Kattassery Joseph Yesudas (born 10 January 1940), known as K. J. Yesudas, is an Indian playback singer and Carnatic musician. In a career of more than six decades he has recorded tens of thousands of songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and many other languages. He has won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer eight times, a record, and Kerala’s state award more than twenty times. Malayalis call him “Gaanagandharvan”, the celestial singer. He received the Padma Vibhushan in 2017.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Kattassery Joseph Yesudas |
| Born | 10 January 1940, Fort Kochi, Kingdom of Cochin (now Kerala), India |
| Age | 86 |
| Occupation | Playback singer, Carnatic vocalist |
| Years active | 1961–present |
| Spouse | Prabha (m. 1970) |
| Children | 3, including the singer Vijay Yesudas |
| Honours | Padma Shri (1975), Padma Bhushan (2002), Padma Vibhushan (2017) |
| Known for | Malayalam film songs, “Harivarasanam”, Chitchor |
Early Life
Yesudas was born into a Latin Catholic family in Fort Kochi. His father, Augustine Joseph, was a well-known stage actor and classical singer and was his first teacher. The family was often short of money. Yesudas studied at the R. L. V. Music Academy in Tripunithura and then at the Swathi Thirunal College of Music in Thiruvananthapuram, though he could not complete the course for want of funds. He later trained under the Carnatic master Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar.
Career
On 14 November 1961 Yesudas recorded his first film song, four lines by the reformer Sree Narayana Guru beginning “Jaathi Bhedam Matha Dwesham”, for the Malayalam film Kaalpadukal. Within a few years he was the leading male singer in Malayalam cinema, working with composers such as G. Devarajan, M. S. Baburaj and V. Dakshinamoorthy.
He entered Hindi films in the 1970s and won wide popularity with Ravindra Jain’s songs for Chitchor (1976), including “Gori Tera Gaon Bada Pyara”, which won him a National Award. Other Hindi hits included “Jab Deep Jale Aana” and “Dil Ke Tukde Tukde”. He sang in Tamil for Ilaiyaraaja and in Telugu and Kannada, often alongside S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra. In 1980 he founded Tharangini, a studio and music label in Thiruvananthapuram.
Yesudas is equally known for devotional songs across religions. His recording of “Harivarasanam” is played every night at the Sabarimala temple as the lullaby before the shrine closes. He performs full Carnatic concerts each year. Although a Christian, he has spoken of his wish to enter the Guruvayur temple, which admits only Hindus.
Personal Life
Yesudas married Prabha in 1970. They have three sons; the second, Vijay Yesudas, is a successful playback singer. He has lived for many years in the United States and in Chennai.
Awards and Honours
Popular Songs
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was K. J. Yesudas born?
K. J. Yesudas was born on 10 January 1940 in Fort Kochi, Kingdom of Cochin (now Kerala), India and is 86 years old.
What is K. J. Yesudas known for?
Known for: Malayalam film songs, “Harivarasanam”, Chitchor.
What honours has K. J. Yesudas received?
Padma Shri (1975), Padma Bhushan (2002), Padma Vibhushan (2017).
Featured image: K. J. Yesudas sings at a concert in Kerala, April 2010. Photo by E P Sajeevan, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
