National Award-winning Singer KJ Yesudas, 85, Hospitalised Due To Blood Pressure Issue

Kattassery Joseph Yesudas, popularly known as KJ Yesudas, was reported been admitted to a private hospital in Chennai recently. However, it has turned out to be fake. Yesudas is a veteran singer and musician who has recorded over 50,000 songs in a career spanning six decades. He has sung in various Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Odia. Apart from Indian languages, he has also sung songs in English, Arabic, Latin and Russian. He is also the only person to receive National Award eight times for Best Male Playback Singer.

Earlier, it was reported that the 85-year-old Yesudas had been admitted to a hospital as his health deteriorated due to blood pressure issues. However, his son Vijay Yesudas, who is also a singer, has rubbished the reports and told a news portal that he is in good health. He is currently in the USA.

Often referred to as Gaanagandharvan, he was born in Kochi, Kerala to  Augustine Joseph and Elizabeth Joseph. His father was a well-known Malayalam classical musician and stage actor. He was the second of seven children. He began his music training at R. L. V. Music Academy and completed the Ganabooshanam course. He then went on to study at Swathi Thirunal College of Music under the tutelage of the Carnatic music maestro K. R. Kumaraswamy Iyer and Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer.

He recorded his first popular song Jaathi Bhedam Matha Dwesham in 1961 but his major break came after 6 years when he sang in the movie Udhyogastha directed by P.Venu. His first Hindi song was for the movie Jai Jawan Jai Kissan (1971), but the first released movie was Chhoti Si Baat, which resulted in his becoming popular for singing songs like Jaaneman Jaaneman. He has sung songs in movies, including Chitchor, Trishul and Hindustani.

He also holds the record for singing 11 songs in different languages in a single day.