Legendary musician and Manoj K Jayan’s father KG Jayan passes away

Legendary Carnatic musician and singer KG Jayan passed away on Tuesday, April 16, morning. He was 89. The veteran was reportedly facing several health challenges and was under treatment for various ailments. He is also the father popular actor Manoj K Jayan.

KG Jayan breathed his last at his home in Thripunithara, Ernakulam. He started his career in music about six decades ago. A devotee of Lord Ayyappan, KG Jayan is known for his devotional songs and has also composed over 1000 songs.

Born in 1934 in Kottayam, KG Jayan is the son of late Gopalan Thanthrikal and late Narayani Amma. KG Jayan and his twin brother, K G Vijayan, known as the Jaya-Vijaya duo, ventured into the music industry at a very young age. They commenced their journey with an arangettam at the Kumaranalloor Devi Temple, at the age of nine. They have also had Carnatic luminaries such as the Alathur Brothers, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, and M Balamuralikrishna as their gurus.

The Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa opens every day playing the song ‘Sreekovil nada thurannu’. In his illustrious career spanning over 60 years, KG Jayan has received several accolades, including the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 1991 and the Harivarasanam Award in 2013, awarded by the Kerala state government and the Travancore Devaswom Board. KG Jayan was also honoured with the Padma Shri in 2019.

Meanwhile, the body is currently kept at the Tripunithura government hospital mortuary and the funeral will be held later.

KG Jayan’s wife late V K Sarojini was a school teacher. He is survived by sons Biju K Jayan, Manoj K Jayan and daughters-in-law Priya Biju and Asha Manoj.