Identify the Celebrity

Can anyone Identify the gentleman ?????

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Kattassery Joseph Yesudas (born 10 January 1940 (70 Years Old)) is an Indian classical musician and a playback singer. Yesudas sings Indian classical music, devotional and popular songs. He has recorded more than 40,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tulu, Malay, Russian, Arabic, Latin and English through his long career. He has been singing for most Indian languages except Assamese, Konkani and Kashmiri. He also composed number of Malayalam Film songs in 70's and 80's. He is fondly called 'Gana Gandharvan'. He is one of the prime disciples of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar

Yesudas after winning The Kerala State Award for Best Playback singer on numerous occasions, he asked that he be ruled out of contention so that to give his peer's and newcomer's a chance of winning. But despite his request, he was still awarded this award multiple times during the following years. Because of his immense talent and popularity he is often preferred by music directors/producers to render the songs which require the power factor and extreme variations in ragas mainly in the big budget movies. The song 'Aadiyusha sandhya' from the movie 'Pazhassi Raja' is an example for his voice clarity even at the age of 69.

He has bagged seven National Film Awards for the best singer in the Indian film industry which is a record no singer has equalled, let alone surpassed. In 2006, he sang 16 film songs in four South Indian languages on the same day at AVM Studio, Chennai.

K. J. Yesudas was born in Fort Kochi, Kingdom of Cochin, India into a Latin Rite Catholic family, to Augustine Joseph and Alicekutty. His father, who was a well-known Malayalam classical musician and stage actor, was his first guru. Later he joined the Music Academy in Thrippunithura and underwent training. For a brief period, he was with Sri Vechur Hari Hara Subramania Iyer after which he took advanced training from Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, a maestro of Classical Music. Although he is a Carnatic Music expert, he mastered Hindustani Music. He has taken the words of Sree Narayana Guru, "One Religion, One Caste for all humans" to heart.

Yesudas began his career in playback singing in the Malayalam movie Kaalpadukal[6] and Kollywood movies in the early '60s (He sang for 'Bommai' first (Music : S.Balachandar), but the first released movie was 'Konjum Kumari'(Music : Veda))and by '70s he entered Bollywood.The first Hindi song was for the movie 'Jai Jawan Jai Kissan' (1971), but the first released movie was 'Chhoti Si Baat'. He has bagged seven National Film Awards for the best singer in the Indian film industry which is a record no singer has equalled, let alone surpassed.

Yesudas is married to Prabha for more than 30 years. They have three sons, Vinod, Vijay and Vishal. The second son Vijay Yesudas is a budding musician who won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 2007. The family is currently settled in Chennai and Trivandrum. He also owns estates in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA and Flower Mound, TX, USA for personal and business reasons.

Titles, honours and major awards

    * Padma Bhushan, 2002
    * Padma Shri, 1975
    * Doctorate by Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu in 1989.
    * D.Litt by Kerala University, Kerala in 2003[1].
    * D.Litt by Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala in 2009[2].
    * Asthana Gayakan (Official Singer) by Government of Kerala
    * Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1992[3]
    * Asthana Vidwan (Official Teacher) by Udupi, Sringeri, and Raghavendra mutts.
    * Sangeetha Sagaram (Music Ocean) in 1989.
    * Sangeetha Chakravarthy (Music Emperor) in 1988 by Pallavi Narasimachary.
    * Sangeetha Raja (Music King) by Chembai in 1974.
    * Sangeetha Ratna (Music Jewel) by Lt. Governor of Pondicherry M.M. Lakhera.
    * Swathi Ratnam (Swathi Jewel).
    * Sapthagiri Sangeetha Vidwanmani in 2002.
    * Bhakti Sangita Geetha Sironmani in 2002.
    * Gaana Gandharva.
    * Geetanjali Award by The ex-president of India Neelam Sanjiva Reddy.
    * Sur Singar Samsad Award in 1976.
    * Kalaimamani Award by Government of Tamil Nadu.
    * Star of India Award by Lt. Governor of Pondicherry M.M. Lakhera.
    * National Citizens Award in 1994.
    * Mar Gregorius Award Governor RL Bhatia in 2006.
    * Kerala Ratna by Jaihind TV in 2008.
    * The Annual Latha Mangeshkar Award by Government of Madhya Pradesh in 1992.
    * Dr. Pinnamaneni and Seethadevi Foundation Award in 2000.
    * Senate member in the International Parliament for Safety and Peace, an organization incorporated in the United States.
    * An Honorary award for "Outstanding Achievements in Music and Peace" by UNESCO in 1999.
    * Susheela National Music Award in 2009.
    * Social Excellence Award in 2010.
    * National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer a record seven times by the Government of India.
    * State Film Awards a record Twenty four times for the best Playback singer by the Government of Kerala.
    * State Film awards Eight times for the best Playback singer by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
    * State Film awards Five Times for the best Playback singer by the Government of Karnataka.
    * State Film awards Six times for the best Playback singer by the Government of Andra Pradesh.
    * State Film awards One time for the best Playback singer by the Government of West Bengal.

