Chennai: Versatile singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, hailed as the “singing moon” by his millions of fans, was buried at his country home near here on Saturday with a 24-shot salute from Tamil Nadu police.
After the singer’s son, SP Charan, performed the funeral rites amid chants of priests, a police band played the Last Message and 24 staff members in ceremonial garb gave a pistol salute.
Later, the body with SPB’s glasses and smeared with ‘Thiruneeru’ (holy ashes) on the forehead and wrapped in zari dhoti was lowered into a deep well and buried while the chants of “SPB Pugazh Onguga” (Long live the fame of SPB) tore the air.
Flower petals were sprinkled on the body and crystalline salt sprinkled inside the well before it was closed.
With policemen, their rifles tucked under their arms marching, the body was carried in a traditional hay-lined casket to the final resting place in the green facility from a ‘pandal’ intended for people to pay homage and perform rituals.
The country house at Tamaraipakkam in the Tiruvallur district was packed with their admirers, supporters and celebrities for the funeral from early in the morning and 500 policemen were deployed to regulate the crowd.
Tamil Nadu Culture Minister K Pandiarajan, Andhra Pradesh Minister of Irrigation Anil Kumar Yadav, lead actor Vijay, film directors Bharathiraja, Ameer, music composer Devi Sri Prasad, singer Mano, actor Arjun and comedian Mayilsami were among the celebrities who showed up to pay their last regards.
Although police had initially said that only about 150 people would be allowed to pay tribute, more and more men and women were flocking to the singer’s idyllic home to pay tribute.
SPB’s first song was in the Telugu movie “Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna” (1967) and her debut song in Tamil “Athanodu Ippadi Irundhu” in a movie titled ‘Hotel Rambha’ never saw the light of day.
His entry into the Tamil film industry occurred with ‘Shanthi Nilayam’ and ‘Adimaippen’, both of which hit the screens in 1969.
Before falling ill, he recorded a rousing opening song for the Rajinkanth sub-production, starring “Annatha,” a D Imman musical and it turned out to be the last song of his career spanning more than five decades.
Imman said: “I feel so blessed that his last song was in my music. Such a cultured and caring man, there is no replacement for him. We miss you.”
Bharathiraja said that SPB has no death and continues to live through his songs.
The 74-year-old singer earned a variety of nicknames from his fans such as “Padum Nila” (singing moon), “Isai Megam” (musical cloud pouring out songs), “Gaandha kuralon” (Man with a magnetic voice) for his voice. mellifluous.
…
