K.J. Yesudas - Emperor of Golden Voice!

Madhuban khushbu deta hai, saagar saawan deta hai

(Garden gives fragrance, Ocean gives rain)

Jina usaka jina hai, jo auro ko jivan deta hai…..

(True life is that life which lives for others) 

This super hit song sung by the Emperor of Golden Voice, K.J. Yesudas from the movie SAAJAN BIN SUHAGAN truly signifies the life of Yesudas. Like the lyrics Jina usaka jina hai, jo auro ko jivan deta hai….(True life is that life which lives for others) similarly Yesudas has devoted his life to music and for the joy of his listeners. The legendary singer turns 75 today; Raaga.Com salutes the great singers and takes a look at his journey in Bollywood.

To mark the 75th birthday of the genius singer K.J. Yesudas a day-long music concert will be held at Sri Kollur Mookambika Temple, the holy temple where Yesudas annually seeks the blessing of the presiding deity over the past several decades.

While Yesudas is not less than a Demi God in South, In Bollywood too he left a similar imprint that shall remain immortal for generations to come. What makes Yesudas’s dominance in Bollywood noteworthy is the fact that when he made his entry in the mid 70’s the Bollywood music was at its downfall, with eminent music legends like Naushad, Shanker Jaikishen, S.D.Burman, Madan Mohan either having left the world or had taken retirement. 

It was during this phase Yesudas’s melodious voice that was as sweet as honey and as silky like satin made its resonance and won the hearts of music lovers. The credit for discovering Yesudas into Bollywood goes to the versatile music director Salil Chowdhury for the film ANAND MAHAL. The song was the super hit classical number Ni Sa Ga Ma Pa Ni Sa Re Ga, Aa Aa Re Mitawa, Janam Janam Se hain Hum to Pyaase, Aa Sang Mere Gaa…. 

However his real talent was nurtured by Ravindra Jain in Bollywood, who offered him many super hit songs like Aaj Se Pehle... and Jab Deep Jale Aana Jab - CHITCHOR (1976), Aa inn nazaron ko tum dekho aur mein tumhe...; - SUNAYANA (1979); Khushiya Hi Khushiya Ho Daaman - DULHAN WOHI JO PIYA MAN BHAYE (1977) etc. the list is long.

Readers would be surprised to know that Ravindra Jain, the blind music director, was so much in awe of Yesudas that he had confessed that if he ever happened to regain vision, the first person he would like to see was Yesudas!!!