Veteran playback singer P. Jayachandran passed away at a hospital in Thrissur tonight. He was 80. In an illustrious career spanning over six decades, Jayachandran sang more than 16,000 songs in various languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada, captivating audiences throughout the country. His soulful renditions, capturing various emotional hues, made him one of the most celebrated voices in South Indian cinema, especially that of the Malayalam film industry. Jayachandran won several awards, including the National Film Award for Best Playback Singer, Kerala State Film Awards, Kalaimamani Award of the Government of Tamil Nadu, and the J C Daniel Award, among others.