KP Brahmanandan

Playback singer KP Brahmanandan was born on 22 February 1946 in Kadaykkaavoor in Trivandrum District. His father was Pappachan and mother Bhavani. His first music teacher was Sundaran Bhagavathar from Kadaykkavoor. After his school education, Brahmanandan became a singer in Dancer Chandrasekharan Nair's opera. From 1966 he started getting opportunities to sing in several dramas of Attingal Deshabhimani Theatres.

Brahmanandan's first movie song was recorded in 1969 for the movie Kalli Chellamma. The song "Maanatthe Kaayalin" set to music by Raghavan Master is a golden oldie in Malayalam film songs.

It was into a field dominated by the voices of Yesudas and Jayachandran that Brahmanandan arrived with his individual voice and style of singing. During a span of 25 years, he got to sing only a handful of songs, but they were all hits. "Thaamarappoo Naanichu", "Neela Nisheedhini", "Priyamullavale", "Thaarakaroopini", are only a few of them, which Malayali music lovers still hold dear.

He has sung several songs under the music direction of Dakshinamoorthi Swami, K Raghavan Master, MK Arjunan, AT Ummer and RK Shekhar. He did not get many opportunities to sing for Devarajan Master.

In Tamil, he sang for Ilayarajah and Shankar Ganesh.

He has been the music Director for two movies, "Malayathi Pennu" and "Kanni Nilaavu". The song "Mattichaaru Manakkanu Manakkanu" from Malayathi Pennu was a hit.

He has received the best Lalitha ganam singer award from Akashavani. He has also received the Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy Award. He passed away on 10 August 2004.

He is survived by his wife and two children. His son Rakesh Brahmanandan is also a singer.

Prepared by: Dr. Susie Pazhavarical