Legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, who had been receiving treatment at a private hospital in Chennai after testing positive for COVID-19 during the first week of August, passed away today after a long battle with health complications that arose after the infection. by coronavirus.
On August 5, SPB, as he was affectionately called, announced via video recording, which he posted on his Facebook page, that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and had been admitted to hospital. He then commented that he was being admitted mainly “to rest.” “I’m in good health. Nobody has to worry about this, so please don’t bother calling me to see how I’m doing,” he had said in the video, adding: “I’m having a little discomfort, some congestion in the chest, which is silly for a singer. And intermittent fever. Otherwise, I have no problem. But I don’t want to take it easy, so I came to the hospital to get checked. “
Although his health had deteriorated during the second week in the hospital, he gradually made progress, with his son, SP Charan, diligently updating on his health. In fact, the latest Charan update on September 22 said that he was making steady progress even though he was on Ecmo / ventilator and was eager to leave the hospital.
Sadly, the acclaimed singer’s health deteriorated in the last 24 hours and he passed away today at 13:04.
SPB, who made his singing debut in 1966 with the Telugu film Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna, is one of the most prolific singers the country has ever seen.
Although he recorded his first Tamil song for MS Viswanathan for the unreleased film Hotel Ramba, his breakthrough in Tamil came in 1969, in the form of Aayiram Nilave Vaa, composed by KV Mahadevan for MGR’s Adimai Penn. Shanti Nilayam’s Iyarkkai Ennum Ilayakanni (who had recorded even before Adimai Penn) released in the same year, and there was no going back for the young singer. He soon became the wanted singer in all industries.
His association with MSV and maestro Ilaiyaraaja cemented his legendary status even in the 1980s. In 1981, he recorded 21 songs in a single day, a record that has yet to be (and may never be) broken, which is a testament. of his prolific singing career.
He was also an admired character actor, earning praise for his effortless performances in such films as Manathil Uruthi Vendum, Thiruda Thiruda, Kadhalan, Minsara Kanavu, and Moone Moonu Varthai. He also played the leads in films such as Keladi Kanmani and Sigaram. He was also a voice actor, doubling for superstars like Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, and Mohanlal in Telugu, and for Anil Kapoor and Balakrishna in Tamil.
The veteran singer has recorded more than 40,000 songs in 16 Indian languages and holds the Guinness World Record for recording the most songs by a singer. He has won the National Film Award for Best Male Singer in Reproduction six times, the Filmfare Award seven times for his work in many industries, the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards four times, the Andhra Pradesh Government Nandi Awards. on 25 occasions, and the State of Karnataka. Film Awards three times. He also received the Padma Bhushan (2011) and Padmashri (2001) from the Government of India.
SPB’s voice will always be engraved in our hearts.