Alappuzha: Playback singer Edava Basheer died here on Saturday night after a sudden collapse while singing a song at the venue of the golden jubilee celebrations of Blue Diamond Orchestra here.
While singing the famous Hindi movie number of KJ Yesudas "Maana Ho Tum" , he suddenly collapsed in front of the audience. Though he was rushed to a nearby private hospital, his life could not be saved. The incident took place after 9:30pm.
Basheer made his birthplace Edava near Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district famous by adding it as an epithet to his name.
After his high school education, he shifted his residence permanently to Kollam.
Even when he was pursuing Gana Bhooshanam course in Thiruvananthapuram Swathi Thirunal Music Academy in 1972, he was a full-time professional singer. He was a star singer for Raga Bhavan and Blue Diamonds music troupes for a long period.
He was also noted for introducing modern musical instruments during "Gana Melas".
He launched "Sangeethalaya" troupe by experimenting many musical instruments brought from abroad.
His first song as playback singer was for the movie "Raghu Vamsham" in which KJ Joy was the music director. The song "Azhithira Malakal Azhakinte Malakal" which he sang along with Vani Jayaram for the movie "Mukkuvane Snehicha Bootham" was a super hit.
He also served as the state president of All Kerala Musicians and Technicians Welfare Association.
He was residing in "Sangeethalaya" house at Peoples' Nagar in Kadapakkada in Kollam.
He is survived by wives Rasheeda and Rehna, children Ullas, Umesh, Ushus Seetta, Beema and their spouses Sudheer, Shami, Dhanya, Sakeer Ravuthar and Nazeer.
His body was later taken to Kollam from Alappuzha.
