The distinctive voice of SP Balasubrahmanyam has been an inevitable part of the childhoods of dozens of people in India and the world.
For many of us who were born in the 1980s and 1990s, christened on the Indian Internet as ‘children of the 80s’ and ‘children of the 90s’, SP Balasubrahmanyam (affectionately called SPB) was a point of union between us and our parents. The songs, in various languages, played on stacks of cassettes were the small steps we took in the world that was SP Balasubrahmanyam. Perhaps it is this comfort and warmth that his songs brought, similar to what only a childhood friend can bring, that has caused thousands of people to mourn his tragic passing.
SPB passed away on September 25. He was admitted to the hospital after testing positive for the new coronavirus on August 5, 2020. His sudden death has left thousands of music lovers heartbroken and several thousand in denial.
A legendary singer with at least 40,000 songs to his credit in various Indian languages, SPB was an inevitable part of at least two generations. Since then, many have turned to social networks to share their favorite moments and works of the singer as a sign of their eternal love and respect for him.
Ganesh Ramachandran, a 31-year-old product manager based in Chennai, attributes his SPB fandom to his father. “My father was a huge fan and introduced me to the SPB songs. He used to record his favorites on cassettes and play them at home, ”he remembers fondly. Considering himself ‘blessed’ to be alive in the midst of musical legends such as MS Viswanathan, KJ Yesudas and Malaysia Vasudevan, Ganesh says that what sets SPB apart was his playing style.
“I think what made his songs special to me was that slight laugh that he used to add to the song. Her songs mostly had a slight tinge of melancholy, which made them last longer in our memory. SPB is my favorite singer, regardless of my mood. When SPB sings sad songs, more than sadness, I feel peace, ”he explains, adding that the song ‘Nalam vaazha ennaalum in vaazhthukal’ from the film Marupadiyum is among his favorites sung by SPB.
“When I hear the trademark laughter in their songs, I always feel happier despite whatever problems may have been occupying my mind. I always think, ‘Forget it, there are better things in life like this,’ ”says Ganesh.
What made SPB songs so popular is the way a common man could relate to the songs. He thrived in an era when his contemporaries were like KJ Yesudas.
“When KJ Yesudas sings, there is a possibility that it is too difficult for someone who has no knowledge of music to understand. But everyone could relate to SPB’s songs, ”says Ekambaram Raveendran. The 28-year-old journalist from Mumbai also credits his father with bringing him into the world of SPB.
SPB’s vocal antics in songs like ‘Rakkamma Kaiyathattu’ (Thalapathy) and ‘Ilamai idho idho’ (Sakalakala Vallavan) are as memorable as his ‘Hara hara sivane Arunachalane’ (Nama sivaya, a devotional album on the Hindu deity Shiva).
“No one can forget these songs. The songs of SPB attract much more to a common man than those of KJ Yesudas. SPB is everyone’s singer, ”says Ekambaram.
Enosh, a 29-year-old journalist from Hyderabad, remembers SPB more as an announcer than as a singer. “If I had to sing for Nagarjuna, I would modulate the voice to suit Nagarjuna’s voice and make these variations according to the artists I was singing for. He was very smart and knew how to understand music and microphone dynamics, ”he says, adding that SPB’s music embodies a spirit and not a physical body and therefore will continue to live.
For Suresh, 54, SPB’s songs come with a wave of nostalgia.
“I grew up in Hyderabad and it was a time when SPB entered the world of music. His voice contrasted a lot with that of Ghantasala (Venkateswara Rao), who was the reigning songwriter and singer at that time, “he recalls. Suresh still remembers the time when Sankarabharanam launched and took the industry by storm. Her songs like ‘Aayiram nilave vaa’ (Adimai Penn) and ‘Iyarkai ennum’ (Shantinilayam) were cool to hear.
“It was an era of radios and tapes. When we went to college, we deliberately walked slowly if any of these songs played nearby. We loved it, ”she recalls. Noting that SPB’s songs were staple subjects at music competitions and cultural events, Suresh says that the work SPB did with KV Mahadevan and Rajan-Nagendra would always be special to him.
Balu sir’s songs are not just songs, but memories, says Sahitya Karra, a content writer from Hyderabad. “Every time her songs come up it’s like a flashback of memories. Whether a mother is singing a lullaby to her baby, a lover misses her love, or just a group of friends having fun together, her songs are a treasure that we will all hold close to our hearts. We miss it! ”, He adds.
However, Chennai stand-up comedian Praveen Kumar pledges allegiance to SPB live concerts rather than recorded songs.
“If you ask me my ten favorite songs of all time, they would all be from SPB,” says the 39-year-old artist. He adds that, apart from the songs being soothing, they have been the greatest source of comfort in bad times.
SPB’s role as music director was probably the shortest in his long career and it puzzles Praveen greatly.
“In fact, I also like him as a music composer. I have no idea why he didn’t continue down that path. There is nothing better than ‘Vannam konda vennilave’ (Sigaram) still, ”he declares.
The most popular video content related to SPB songs in recent times belongs to Alexander Babu, the Chennai comedian. His show ‘Alex in Wonderland’, a kind of musical tribute to a variety of composers and singers from Tamil cinema, garnered praise from various quarters. A self-confessed SPB fan, Alex says that the singer’s voice has given a lot to his generation.
“Their songs connected in a comforting way,” notes Alex, adding that his favorites include ‘Idhayam oru kovil’ (Idhaya Kovil) and ‘Kaadhalin deepam ondru’ (Thambikku Entha Ooru). “I grew up in an age of cassettes and the three or four cassettes we had at home were beaten to death by repetition,” he adds.
Deekshith R, 27, from Godavarikhani, a staunch SPB fan says he will continue to hang out with his fans. “Hearing her voice is a wonderful experience, which has some magic in it. She is just physically moving away from us, but she will be with us on our home theater systems, telephones and as a ringtone,” she adds.
The debate over whether the best of SPB came from Ilaiyaraaja’s composition or AR Rahman’s composition is endless among fans. Many of SPB’s die-hard fans go for the timeless Ilaiyaraaja-SPB combination when it comes to the best movie songs.
“It’s just that the orchestration was less in Raaja’s compositions which allowed us to hear SPB’s voice. However, nothing against AR Rahman. In AR Rahman’s compositions, it became a competition between the orchestration and the voice of SPB, ”says Ganesh.
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