Not seeing kids growing up my biggest regret: SPB

The 69-year-old singer, who has given innumerable hits in 15 languages,entered into his golden jubilee year in the industry

As he entered into the 50th year of his career, legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam said he regretted not watching his kids grow up due to his busy schedule.

SPB, as he is popularly called, has given innumerable hits in 15 languages including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi and Kannada among others.

“It is amazing. I don’t know how I lasted so long. I am not a trained singer. At this age, I am getting work and I am able to deliver,” said Balasubrahmanyam.

The 69-year-old singer, who got his first break in 1966 Telugu film ‘Sri Sri Sri Maryaada Raamanna’, counts Telugu movie ‘Sankarabharanam’ and the 1981 hit ‘Ek Duje Ke Liye’ as films that were significant points of his career.

“I feel every day is a turning point because my passion and sincere approach towards my work and my dedication kept me going. If I have to report (for recording of songs) at 5 o’clock, I rush come what may. I prepare myself. I never go to the microphone until I am sure of it. Whether small or big directors, I will do justice,” he said.

Having successfully sung for five decades now, SPB has quite a few regrets in life that include not learning classical music and completing his engineering degree.

He, however, felt not knowing classical music came as “blessing in disguise” and says had he learnt it, he would have not sung light music (songs) well. “I missed watching my children grow up. I dedicated all my 49 years (to singing). On an average, I was working 11 hours every day,” he said.

SPB counted Mohammed Rafi as his all time favourite singer and said he learnt from the late legendary singer more than anyone else.

The Padma Bhushan awardee, who has the credit of recording nearly 40,000 songs, said he would stop singing the day feels he is not able to do justice with his songs. “I don’t want to just hang around. If I feel that my physical and mental strength is not capable of doing justice to singing, the best way is to hang up my boots.”

When asked if there is still a pinnacle he wants to conquer, he said he is happy as long as he can sing properly. “I don’t have any more ambitions. I am an actor, I am a dubbing artiste and I have got, without my asking, lot of challenging opportunities.” On what life has taught him, Balasubrahmanyam said, “Be simple. Don’t make things complicated and everything falls in the right groove if you deserve it.”

Courtesy: The Hans India

Received more love, recognition in Karnataka than anywhere else: SP Balasubramanyam

"If at all there is rebirth, I would like to be reborn in Karnataka for it is this state that has given me the most honour after Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh," said eminent singer S P Balasubrahmanyam. "The love and warmth that Karnataka has shown to my little talent is so vast that I cannot repay the same in this life and if the Lord almighty is listening to my prayers today and there is rebirth, I would like to be born in Karnataka to repay the debt," he added.

Delivering his acceptance speech after receiving the Alva's Virasat award at the inaugural function of Alva's Virasat 2015, a four-day national cultural festival, Balasubrahmanyam, better known as SPB to his legions of fans said the very second song he sang in his career spanning 49 years was Nakkare Adhe Swarga in Kannada in January 1967. "It was Ranga Rao who gave me this chance, and I knew a smattering of Kannada then and that Kannada was a language," he said.

Presently, my mother tongue is music. I did not learn music formally from any guru. I learnt it listening to others, SPB said adding that if at all he has received any accolades for this self learnt talent, it is in Karnataka. Noting that he has performed twice at Alva's Virasat in the past and was scheduled to perform again later in the day, SPB said, "My only concern is that at no time should the music be harsh on the ears of the listeners and this is my humble prayer to God."

Referring to the award conferred on him by Alva's Education Foundation headed by Dr M Mohan Alva, SPB said, "I have received many an award and honours in my career. But the award that I received today has by far been the best in my life and I am certain I will not receive any other award better than this." Noting he may not want any more awards in his life, SPB dedicated this award to his mother, whom he said would have been most happy to see him receive it.

Hinting that his talent is nil but for the efforts of all who have projected him to the heights he has reached in his career, SPB was meticulous is laying the credit at their feet. These included all those who composed the songs that he sang, the musicians who score the music, the actors who sashayed to his songs on screen as well as all the music directors and film producers who reposed faith in his abilities and offered him an opportunity to be part of their projects.

Inaugurating the festival, D Veerendra Heggade, dharmadhikari, Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala said there is need for research on how to make student life more useful. "The thrust of education should be to stoke the passion for knowledge among students and help them become well rounded personalities," he said adding this is the very essence of education imparted by Alva's Education Foundation. Extracurricular activities do not affect the results of students, he asserted.

