THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (PTI):-He had to discontinue his music lesson is he could not pay the fees. He was once rejected by All India Radio on the ground that his voice was not good enough Yet Yesudas was to be a legend in his own lifetime. The Padma sin 1973 Sangeeths Raja Sangeeths Chakrabarty Sangeeths Sukaram Ashiana Gayakan given by Kerala government Madhya Pradesh government’s Lata Mangeshkar award Sangect Natak Academy award and national award for best playback singer for a record dive limes are only few of the accolades that have come his way. His first film song having been corded in 1961 Yesudas has a carner spanning over three decades Overcome language barriers and sung over 30000 songs. Fluent in Hindi ‘Family and English the singer whose voice continues to captivate millions of listeners in India and abroad says he often translates the lyrics in Malayalam or one of these languages. Recipient of Kerala state award for best playback singer 16 times since 1970 Yesudas who has always promoted young talent requested the government not to consider his name to those new Singers could be given a chance.
That his approach to Carnatic music is itself faulty is an often raised criticism but such charges hardly bother him Yesudas says I have never said my style¢ is pure Carnatic.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 11, 1994
