Legendary playback singer P Jayachandran passed away on Thursday at a private hospital in Thrissur. He was 80.

Known for his evergreen romantic voice in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu film songs, Jayachandran had been undergoing treatment for cancer for some time.

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His dulcet voice captivated the hearts of music lovers for over six decades. Throughout his illustrious career, Jayachandran captured every emotion — love, longing, devotion — through his soulful renditions

Jayachandran lent his voice to more than 16,000 songs across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi, capturing the essence of emotions like love, longing, and devotion.

He was born on March 3, 1944 in Ernakulam. Jayachandran hailed from the aristocratic lineage of Tripunithura Kovilakam and Paliyam Palace.

From an early age, he showed an affinity for music, experimenting with percussion instruments like the chenda and mridangam. His father, an enthusiastic singer, played a pivotal role in nurturing his musical talent.

His journey to fame began with his first song, “Oru Mullappoomalayumaayi” for the film Kunhalimarikkar. Although the movie faced delays, the legendary music director G Devarajan recognised his potential and gave him another chance in Kalithozhan.

His debut track from that film – “Manjalayil Mungi Thorthi” – became an instant hit, establishing him as a prominent playback singer.

He collaborated with iconic composers such as G Devarajan, M S. Baburaj, Ilaiyaraaja, AR Rahman, MM Keeravani, and Vidyasagar, among others.

He received the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer (1986), five Kerala State Film Awards, two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, and the prestigious JC Daniel Award (2020) for his contributions to Malayalam cinema.