chembai Vaidyanatha Bagavathar. It was his association with Chembai that was a turning point in his life, as he took to Carnatic music and achieved great heights as a classical singer.
His talent won him admirers all over south India to begin with. Anoter turning point in the film industry was when he became a favourite of M S Viswanathan who composed several brilliant compositions for him like 'Adisaya Raagam', 'Theivam Thantha Veedu' and also used his voice for matinee idol M G Ramachandran in such hit songs like 'Thanga Thoniyile' in 'Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban', 'Vizhiye Kathai Ezhuthu' in
'Meenava Nanban'.
He sang for Sivaji Ganesan too (Ninaivale Silai Seythu, Malare Kurinji Malare in 'Dr Siva' being outstanding numbers). Jesudoss also provided his voice for the next generation of actors like Kamal Haasan (Vaazhve Maayam in the film 'Vaazhve Maayam', Engey En Jeevane in 'Uyarntha Ullam', Poo Malarnthida in 'Tik Tik Tik', for example) and Rajnikant, especially for an inspired Ilayaraja in the 1980s - Akkarai Seemai, En Uyir Nee Thaane and Oh Priya (Priya), Unnaithaane, Vechukava and Chittukku in 'Nallavannukku Nallavan', Vellai Pura Onru (Puthu Kavithai). Kannan Oru Kai Kuzhanthai (Bhadrakali) was an outstanding song.
He also rendered super hits for T Rajender including Vaigai Karai Katrey Nillu in 'Uyirullavarai Usha'. However, it was the Ilayaraja-Jesudoss combination in 'Sindhu Bhairavi' that produced an amzaing box office hit for a film steeped in classical music and bringing in its wake a large number of awards.
According to one estimate, Jesudoss has sung over 25,000 to 30,000 songs in various Indian languages including Hindi. He won national acclaim for Hindi songs in 'Chit Chor' and several other films. He has won 16 times the Kerala state award for best singer and seven national awards. He received the title of Padmasri in 1973.
In recent years, he has also sung for the younger crop of actors including Vijay in Oru Pattam Poochi in 'Kadhalukku Mariyadhai' and in Kannukkul Nilavu, for Jeeva in 'Raam', Ajit in Kaadhal Vandhadhum in 'Poovellam Un Vaasam', and for young music directors like Yuvan Shankar Raja, Vidyasagar and Manisharma among others.
There is speculation that he could get the Bharat Ratna this year. If he were to be conferred the title, he would richly deserve it for his contribution to music and to the cause of secularism and global peace.
R Rangaraj
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