Kerala - Kozhikode   

An Arabic singer from Kerala

Staff Reporter

Kozhikode: A Dubai-based Arabic singer, K.P. Jayan, and his daughter Tulasi, who performs along with her father, have been accorded a reception at their native village, Chombal, at Vadakara in Kozhikode district. The programme was organised by Gopi Arts and Sports Club, in connection with Chombal Mahotsavam, on Saturday.

The father and daughter performed in a concert on the occasion.

The lyricist Kaithapram Damodaran Namboodiri and the playback singers Gayatri, Rajesh and Vijay participated.

Jayan has been living in Dubai since 1993 and works as managing director of a company there. Said to be the first Keralite to sing Arabic songs,

Mr. Jayan is a familiar face to Arabs and non-Resident Indians in the Gulf nations. His style and pronunciation are so natural that he will be mistaken as an original Arabic singer, says T.P. Devaraj of Chombal.

Jayan's love for Arabic music started when he listened to a song, Rahalti, sung by a Kuwaiti singer, Abdulla Ruwaishi. At that time, he was staying in Bahrain. He then started to listen to Arabic music on the tape recorder and the local radio.

Mr. Jayan staged his maiden performance on Bahrain National Day. He sang one of his favourite Arabic songs, Awafi, sung by K.J. Jesudas.

However to his dismay, an Arab who was present among the audience later told him that his pronunciation was wrong.

The incident became the turning point in his career. Gradually he learned to master Arabic songs.

Nowadays, even Arabs, after hearing him sing, disbelieve that he is not an Arab. Mr. Jayan learned music from Mathoor Hariharan Aiyer and Harippad K.P.N. Pillai.

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