Thursday, June 4, 2009

Happy B'day SPB- The Legendary Singer


            
      My most favourite legendary singer S.P.Balasubramaniam turns 6 . He is one of the gifted singers with a God-gifted voice. It's such a pleasing and mesmerising voice I always envy for. He's the most versatile singer of Indian Cinema. Still in Bollywood, people consider Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi are the best and evergreen singers. But for me, SPB is a mixture both Mohammed Rafi and Kishore da. He has the softest voice like Rafi and versatile styles of singing like Kishore. He has sung almost every kind of songs with different kinds of voices. 
Though he's not a trained in classical music, his songs are classics. S.P.B - Janaki - Ilayaraja trio is still one of the best combos that has given mindblowing songs. 
He holds the world record in the Guinness for having sung the most number of song recordings by any singer (the record for a female singer is held by Lata Mangeshkar). 

     Though his mother-tongue is Telugu, his pronunciation is too good in almost all the languages he has sung.  No wonder he got Five National Awards for the Best Singer. His first song in Hindi fetched him a National Award in Hindi for the song "Tere mere beech mein..." in Kamalhaasan's debut Hindi movie Ek Duuje Ke Liye directed by our own KB. Even Lata Mangeshkar, who had sung the female version of the song didnt get the prestigious award for the song. 
 But his first National Award in Tamil is his 5th Award for the song "Thanga Thamarai Malare..." in Minsara Kanavu in 1997. 

          He sings with an awesome bhava (expressions). This was identified by legendary director K.Balachander and introduced him as an actor in Manadhil Urudhi Vendum as Dr.Ardhanari, a musical doctor. It's such an apt character for him. KB's student Vasanth made himthe male  Pratogonist (namma baashaila sonna HERO) in his debut movie Keladi Kanmani.
 He turned Music Director in the film Thudikkum Karangal and composed Music for many Telugu and Tamil movies. But my favourite is Sigaram, where he played the role of a playback singer. The song "Agaram ippo sigaram aachu...." was sung by K.J.Yesudoss who was considered competitor for SPB at his time. The song is all about raise and praise of the singer of the movie. But indirectly SPB made KJJ to praise about him. 


Eventhough he's 66, he's voice is always Sweet 16. He has given playback for almost all generation of actors. From the debut "Aayiram nilave vaa..." for M.G.R, "Iyarkai enum ilaya kani..." for Gemini Ganesan, followed by Shivaji Ganesan, Muthuraman, Shivakumar, Kamalhaasan, Rajnikanth, Prabhu, Karthik, Mohan, Ajith, Vijay, etc.  till "Yaaro... yarukkul ingu yaaro.. " from Chennai-28, his music journey still continues.  His voice is apt for Kamal, Rajni, Mohan and Arjun. He has won almost all accolades in his career but he is always calm and composed. He always respects his senior singers. He considers Mohd.Rafi as his mentor and KJJ as his elder brother. He tells that though he can sing any kind of songs, he cannot do a Carnatic kutcheri (Concert) like Daas anna (KJJ) especiallly by sitting on the fllor continuously.
 He's so diplomatic when comes to judgement. His music show "Ennodu Paattu Padungal" is the best example for this. He advices the participants without hurting. 

He named his children Pallavi and Charan. The stanzas of a song. They did not become so famous like him. his daughter is a mediocre singer who sang "Hai Rabba..." for ARR in Jeans. His son 
SP Charan made a sensational debut in Alaipayuthe's "Kadhal sadugudu..." but did not have  the talent like him though he has a good voice. But in recent times, he has improved and I could feel the young SPB in him in songs like "Om shanthi..." fromVaaranam Aayiram and "Kadaloram oru veedu...." from Kunguma Poovum Konjum Puravum. (Like Vijay Yesudass improved himself in recent times and i could feel a young KJJ in him)

I pray God, that I would sing in Ennodu Paattu Padungal with the legend and I would get a soothing voice like him in my next Birth. Let's wish SPB for a Long life and to more and more wonderful songs and to break his own Guiness Record. 

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