First Published Sep 25, 2022, 10:26 AM IST
There is no one who does not feel the sweetness of love in the heart of SPB who sang ‘Malare Maunama…’ from the film ‘Karma’ many times for excellence in one midnight.
There is no one who does not sing along with the hero who sang for the love of his beloved looking at the sky and looking at the moon in ‘Mounaraga’, ‘Nilave va…’
In ‘Dalapati’, there is not a single person who does not sing along with the friends who celebrated the victory of ‘Katruin…’.
In ‘Ek Duje Kelia’, there is no one who doesn’t shed tears along with the heartbroken lover who sings ‘Tere Mere Beach Mem…’.
Ootypattanam in ‘Kilukka’…’ There is no one who does not laugh along with his friends who are dripping with cough drops.
It is in that voice that many generations of heroes have loved, missed and celebrated in many languages for decades. In the voice of SP Balasubrahmanyam. SPB made any kind of song and anyone’s song different with some stutters, giggles and hums. It is still surprising to music lovers that SPB, who broke through Shankarabharan, which is rich in gamakas, has not studied music scientifically. Another surprising incident is the Hindustani song in the Kannada movie ‘Ganayogi Panchakshari Gawai’.
SPB has helped Pattariv get better by not having too much weight. He amazed the music composers and his accompanists by learning the songs very quickly. Sung up to 21 songs a day. More than forty thousand songs in various languages. SPB’s voice has been matched by all leading actors in South Indian languages. SPB became the only South Indian singer to make it big in the Hindi film world, where even Ganagandharvan had to face the ban of invisibility. A list of hits ranging from ‘Ek Duje Keliye’ to ‘Saajan Hum Apke Ha Konum’ to ‘Chennai Express’.
Sreepati Panthitaradhyula Balasubramaniam alias SP Balasubramaniam, the son of Sampamurthy, a Harikatha preacher from Nellore, Andhra, had a taste for music from a young age. During his engineering studies, he was active in singing festivals and singing competitions. Among those who were with him were Ilayaraja, Gangai Amaran, Bhaskar and Anirutta. Telugu music director SP Kodandapani, who liked Balu’s singing, invited him to the film. In 1966 in the movie ‘Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna’. First song in Kannada following exactly eight days. Hasya Samrat T. R. The movie was Narasimharaju’s ‘Nakare Ada Swarga’. Then to Tamil with MS Viswanathan. SPB became a new word in all South Indian languages. Ilayaraja and SPB, Upendrakumar and SPP, Hamsalekha and SPB, Sushila and SPB, Janaki and SPB, MSV and SPB, Vidyasagar and SPB, AR and SPB, Chitra and SPB and so on, SPB became one of the most successful combinations in the film music industry. The Malayali also loved his neighbor.
SPB’s song in MGR’s ‘Atimaipenni’ made him a Tamil favourite. MGR waited a month to record the voice of Balasubrahmanyam who was suffering from fever to record the song is still told in Kollywood. SPB was also there with many Nayaks who came later. SPB accompanied Ulakanayakan’s movie journey as a voice. All the super hit songs welcomed by Rajinikanth as Style Mannana, Super Star, Padayappa and Dalapati, all the songs ended in the voice of SPB until the Durbar. Mammootty’s voice in Anaswaram and Mohanlal’s voice in Gandharvam. Salman Khan called his girlfriend for a long time, cried and swayed in SPB’s voice.
SPB acted in many films like Keladi Kanmani, Thirutha Thirutha, Kathalan, etc. SPB also excelled as a dubbing artist. Kamala Haasan’s films from Manmathalila onwards were dubbed into Telugu by SPB. He was the voice of all seven characters in Dashavatar. Be it singing, voicing, music director or acting, SPB gave his heart to the work he was doing.
SPB was a separate birth in the world of singers. Loved life without following the rules or discipline of a singer. His list of awards filled with two Padma Awards, six National Awards and several State Awards did not make him proud. The anniversary of the life journey with Savitri was a good half that was celebrated without forgetting even in the hospital bed. He became a good father to Charan and Pallavi. A friend and guide to all singers. Lived only with humility.
It has been two years since a good man, a good art lover, who was cherished by fans beyond worship and devotion, a great singer entered the galaxy of unsung songs and migrated to our memories through thousands of tunes.
Last Updated Sep 25, 2022, 10:26 AM IST
