Veteran Carnatic musician KG Jayan no more

The Padmasree awardee worked as a music director for many Tamil and Malayalam films.

His younger son is the acclaimed actor Manoj K Jayan.

Jayan and his twin brother KG Vijayan were popular and known as Jaya–Vijayan duo. Vijayan died in 1988 and Jayan continued with his devotional racks and concerts.

Songs composed by the Jaya-Vijaya duo for Malayalam films like Sabarimala Shri Dharmasastha (1970), Nirakudam (1977), Sneham (1998), and Theruvu Geetham (1979) won much appreciation.

The duo also composed songs for the popular Tamil movies Paadha Poojai (1974), Shamukhapriya, and Pappathi.

Jayan and Vijayan were the third and fourth sons of the late Gopalan Thanthrikal and the late Narayani Amma in Kottayam. They started their journey in Carnatic music at a young age. They had their first performance when they were just nine.

They both earned distinction in the “Ganabhooshanam” course pursued at the famous Swathi Thirunal College of Music in Thiruvananthapuram.

They also learnt music from Carnatic musicians, Alathur Brothers, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, and M Balamuralikrishna.

Jayan was honoured with the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 1991 and the Padma Shri in 2019.

His wife late VK Sarojini was a school teacher. He is survived by sons Biju K Jayan, and Manoj K Jayan.

Actors Mohanlal and Dileep condoled the death of KG Jayan.

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