Earlier, in a break from tradition, R K Padmanabhan, eminent singer, Sathyanarayana, yakshagana singer and his troupe, sang paeans about the talent that SPB is, and Manipur and Sri Lankan dancers expressed the same in the form of dance. A misty eyed SPB sat through this with folded hands and even went on to express his doubts if he was truly worthy of such love and affection that was showered on him. Dr Mohan Alva welcomed the gathering.

Courtesy: Times of India

SP Balasubrahmanyam completes 50 yrs as singer

As he entered into 50th year of his career last week, legendary singer S P Balasubrahmanyam says he regretted not watching his kids grow up due to his busy schedules.

Balasubrahmanyam, who has given innumerable hits in 15 languages including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada among others, terms his journey as "amazing".

"It is amazing. I don't know how I lasted so long. I am not a trained singer. At this age, I am getting work and I am able to deliver," Balasubrahmanyam told PTI.

The 69-year-old singer, who got his first break in 1966 Telugu film "Sri Sri Sri Maryaada Raamanna", counts Telugu movie "Sankarabharanam" and 1981 hit "Ek Duje Ke Liye" as films that were turning points of his career.

"I feel every day is a turning point because my passion and my sincere approach towards my work and my dedication kept me going.

"If I have to report (for recording of songs) at 5 o'clock, I rush come what may. I prepare myself. I never go to microphone until I am sure of it. Whether small or big directors, I will do justice," he said.

Having successfully sung for five decades now, Balasubrahmanyam has quite a few regrets in life which includes not learning classical music and completing his engineering degree.

He, however, felt now knowing classical music came as "blessing in disguise" and says had he learnt it, he would have not sung light music (songs) well.

"I missed watching my children grow up. I dedicated all my 49 years (to singing). On an average, I am working 11 hours every day. I missed my children growing," he said.
Balasubrahmanyam counts Mohammed Rafi as his 'all time favourite' singer and says he has learnt from the late legendary singer more than anyone else.

The Padma Bhushan awardee, who has the credit of recording nearly 40,000 songs, said he would stop singing the day feels he is not able to do justice with his songs.

"I don't want to just hang around. If I feel that my physical and mental strength is not capable of doing justice to singing, the best way is to hang up my boots."
When asked if there is still a pinnacle he wants to conquer, he said he is happy as long as he can sing properly.

"I don't have any more ambitions... To do this thing or that thing. I am an actor, I am a dubbing artist and I have got, without my asking, lot of challenging opportunities." On what life has taught him, Balasubrahmanyam said, "Be simple. Don't make things complicated and everything falls in the right groove if you deserve it."

Courtesy: Manorama Online

నా గానం... భగవంతుడు ప్రసాదించిన యోగం

కవిపండితులకు స్వరాభిషేకం

ఓల్డ్ ఆర్టికల్ : ఎస్. పి. బాలసుబ్రహ్మణ్యం తొలి సినీ పరిచయం

ఎస్పీ బాలుకు పురస్కార ప్రదానం

Harivarasanam Award to S.P.Balasubrahmanyam

“There is no place of worship like Sabarimala where man (devotee) turns into God and vice versa. Here, everyone is considered a representative of God or even God himself,’’ said noted playback singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam.

Mr. Balasubrahmanyam was addressing a function at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam on Saturday after receiving the Harivarasanam Award instituted by the State government. Minister for Health and Devaswom V.S. Sivakumar presented the award to the singer. He said the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple was a universal place of worship where religion, caste, creed, poor, or rich did not matter.

Mr Balasubrahmanyam said this was his first visit to Sabarimala, though he had sung a good number of Ayyappa devotional songs in different languages over the past five decades. Mr.Balasubrahmanyam, accompanied by Mr Sivakumar, and other officials, offered prayers at the Ayyappa Temple.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Harivarasanam Award - 2015

బాలుకు హరివరాశనం పురస్కారం

SPB an asset to the film industry

One of India’s most recognised playback singers, SP Balasubrahmanyam (SPB) recently celebrated his 69th birthday. Oneindia.in’s AVINASH GOPINATH takes a look at some amazing facts about the man.

He has the rare distinction of rendering the most number of songs in a single day by any singer. He recorded 21 songs in Kannada for the composer Upendra Kumar in Bangalore from 9am to 9pm on February 8, 1981. He also recorded 19 songs in Tamil, all in a day, and also 16 songs in Hindi, a record.

He holds the Guinness World Record for recording the highest number of songs, for any playback singer, with over 40 000 numbers in various Indian languages. He also has six National Film Awards across four languages to his name.

He was once rejected by a Hindi music composer, saying that South Indians cannot pronounce Hindi properly. He went on to win a National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for his first Hindi movie, Ek Duje Ke Liye. His association with singer and occasional composer Lata Mangeshkar for the song Didi Tera Devar Deewana is remembered even today.

