It's been a while I blogged courtesy my hectic tours related to work and some personal health problems. That I could not touch upon a suitable topic too contributed to my inactivity in the blog-sphere.
Then recently I stumbled on this piece of news in a film website on January 10 -- KJ Yesudas turns 70. It was really a moment of realization because till then how many of us thought about KJY's age?
It is tough to think about his age since I listen to his songs from various eras (60s, 70s, 80s and 90s) almost every day, like a ritual. It's an experience to be experienced; words can hardly convey the beauty of his music, the calmness that seeps into your soul after listening to a KJY rendition.
It hardly matters whether he sings light music or Carnatic music, for he is proficient in both forms and he was able to entertain both laymen and pundits. There have been some criticisms about the way he sings Carnatic forms that he resorts to gimmicks with voice. I just want to tell them 'please avoid the vyavahara-laden mindset and absorb his music and you will only be richer by it.' As the great Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, KJY's guru, said once, "I don't understand this rigidity over Vyavahara as I know only one vyavahara and that is related to court. Music is divine and it should come from heart and soul."
Yes, KJY's music pours from his soul, if not so, it could not have touched the souls of million others transcending linguistic barriers. The days when KJY sang 16 songs might have gone behind him, but that does not reduce the magic of his craft.
It may be also because the lack of some good quality lyrics and music in modern days. The trio of Vayalar Rama Varma - G Devarajan-KJ Yesudas is still the best in Malayalam film industry, and I don't need to retell the poetical and musical quality of those songs. Pure bliss those songs are.
It is not for nothing he's been called Gana Gandharvan, and he does not need any more titles
to reveal his status as a musician, once rated by AR Rahman as the owner of the sweetest voice in
the world.
I just wish the mastero long and successful years ahead.