[edit] National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer

Holds the record of 7 time winner of National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer, the most by any Male Playback Singer

    * 1994, Film Name: Sopanam, Language: Malayalam, Song: All Songs
    * 1992, Film Name: Bharatham, Language: Malayalam, Song: Rama Kadha Gaana Layam
    * 1988, Film Name: Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam, Language: Malayalam, Song: Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam
    * 1983, Film Name: Meghasandesam, Language: Telugu, Song: Aakasa Desana Aashada Masaana
    * 1977, Film Name: Chitchor, Language: Hindi, Song: Gori Tera Gaon Bada
    * 1974, Film Name: Gaayathri, Language: Malayalam, Song: Padmatheerthame Unaru
    * 1973, Film Name: Achanum Bappayum, Language: Malayalam, Song: Manushyan Mathangale

[edit] Kerala State Film Awards

    * 01 - 2009 - Best Play Back Singer - Madhyavenal
    * 02 - 2001 - Best Play Back Singer - Ravanaprabhu
    * 03 - 1998 - Best Play Back Singer - Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu
    * 04 - 1997 - Best Play Back Singer - Aaram Thamburan
    * 05 - 1996 - Best Play Back Singer - Deshadanam, Thoovalkottaram
    * 06 - 1995 - Best Play Back Singer - No. 1 Snehatheeram, Mazhayethum Munpe, Punnaram
    * 07 - 1994 - Best Play Back Singer - Parinayam
    * 08 - 1993 - Best Play Back Singer - Akashadooth, Padheyam, Chenkol
    * 09 - 1986 - Best Play Back Singer - Nakhashathangal
    * 10 - 1985 - Best Play Back Singer - Various Films
    * 11 - 1984 - Best Play Back Singer - Swantham Sharika
    * 12 - 1983 - Best Play Back Singer - Various Films
    * 13 - 1982 - Best Play Back Singer - Various Films
    * 14 - 1981 - Best Play Back Singer - Various Films
    * 15 - 1980 - Best Play Back Singer - Mela, Manjil Virinja Pookkal, Angadi
    * 16 - 1979 - Best Play Back Singer - Ulkkadal
    * 17 - 1977 - Best Play Back Singer - Jagathguru Adisankaran
    * 18 - 1976 - Best Play Back Singer - Various Films
    * 19 - 1975 - Best Play Back Singer - Various Films
    * 20 - 1974 - Best Play Back Singer - Various Films
    * 21 - 1973 - Best Play Back Singer - Various Films
    * 22 - 1971 - Best Play Back Singer - Various Films
    * 23 - 1970 - Best Play Back Singer - Various Films
    * 24 - 1969 - Best Play Back Singer - Various Films

[edit] Andhrapradesh State Film Awards

    * 2006- Best Play Back Singer - Ganga
    * 1990- Best Play Back Singer - Alludu gaaru
    * 1988- Best Play Back Singer - Jeevana jyoti
    * 1982- Best Play Back Singer - Meghasandesam
    * List is not completed

[edit] Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

    * 1992- Best Play Back Singer
    * 1989- Best Play Back Singer
    * 1988- Best Play Back Singer
    * 1982- Best Play Back Singer
    * 1981- Best Play Back Singer
    * 1977- Best Play Back Singer -Maduraiyai Meetta Sundarapandiyan
    * List is not completed

[edit] Filmfare Awards (South)

    * 2008: - Best Playback singer (Malayalam) - Amma mazhakaarin (Madambi)
    * 2006: - Best Playback singer (Malayalam) - Gange... (Vadakkumnathan)
    * 2003: - Lifetime Achievement Award (Telugu)[4]
    * List is not completed

[edit] Filmfare Awards (Bollywood)

    * 1980-Best Play Back Singer-"Dilke Tukde Tukde" from Dada
    * 1980-Nominated-"Sunayana In Nazaronko" from Sunayana
    * 1978-Nominated-"Aye Na Balam" from Swami
    * 1977-Nominated-"Gori Tera Gaon" from Chitchor

[edit] Asianet Film Aawrds

    * 2008 - Asianet Best Lifetime Achievement Award
    * 2000 - Asianet Film Awards for Best Male Playback

Swaralaya Yesudas award (or usually referred to as Yesudas Award) is a prestigious award for music artists in recognition to their outstanding performance. The award is instituted jointly by Swaralaya, an organization that promotes music and Kairali Channel, based at Trivandrum, India. Awards have been given annually since 2000. K.J. Jesudas presents the awards at a Gandharva Sandhya on every January.

