K.G. Jayan, the renowned Indian Carnatic musician known for his devotional songs and mastery in playing the violin, passed away on Tuesday morning. He had been undergoing treatment for various ailments for some time and breathed his last at his residence in Tripunithura. The 90-year-old musician has composed over 1000 songs, collaborated with various leading artists, and gained recognition for his skill and dedication to the art form.He received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 1991 and the Harivarasanam Award in 2013, jointly instituted by the Kerala state government and the Travancore Devaswom Board. He was also awarded the Padma Shri in 2019.

Kalaratnam K.G. Jayan and his brother Vijayan, born on November 21, 1934, are popular in South India for their devotional songs, film songs, and stage shows they performed in India as well as overseas. The twin brothers started learning Carnatic music at a very young age, under renowned Carnatic vocalists like Mavelikkara Radhakrishna Iyer, the Alathur Brothers, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, and M. Balamuralikrishna. Known as Jayavijayan in the industry, they began composing and singing songs during their training under Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. Vijayan passed away in 1986. ‘Nakshatra deepangal’, ‘Manikyaveena’, ‘Sreekovil nadathurannu’, ‘Malikapurathamma’, etc., are some of their compositions.