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