Swaralaya-Kairali-Yesudas awardees
Year     Swaralaya-Kairali-Yesudas award
2009     Sujatha Mohan
2008     Kavita Krishnamurthy
2007     Shankar Mahadevan
2006     A.R. Rahman
2005     Sonu Nigam
2004     Hariharan
2003     K. S. Chithra
2002     Asha Bhosle
2001     S. P. Balasubramaniam
2000     P.Jayachandran
Special Jury awardees
Year     Special Jury award
2009     M. K. Arjunan
2008     M.S.Viswanathan
2007     V. Dakshinamoorthy
2006     K. Raghavan
2005     P. Susheela
2004     Santha P. Nair
2003     P. Leela
2002     Manna Dey
2001     S. Janaki

Admirers of K J Y

• Oscar winner A.R. Rahman has publicly quoted as saying that Yesudas is his favourite singer and the most beautiful voice in the world is that of Yesudas.[14]
• Multi National Award winner Kamal Hasan has said recently I'm probably one of the earliest fans of Dr KJ Yesudas. When he was staying in Chennai, around the time he had just sung his first Tamil song for the film 'Bommai' in 1963. I used to visit him and his group of friends. I sang songs and played the guitar with them. I would go back to my friends and tell them I am friends with Mr Yesudas - I was a small boy then, I still am a small boy in front of his talent. He is one of the greatest artist India has produce, his body might be 70 years old, but his voice and mind-set is somewhere in the 20's. He has been a hero for me for more than one reason.
• Veteran blind music composer Ravindra Jain bestowed Yesudas the title 'Voice of India'[15] and Yesudas' face was the first he wanted to see if he ever received his vision.[16]
• Late Music composer Raveendran master and close friend, whose 95% of male compositions tunes was sang by Yesudas once said Yesudas has the voice of God, I am a devotee of his voice.
• Legendary playback singer P. Susheela was quoted as saying Yesudas is an ocean of Music, he looks like a saint in his appearance and behaviour, but when he sings its like thunderstorm.
• Legendary playback singer S. Janaki on being asked to comment on Yesudas replied,how high is the sky, Yesudas is beyond that.
• Legendary playback singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam has credited that Yesudas is his second favourite singer, after the late/great Mohammed Rafi.
• Playback singing National Award record holder K.S. Chitra has publicly quoted saying that to sing along with Yesudas sir is still the biggest challenge of my life, even after working with him for such a long time. To sing on a stage where there is presence of Yesudas sir, either as a performer or among the audience, makes me nervous because I am always aware of the fact that I am singing in front of the living God of Music.
• Notable carnatic and playback singer P. Unnikrishnan has said that Yesudas is the first example of a person who can sing both light and classical music with equal ease. Further, most people in the music industry do other thing's in their spare time, Yesudas is always immersed in music - a true role model for us all.
• Actor Mammootty has said I am not a fan of Yesudas, I am a devotee. He lives and breathes music. I am not conceited enough to say that Yesudas has sung 95% of my song's in films, but rather, I have been lucky that 95% of the song's I sung in film's were sung by him.
• World renown Indian film director/script writer Adoor Gopalakrishnan said of Yesudas, beyond his music, which no-one can deny, through blessed musical abilities, through dedicated hard-work and practice, through simplistic/humble way of life and his feel for the common man, he is a man who stand's alone on a pedestal.
• Famous Malayalam poet O. N. V. Kurup commented, his god given pure, sweet voice is what make's Yesudas special. Further, his hard-work ethic along with practice and dedication and with the grounded knowledge that he is fated to sing on this earth the way only he can.
• Famous singer Hariharan once said that Yesudasji is a part of the life of people in Kerala. From early morning devotionals to late night lullaby, from FM radios to televisions, any street, any house, any hotel or restaurant, even in the buses you go, you will hear his voice being played. He connects Kerala from north to south.