S P Balasubrahmanyam: The Life and Career of India’s Most Revered Musical Genius

Although, he is a legend himself, the singer idolised the late Mohammad Rafi ji.

His last song was 'Bharat Bhoomi', an anthem for COVID 19 frontline warriors which was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and was released on the latter's YouTube channel.

He dubbed for Sir Ben Kingsley in the Telugu version of 'Gandhi'.

He was the voice associated with playback singing for leading superstars including Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Salman Khan. He was also the default voice-over artist for Haasan in the Telugu versions of the latter's works in Tamil. Besides singing, SPB was also an accomplished composer and actor.

SPB has sung over 40000 songs in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam film industries for over 50 years.

Rose to international prominence with the 1980 Telugu film Sankarabharanam, which won him his first National Award as a singer.

He made his debut as a playback singer on December 15, 1966, for the Telugu film Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna.

His association with friend and music composer Ilaiyaraaja began during a singing competition organised in 1964 for amateur singers where SPB won the first prize. He was judged by S. P. Kodandapani and Ghantasala

Having enrolled at JNTU College of Engineering Anantapur with the intention of becoming an engineer, SPB discontinued his studies due to typhoid and joined as an Associate Member of the Institution of Engineers, Chennai. But his inclination towards music stood strong.

Born on June 4, 1946 in Konetammapet village of Madras Presidency -present-day Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh to a Telugu native family. His father, late S.P. Sambamurthy was also a Harikatha artist, who acted in plays. He was one among eight children including sister SP Sailaja.

Winner of six National Awards, seven Filmfare awards and 25 Nandi Awards from the state of Andhra Pradesh, the contribution of Shri. Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam, better known as S.P Balasubrahmanyam to cinema, music and culture over five decades, remains unparalleled. Known by his colleagues for his comforting and sweet personality, SPB Sir was also conferred the Padma Shri in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2011 by the Government of India. On September 25, 2020, following a prolonged battle with COVID 19, the legendary singer breathed his last at the MGM hospital in Chennai. Presenting a brief account of his life and career.