M. Jayachandran Nair
M Jayachandran Nair with iconic smile
Background information
Birth name	Jayachandran Madhusoodanan Nair
Also known as	M J Sir
Born	(1971-06-14) 14 June 1971 (age 52), Trivandrum, Kerala
Origin	Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Occupation(s)	Music director, playback singer
Years active	1993–present

Madhusoodanan Jayachandran Nair is an Indian composer, singer, and musician. He has won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director a record number of nine times. In 2005, he also won the state award for best male singer. In 2015, he won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the film Ennu Ninte Moideen. He has composed music for 126 films.

Biography

Jayachandran was born on June 14, 1971, at Thiruvananthapuram.^[1][2] He began learning Carnatic music at the age of 5 under Attingal Harihara Iyer and later under Perumbavoor G. Raveendranath.^[3] Thereafter, he was a student of Neyyattinkara Mohanachandran for 18 years.^[3] He won the Carnatic vocal competition at the Kerala University youth festival four times in a row from 1987 to 1990.^[3] He completed his graduation in Electrical Engineering from TKM College of Engineering and College of Engineering, Trivandrum.

He began his career in the film industry as a playback singer for the movie Vasudha in 1992, then became an assistant to Malayalam music director G. Devarajan.^[3] In 1995, he became an independent music director through the film Chantha.^[3]

Personal life

Jayachandran is the younger among the two sons of late Madhusoodanan Nair (d. 2014) and late Vijaya Nair (d. 2009), born on 14 June 1971. He has an elder brother named Prakash Chandran. He worked at Asianet before taking up full-time music direction.^[3] He married Priya on 12 November 1995, and has two sons Nandagopal and Karthik Gopal.^[4] He has been on the judging panel of musical reality shows in Malayalam television.

Filmography

Albums (non-film)

• Mangalyathaali (lyrics: Chovvalloor Krishnankutty, Chittoor Gopi, Sreemoolanagaram Ponnan, singers: various)
• Mahamaaya (2005) (lyrics: Rajeev Alunkal, singer: K. S. Chithra)
• Sandhyanjali (2005) (lyrics: Traditional, singer: K. S. Chithra)
• Unnikkannan (2005) (lyrics: Chowalloor Krishnankutty, singer: K. S. Chithra)
• Vandeham Harikrishna (2006) (lyrics: Gireesh Puthenchery, singer: K. S. Chithra)
• Padmam Sree Padmam (2008) (lyrics: S Ramesan Nair, singers: M. G. Sreekumar, Radhika Thilak)
• Aattukal Deviyamma (lyrics: various, singers: various)
• Amme Devi Mahamaye (lyrics: S. Ramesan Nair, singer: P. Jayachandran)
• Gopichandanam (lyrics: S Ramesan Nair, singer: K. S. Chithra)
• Haripriya (lyrics: S Ramesan Nair, singer: K. S. Chithra)
• Campus (2002) (lyrics: Gireesh Puthenchery, S Ramesan Nair, Rajeev Alunkal, Yogesh, singers: various)
• Kudamullapoo (2003) (lyrics: Gireesh Puthenchery, singers: K. J. Yesudas, Vijay Yesudas, K. S. Chithra)
• Iniyennum (2004) (lyrics: East Coast Vijayan, singers: various)
• Ormakkai (2005) (lyrics: East Coast Vijayan, singers: various)
• Swantham (2006) (lyrics: East Coast Vijayan, singers: various)
• Raagolsavam (lyrics: Pallippuram Mohanachandran, singers: Biju Narayanan, Srinivas, K. S. Chithra)
• Thiruvona Paattu (lyrics: Sreekumaran Thampi, singers: P. Jayachandran, K. S. Chithra)

Television

TV Shows as Judge

• Saptaswarangal (Asianet)
• Mega Singer (Jeevan TV)
• Voice of Kerala (Surya TV)
• Gandharvasangeetham (Kairali TV)
• Star Singer (Asianet)
• Old is Gold (Surya TV)
• Super Star (Amrita TV)

TV serials as Music Director

• Indulekha (Surya TV)
• Santhwanam (Asianet)
• Padathapainkili (Asianet)
• Ammayariyathe (Asianet)
• Kabani (Zee Keralam)
• Bharathi Kannamaa (Star Vijay) -Tamil
• Swathi Nakshatram Chothi (Zee Keralam)
• Chembarathi(Zee Keralam)
• Mouna Ragam (Star Vijay) -Tamil
• Vanambadi (Asianet)
• Sreekrishnan (Surya TV)
• Geethanjali (Surya TV)
• Adhiparashakthi Chottanikkarayamma (Surya TV)
• Sreeguruvayoorappan (Surya TV)
• Ente Sooryaputhri (Asianet)
• Swarnamayooram (Asianet)
• Veendum Jwalayayi (DD Malayalam)
• Kudumbini(Asianet)
• Sooryaputhri (Asianet)
• Innale (Surya TV)
• Black and White (Asianet)

Awards

National Film Awards:

• 2015 – Best Music Director – Ennu Ninte Moideen ("Kathirunnu Kathirunnu")

Honorary

• 2012 – Swaralaya Yesudas Award

Kerala State Film Awards:

• 2003 – Best Music Director – Gaurisankaram
• 2004 – Best Music Director – Perumazhakkalam and Kathavasheshan
• 2005 – Best Play Back Singer – Nottam ("Melle Melle")
• 2007 – Best Music Director – Nivedyam
• 2008 – Best Music Director – Madampi
• 2010 – Best Music Director – Karayilekku Oru Kadal Dooram
• 2012 – Best Music Director – Celluloid
• 2016 – Best Music Director – Kamboji
• 2021 – Best Music Director- Sufiyum Sujatayum
• 2023 – Best Music Director- 19aam Noottandu

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards

• 2003 – Best Music Director - Balettan, Gaurisankaram, Kanninum Kannadikkum^[5]

Asianet Film Awards:

• 2003 – Best Music Director Award Gaurisankaram
• 2004 – Best Music Director Award Perumazhakkalam, Mampazhakkalam
• 2007 – Best Music Director Award Nivedyam
• 2011 – Best Music Director Award Pranayam

Filmfare Awards South

• 2004 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam – Perumazhakkalam
• 2011 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam – Pranayam^[6]
• 2013 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam – Celluloid
• 2015 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam – Ennu Ninte Moideen

Asiavision Awards

• 2013 – Asiavision Awards – Best Music Director^[7]

Mirchi Music Awards South

• 2009 - Best music director
• 2009 - Album of the year
• 2009 - Song of the year
• 2010 - Best music director
• 2010 - Album of the year
• 2010 - Song of the year
• 2011 - Song of the year
• 2011 - Album of the year
• 2011 - Best music director

Asianet Television Awards

• 2017 - Manninte Manamulla Sangeetham ( Honorary awards)
• 2017 - Best Music Director

Vijay Television Awards

• 2018 - Vijay Television Awards for Special Jury Award

Mazhavil Mango Award

• 2021 - Best Music director