JOLLEE
ABRAHAM, B.Sc. Botany., Graduate, from Sacred Heart College,
Thevara, Cochin. He arrived at Chennai in 1974 for a recording by
KALABHAVAN at HMV. It was a Malayalam Christian Devotional Songs recording.
Two songs were sung by Padmabhushan K.J.Yesudas and two songs by Jollee
Abraham. It was a good entry for him. His very first recording was
Christian songs. He later became the Assistant Recording Officer at
HMV, The Gramophone company of India Ltd., Chennai. The famous Malayalam
Movie Producer/Director/Lyric writer Shree. Shreekumaran Thambi gave
him the first break in his film, CHATTAMBI KALYANI where he has given
voice for Sri. Prem Nazir, the song titled "JAYIKKANAI JANICHAVAN
NAAN", music by Sri.M.K.Arjunan.
He,
then got opportunity to sing for other famous Music Directors like
Messrs.
M.S.VISWANATHAN, G.DEARAJAN, DAKSHINAMOORTHY, SALEEL CHOWDHRY, SHYAM,
A.T. UMMER. JOHNSON, RAVINDRAN, KANNOOR RAJAN and also SHANKAR GANESGH.
In Tamil, Mellisai Mannar M.S.VISWANATHAN gave him the first opportunity
in the film, "VANAKKATHUKURIYA KADHALIYE" - Song
- Adiyenai Paramma. In Malayalam he was fortunate enough to sing a
few more songs of MSV of which "RAJNIGANDHI" in film,
"PANCHAMI" was a Super hit. People still remember
his voice through the Tamil song "Meena Reena, Seetha Geetha"
for "Oruthalai Ragam". He later sang for Isai Gnani
ILAIYARAJA for the film "KATTA PANCHAYATHU"- Song
"Oru Chinna Manikkuyilu" and the film, "MAYA
BAZAAR 95" -Song Adada Angu Vilaiyadum. Afterwards he had
the opportunity to record songs for other music directors like Sri.
Rajan Nagendra, Vijaya bhaskar, T.Rajender, T.G.Lingappa, V.Kumar,
Gunasingh, Shivaji Raja, S.P.Venkatesh, etc for other languages like
Telugu, Kanada & Hindi.
He
learnt his basic Carnatic lessons from Sri.Kumbalam Baburaj, later
lessons from Sri.Natesa Bhaghavadhar, and advanced lessons from Sri.
R.M.Sundaram, one of the deciples of Sri.G.N.Balasubramaniam. During
a span of 30 years he was able to sing nearly 600 film songs which
include Tamil, Malayalam, Kanada & Telugu and also Hindi.
During
the year 1974, he started singing Tamil Christian Devotional songs
for Madras Pentecostal Assembly who were the first ones to release
Christian songs in audio cassettes. He also sang for all 14 volumes
of MPA. Now, he has to his credit, nearly 10,000 Christian devotional
songs. He is an A graded artiste of ALL INDIA RADIO and Doordarshan,
Chennai.
Along
with film songs and Christian devotional songs, he was also singing
many other devotional songs. The year 1992 was a turning point in
his life when he realised that his religious beliefs did not permit
him to use his God given talents to propagate other beliefs. He therefore
stop singing other devotional songs.
He
started a Digital Recording Studio at Chennai in the year 1991 by
name "ROHITH RECORDING STUDIOS" and an Audio Company
named "ROHITH RECORDING COMPANY'. Under this banner he
has released only Christian Devotional songs in different languages.
In Tamil, the company has 35 Audio Cassettes, 12 Compact Discs &
3 Video Compact Discs, in Malayalam 8 Audio Cassettes, 3 Compact Discs,
Telugu, Kanada & English Cassettes and Cd's to its credit. Rohith
Recording Co., was the first one to release Christian songs Video
Album in Tamil called "EKKALAM".
He
has travelled all over the world and performed film songs concerts
at most of the major cities of the world. In the year 1997, he also
took a decision of singing only for the Glory of the God. He performed
his first Christian Devotional Concert in 1997 at U.S.A. & Switzerland,
later at the Gulf countries, Sri Lanka, etc. He has a Music Troup
called "HOSANNA" performing only Christian devotional
songs. He also recently received an achievement award for channeling
his talents with the right perspective from "The South Zone Christian
Leaders' Revelation Conference" Bangalore. And was also awarded
as "SANGEETHA KALA PRAPOORNA" by "GURUKUL
LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE & RESEARCH INSTITUTE", Chennai
in the year 2002.