Mar 26, 2005 12:16 AM
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(Updated Mar 26, 2005 12:16 AM)
Yesudas, Dasetan as he is known in Kerala is a phenomenon in the realm of music. He started singing in Malayalam and today he has left his mark in other languages too. Of late he has not been singing much. I do not know the reason. Some say his voice has gone out. Well, I shall not comment on that.
In his haydays, he was known as the Jim Reeves of South India. I have collected a good number of his songs sung in various languages.
Yesudas is also a classical singer of note and in my opinion is a much better singer of classical music than of film music. So since he has a great name in film music, well you can imagine how great he is in classical music. I consider his 'Krishna ni begana baro' the best rendition of the song by any singer.
The song is a Purandara Dasa kriti, and Purandara Dasa wrote in Kannada. And Kannada is not Yesudas' mother tongue. Yet the song is feelingfully rendered.
Yesudas has his own music academy in Madras, where young singers and aspiring singers receive training under his watchful eye. Many singers have blossomed because of him.
Yesudas above all is a good man, in whom one notices fine qualities of head and heart. Despite harsh criticism from orthodox quarters that frown upon a Christian singing Hindu bhajans, he showed that music has no religion. He also had to face problems from Churches over his naming his son Ayyapan. However the universal man that he is, he did not allow these factors to bog him down.
I wish more people will emulate him in humanity and goodness.
