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INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK: The Voice Of Youth

Cris Seetha traces out Krishnachandran, the actor, singer and dubbing artist who has given voice to
a clutch of romantic heroes
On Jul 11, 2010

He was the voice of love-struck youth. He was the voice

of angry young man. He was the voice of rebelling youth.

He was the voice of a generation way back in the '80s.

If you are an ardent follower of Malayalam movies in

those years, you would have heard him in many moods.
He spoke on screen for popular young actors of the time,
like Rahman and Vineeth.

Yes, you got it. It is Krishnachandran.

Little Krishnachandran had no idea that when he gave

his address to Padmarajan during a radio talk show, it
will open a path to the world of cinema. “I was in ninth
standard at the time. Four of us (in the field of art, from
Kerala) were selected to be sent to an Indian camp for
art in New Delhi. When we came back, we attended a
talk show by Padmarajan called 'Radio Ammavan'. At the
end of the show, he asked for my address. I had no clue
what it was for until three years later when he
contacted me,” says Krishnachandran, sitting in his
office in Amrita TV, Trivandrum, where he works as an
Executive Producer.
“I have come here in 2005, when I joined Amrita TV.
But to be honest, I don't get to go out much or have a
Thus happened 'Rathinirvetham', Krishnachandran's entry
public life in Trivandrum," says the singer/actor
into Malayalam cinema as an actor. “I'd prefer singing to
/dubbing artist
acting any day. I am basically a singer. But, when great
men like Padmarajan and Bharathan call you for a
But Krishnachandran confesses that because he hasn't
movie, there are no second thoughts.” In the movie,
run after music directors his talent was underutilised.
directed by Bharathan, he plays a young boy who has a
“I don't go after music directors or anybody for that
crush for an older woman, played by Jaya Bharathi. The
matter, asking for chance. I hope that they will call me
story was Padmarajan's.
if they like me. But that doesn't work in this field. My
daughter says today that my talents were not utilised
From then on, Krishnachandran travelled through
properly. I feel she is right.”
different territories, as an actor, a singer and a dubbing
artist. “Becoming a dubbing artist is not something I
He appeared in music shows on television, and
planned. When IV Sasi, ('who called me for the first time
continued singing till 2000. He was still very much there
as a singer') and Padmarajan asked me to dub for
in the field but he didn't chase oportunities. He
Rahman, I tried it. The first few times, it was enjoyable.
remained quiet. “Even in 80s, when, after senior singers
But I didn't expect it to be my main profession,” he says.
like Yesudas, Unni (Unni Menon) and I were the only
“In any case, I have no complaints, because it proved to
young Malayalam singers living in Chennai, few called
be a steady income.”
me. New singers like MG Sreekumar travelled from
Trivandrum, sang, and went back.”
It was in 1982 that Krishnachandran and Vanitha first
acted together in the movie 'Ee naadu'. “We acted
Still Krishnachandran is a man with no complaints.
together in a few movies after that and then for around

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four years lup adichu nadannu (were in a relationship).” Quite happy with his small family of a wife and a
daughter called Amrithavarshini, he is now a resident
of Trivandrum. “I have come here in 2005, when I
Whatever opposition their families had to the joined Amrita TV. But to be honest, I don't get to go out
relationship disappeared after they discovered an old much or have a public life in Trivandrum. I am afraid I
connection. Vanitha's grandfather used to teach English am just here to work and then go back home every
to Krishnachandran's grandmother at her home, back in day.”
those times when women were not allowed to go out for
education. The Nilampoor-born has been in Palakad and Thrissur
for his education, and spent 25 years in Chennai, before
coming to Trivandrum. “So Chennai is still very close to
my heart,” he says.

About music director MG Radhakrishnan who passed

away recently, he has very fond memories. "I sang a
song of his - Brahma kamaladalam... - for All India
Radio back in 1976, as a sixteen-year-old. A few days
before his death, I had visited him at the hospital with
music director Ousepachan and singer Biju Narayanan.
Radhakrishnan Chettan asked me then to sing this song
for him. It was the ICU and there were patients all
around. So I went near him and sang the song softly in
“I'd prefer singing to acting any day. I am basically a his ears."
singer. But, when great men like Padmarajan and
Bharathan call you for a movie, there are no second Krishnachandran won the State Award for Best Dubbing
thoughts,” says Krishnachandran. Artist in 1994 for 'Kabooliwala' and in 1997 for
'Aniyathippravu'.
He continued actively in the movie field, at times acting
in movies like 'Yuvajanolsavam', 'Ormakkai' etc., at When we sit through those beautiful movies of the '80s,
times singing all-time-hit songs like Alliyilam poovo... enjoying the touching stories and enchanting dialogues,
(Mangalam Nerunnu) and Thenmazhayayi... (Daisy). He it would be nice to remember that there are voices like
has sung for thousands of films in Malayalam and Tamil Krishnachandran's that struggled behind the scene to
that he can't remember many of them now. “But most of make it worth our while.
my songs were of comedy type like Pokkerikkante chukk
kaappikk nattilellaam peraane... (Belt Mathai), For all those youthful roles, actors like Rahman and
Kuppinippattaalam... (Onnanu Nammal). There were Vineeth have potrayed, they should be thankful to
only a few memorable ones like Alliyilam poovo... and Krishnachandran for his wonderful voice and dubbing
Raagam Thaanam... (Soorya Gayathri), which still skills.
continue to be among my favorites.”
Cris Seetha
All this while, he dubbed for many new male actors who
turned up in Malayalam cinema and sometimes left soon [Link]@[Link]
after. “When I see these movies sometimes and hear my
voice, I think, oh did I dub for that movie? It is just so
many!”
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