SPB has acted in 72 films in three different languages, namely Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. He is probably the only Indian singer to have acted in so many films. He can also speak these three languages fluently, though his mother tongue is Telugu.

He has worked as a music director in 46 films in four different languages which includes Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. Some of his notable works as a music composer in Tamil include Sigaram and Unnai Charanadaindhen.

He is a noted professional dubbing artist and also a film producer. He has lent his voice for popular actors like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Girish Karnad, Gemini Ganesan, Arjun Sarja and many more.

He is a famous TV personality as well. Having acted in two Tamil serials and a Telugu one, SPB has also hosted number of music reality shows and accepted the honour of being a judge in many famous shows in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.

SPB was the leader of a light music troupe which had Ilaiyaraaja on guitar and later on harmonium, Baskar on percussion and Gangai Amaran on guitar. His association with Ilaiyaraaja started even before the two had made their respective movie debuts.

After he was selected to sing Aayiram Nilavae Vaa starring MGR and Jayalalitha, SPB suffered from typhoid just before the recording and couldnt lend his voice to the then superstar, which disappointed him.

When SPB was recovering from typhoid, MGR once went to the extent of delaying the shoot of his film and waited patiently for the singer to recover completely. Once SPB was able to sing, the song was recorded and then shot at a famous palace in Jaipur.

Courtesy: iol.co.za

బాలు... నీ పాటొక్కటి చాలు

బాలుకు పురస్కారం

SPB to croon at an audio launch

Playback singer SP Balasubrahmanyam will be launching a single track from a Tamil film Moone Moonu Varthai on January 7 and will also be performing an unplugged version of the song. According to his son and the film's producer SP Charan, this is the first time that the veteran singer is performing at a launch. The film, starring Rakendu Mouli and Aditi Chengappa, has been directed by Madhumita.

Says Charan, "The film has four songs and we did not want to have a typical album launch and so have planned to release one single every week. And, who better to launch the first single than the big man himself? He will be performing the song Vaazhum Naal, a melody which he has sung in the film."

The composer of the film is Karthikeya Murthy, a debutant, and he reveals that the song will play in the background and SPB has sung for his character in the film, which is that of the hero's granddad. Meanwhile, the Telugu version of the album is expected to be launched on January 23.

Courtesy: Times of India

SPB Sashtanga Namaskaram To Legends

SP.Balsubrahmanyam achieved name and fame in film industry. He attained many dizzy heights and scaled many pinnacles. However even after all the success he remains grounded to the floor surprising all.

Recently he posted the snaps of him with legends director K.Balachander and lyricist Ganesh Patro. He invited them to his Paaduta Teeyaga show sometime back. What shocked everyone is the moment they graced the show, he prostrated at their feet.

SPB shared the photos of legends and his magical moments with them after hearing the shocking demise of K.Balachander and Ganesh Patro. SPB also shared his association with Ahuti Prasad who passed away couple of days back. SPB shared his memories paying rich tributes to them in his own impeccable manner.

Courtesy: Gulte.com

SP Balu Brand Ambassador for Swachch Bharat

Legendary singer sp balasubrahmanyam has been appointed the brand ambassador for Swachch Bharat campaign. SP Balu has reportedly received a letter from Union Urban Development Minister, Venkayya Naidu today. sp balasubrahmanyam has reportedly accepted to do this new job. Under Swachch Bharat campaign, SPB is likely to conduct many concerts and cultural programs which motivate the people to take part in the Swachch Bharat campaigns.

Having sung more than 40,000 songs, SPB received many awards and honours. He is the recipient of civilian awards Padma Sri and Padma Bhushan. He won national film awards across four languages as well as filmfare awards. He encourages talented singers through his popular TV program 'Padutha Theeyaga'.

Courtesy: Cinejosh

Mithunam pair's next audio release on January 23

SP Balasubrahmanyam and senior actress Lakshmi, after Mithunam will again be sharing screen space in Moodu Mukkallo Cheppalante, a film directed by Madhumita and produced by SPB Charan. The film's music album, composed by Karthikeya Murthy will be unveiled in Hyderabad on January 23. Actors Rakendu Mouli (son of Vennelakanti) and Aditi too play crucial roles in this bilingual that's to release in Tamil as well.

"Two characters in the film give up their jobs to try something innovative in their life. The interesting experiences during that phase forms the film's story, a romantic comedy in the making," said the director. Wrapping its shoot and currently in its post-production stages, Moodu Mukkallo Cheppalante is headed towards a release in February.

Courtesy: Cinegoer

ఉద్యోగానికి రాజీనామా చేసి