Tuesday Oct 25 2011, Thiruvananthapuram

Honour for Yesudas

The government of Kerala has decided to honour playback singer K.J Yesudas for his contribution to the filed of music for the past five decades, Culture Minister K C Joseph told the Assembly on Monday.

The singer will however have to wait for a lifetime achievement award in Kerala as the rules do not permit State governments to confer special titles on individuals, the Minister said.

Replying to a submission by Hibi Eden (Congress), Joseph said the government could not confer any title on Yesudas as the Constitution did not permit any such decision. However, the government was keen that the singer should be honoured for his contribution to music and various other social causes, he said.

Yesudas has been conferred the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, besides seven national and 17 state film awards in singing.

“Since his first recording, he has rendered songs in 14 languages, in an impressive music log of 35,000 songs, and has worked with every music personality in the industry,” Eden said and added: “It is only befitting that the state honours him.”