Birthday with a Celestial Touch: Yesudas's Birthday
"Old seventy’, the ‘New Fifty!"
“BIRTHDAY WISHES", to our ‘Gana Gandharvan'!
January 10th is always special for Malayalees -- Dr K J Yesudas, the one who is blessed with the inimitable voice that is tuned by God Himself, celebrates his birthday on this day! As Malayalees and all those who love his music celebrate our Gandharvan’s 70th Birthday, one must remember here that the ‘Old seventy’, is the ‘New Fifty’ -- our Dasettan proves this dictum -- he looks even younger than fifty, and with a very youthful voice that has diamond-hard precision with the most seductive silky undertone brimming with soft alluring elegance as the situation demands!
His dedication to his profession, strict diet and exercise, and of course the celestial blessing keep our ‘God of Music’ in eternal youth, with a magical voice to match! His voice still has the power to engulf the listeners in pure magic, gliding them to celestial heights – a voice that is vibrant enough to conquer all age groups, whether he is singing classical or light music, even after forty-nine years in the music industry!
Most of us wake up to his beautiful voice and it is his voice that we hear before we go to sleep at night – his celestial voice is with us in our moments of happiness, most romantic and erotic moments, celebrations, sadness, and any other moment that one can think of! When he sings the melodies, the listener gets the feeling that Yesudas is singing only to him or her, reaching the inner core of that person – his voice has that inimitable magical quality, and still an enigma -- perhaps the question we all would like to ask is in one of his songs: ‘Parayu Nin Ganathin Madhurima Engane Vannuu …’!
It has been said that Yesudas sings in God’s voice, and when asked about this, he told me, “Everyone has God’s voice -- Ellaavarkkum Daivathinte shabdamaanallo”, showing his humility! But I would say, “His voice has a 'God-like quality'! It is not just one of the most beautiful voices in the world, it is pure enough to make you think of walking on dry snow when the sun is shining (As in Ottakkampi Nadam Mathram) or perhaps the smooth bubbling of cream and melting chocolate, dripping with honey (As in Chandana lepa sugandham), or exotic enough to remind us of the most beautiful paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, or take you on the nostalgic wings of the most exotic dreams (Pinneyum pinneyum), and it has the exquisite magical touch to glide you through the most erotic planes (As in Poykayil, in the film Rajashilpi)
Something special happens even when he sings very ordinary songs -- words come to life and songs become classics, writers and their lyrics reach immortality through his voice, music directors become legends and listeners are blessed! Yousafali Kecheri has written the poem, Yesudas, and has dedicated a song, “Thenaanu Nin Swaram Paattukara, Poovaanu Nin Manam Koottukaara”; even the great Vayalar Rama Varma has written a song for his, Yesu, which shows the greatness of this musical legend!
I feel that we can all empathize with these words from one of his songs, and quite apt -- perhaps an anthem for Malayalees! (K.Jayakumar (Chandanalepa Sugandham –fame!) has written these beautiful lines for the film, ‘Uthram’)
“Please know that we all love you and that you are a big part of our lives for now, and always – and remember that ‘Seventy’, is the ‘New Fifty’! You or your voice will never grow old because you are blessed, and have the love and prayers of millions of admirers!
“May all your dreams be showered with Celestial blessings and may you reign forever"!
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