This was in 2001 during my time on ETV in Ramoji Film City (my first job) when I had the opportunity to meet the legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam. I was frequenting RFC in Hyderabad for the famous Telugu music reality show Paadutha Teeyaga and on one of those occasions, I went to see him sing.
Between takes, I met his manager and asked him if I could meet SPB. The manager said that SPB hates distractions at work. Then I asked him if I could get an interview with him. The manager shared his number and asked me to call him. I called him a few days later and he told me that SPB had left for Chennai but that he would be back soon and let me know. I stopped thinking that this was another celebrity chasing exercise. To my surprise, just a week later, I received a call from a certain Mr. Shastry who said, “Did you want to interview SPB?
I do
Shastry. Can you speak Telugu?
Me: No. But does SPB know English?
Shastry: (laughs) Of course, he can speak more languages than you.
Me: (with a sigh of relief) Great. So when is it coming to RFC next?
Shastry: Ma’am, you have to come with your camera crew and ask questions to this place (and he shares the address) somewhere near the Srinagar colony, Hyderabad.
Me: (I couldn’t contain my excitement and ask) when?
Shastry: February 14
Me: Done and what time would it be?
Shastry: Be here at 8 am because the gentleman has a meeting followed by sessions in the Sarathi studio after that.
I quickly hung up and waited for the day with butterflies in my stomach. I know my first boss, Joel Samuel, who takes a look at my questions and adds his own too.
On February 14, I’m waiting for the company car and lens keeper to show up and he’s late. I am furious and nervous at the same time. But I try to calm down and finally we arrive at SPB’s apartment half an hour later than the scheduled time.
SPB awaits me. And I prepare to face music. I shyly apologize without seeming to be an excuse. But to my utter disbelief, SPB says it’s okay, Mom. I have a meeting with my auditor at 10 am. And I don’t want to rush. “I understand, sir,” I tell him.
Then I ask the cameraman to set everything up and fix the frame. But I’m still nervous and afraid that SPB will just say that we can’t do it. Instead, sensing my anxiety, he asks me, “Did you eat something?”
Me: no sir
SPB: So, first have breakfast
Me: Ok sir, I’m not hungry
SPB: I can see how tired you are. Fear not, this is my home and I’m not going anywhere. I’ll keep my word and give you the interview. Eat right and then we’ll get started.
Reluctantly I sit down at the table. SPB brings me a plate, places it on the table and asks me, what is your favorite breakfast?
Me: upma
SPB: This is the first time I’ve heard someone say that.
Me: My mom is a great cook. Anyone who eats the upma that she makes will start to like it
SPB: I’m sure. All moms are. My mom too (he gives her his trademark ear-to-ear smile)
There is a tiffin cart with lots of food on the table and SPB puts a spoonful of Upma on my plate and says, ‘No need to rush, eat as much as you want and be sure to try everything here.’ They are delicious, “to which I nod.
SPB: Are you Telugu?
Me: No sir. I am a Kannadiga.
He then switches to Kannada and suggests that I try Pesarattu, a Telugu specialty
That was the first time I ate Pesarattu.
He waits patiently for me to finish my breakfast and then says, shall we start?
THAT’S SPB FOR YOU! He was a star singer, the most sought after in the industry with a busy schedule, but he’s deeply rooted. I was struck by his humility and down to earth nature.
SPB begins with its days in Shankarabharanam and then talks about how it broke into Bollywood. He literally uses the word “rest” because even to this day South Indians are mocked for their Hindi accent and pronunciation.
SPB said that although it did its best not to let the influence of the mother tongue show, there were times when it was told in recording studios that it is easy for music lovers to know that the singer is not an Indian. from North.
But we all know that it is better not to believe that. SP Balasubrahmanyam sir has brought to life some of the best Hindi numbers, particularly for Salman Khan. ‘Tere Mere Beech main’ for Kamal in Ek Duje Ke Liye, Pehla Pehla Pyar hai for Salman Khan … the list goes on.
I remember SPB telling me that even though he joined the engineering course his love was for music as he was inspired by Md Rafi. He says that when he was cycling to my school he would listen to Rafi songs on the radio and that made me cry. “That is the effect of good music and good singers,” he said.
Today, millions of SPB fans, myself included, couldn’t agree more. There are several occasions when my eyes fill with tears when listening to her songs. I asked him to sing one of Rafi’s songs and he sings “Deewana hua badal” by Kashmiri Ki Kali by Shammi Kapoor. To this day, whenever I listen to the song I can only imagine how SPB had sung it in their own style.
To say that I am heartbroken would be an understatement. I still can’t believe it doesn’t exist anymore. But yes, he lives through his songs and he will always be my favorite. May his soul rest in peace.
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