SPB

 From Sampath’s Desk:

 

SP BALASUBRAHMANYAM 

 (4 June1946 - 25 September 2020)

 

A great music saga comparable to TMS, PBS, Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar of the yesteryear came to an abrupt end with a pall of gloom descending all over with the passing away of SP BALASUBRAHMANYAM (in short SPB) on 25.9.2020 (Friday). What a loss and tragedy it was to befall India in general and the Indian film industry and cine song lovers in particular? Yes, Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam  (74), also fondly called ‘SP Balu, Balu and Balu Sir’ in the film world, left from our midst to reign in eternity! A honeyed, euphonious and versatile voice that enthralled, mystified and hypnotized millions of people across the country for well over five decades had suddenly gone silent. He was said to be on way to recovery after a month of hospitalization and on his putting up a strong fight with determination against his Covid-19 triggered ailments. After physiotherapy for a few days, he was about to go home. But alas, as ill-luck would have it, his health condition  suddenly worsened due to a brain hemorrhage and cardiac emergency resulting in his demise. It was a jolt and bolt from the blue for his countless fans who were moved to tears.

 

In his singing career spanning for more than five decades he had to his credit more than 40000 songs in 16 Indian languages including all South Indian languages and Hindi. SPB had his achievement registered in the Guinness Book of World Records for singing maximum number of songs in cinema. The veteran singer had surprised the singing fraternity after recording 21 songs in 12 hours for Kannada music composer Upendra Kumar. He also had to his credit many music albums including devotional series.

 

Recalling his famous song ‘Indha dheham maraindhaalum isaiyaai malarven’ (‘even if this body were to disappear, my music will still blossom’ in the Tamil film – UDHAYA GEETHAM) would get one’s eyes overflowing with tears.

 

He was honoured with many awards, the most important ones being Padma Sri (2001) and Padma Bhushan (2011), among others.

SPB Sir, as he was fondly known, was synonymous and gifted with a honey-sweet voice that one could have hardly missed. He was a multi-lingual and versatile singer. His unquenchable thirst for music that started in the late 1960’s paid dividends in the form of a large number of unforgettable songs for the world to enjoy. The music world has become poorer by his departure. His ‘Nectar-flowing-into-ears’ songs took the listeners to a musical wonderland. Only a few could have matched his melodious and mellifluous voice. Besides singing, he was an actor, music director and film producer - all rolled into one. It is well nigh impossible to choose and mention here his hit songs, as there are myriad numbers in the reservoir of his treasured song collection.

 

He had sharp artistic acumen, capacity for mellowy presentation and a natural flair to sustain aural and acoustic interest in the listeners. A favourite singer of many, his songs withstood times and even now liked by the present-day children and youngsters transcending generations. 

 

True to the saying that musicians are special emissaries of fine arts capable of entertaining and even assuaging and mollifying sagging moods of people and their disturbed minds, many of his numbers had this special characteristic mind-soothing positive effect.

 

By singing in different languages, he expanded his repertoire and achieved all-India fame. He treated his listeners and audiences differently and they also experienced his numbers differently. Despite his all-time achievements, he remained a simple, down-to-earth person - elegant but not flamboyant. His songs invariably carried some subtle niceties and good life messages.

 

Although his departure has necessarily caused a vacuum hard to fill, his immortal songs already available in soft forms will continue to permeate the air, spread its fragrance and transport his listeners to a unique music wonderland. SPB will continue to live through his immortal songs and inspire not only the present generation of singers but also the ones to come in future. Though we bade a tearful adieu to him, he would continue to live amongst us through plenitude of his beautiful immortal songs that included, among others, many devotional numbers as well.

 

R.SAMPATH