'The Celestial' S. P. Balasubrahmaniyum- A Tribute

 THE CELESTIAL

"S. P. BALASUBRAHMANIYUM"- I literally think there is no music goer who hasn't known about him!! There is nothing such like one needs to introduce him to the audience, coz he's known for generations. Truly speaking my grand parents heard him singing, my parents heard him singing & even I got to listen to him multiple times in various films!! So, there is literally nothing that I could do to introduce him to you all! 

If music has a persona & if it has got a voice- may be it sounds like him! If at all vocals were an empire & if it has to be reigned, then this singer would be the monarch of it! If there was a particular dictionary for music, then he was the one who would have taught the nuances! If a singing nightingale had a voice then definitely it would be of this legend! If at all you happened to listen to a song & travelled to a world of fantasy, then who's song would it be other than of this man!! 

May be we have millions of hearts striving to listen to his voice once again, then without any hindrance I'm one among them! Who would have got that legacy or supremacy to enjoy a stardom of nearly 50 long glorious years in this creative field like "Indian Cinema", other than S. P. B!! As I keep telling, he has got a trait of "Wind", it keeps moving & moving & moving, with it's retardation there is no life on this Earth, in the same token without his voice there is no term called 'SONG' in the dictionary of music!

People call him S. P. Balasubrahmaniyum, S. P. Bala, S. P. Balu, S. P. B & sometimes the "King Of Music". Who in this Indian history has got an opportunity to sing 40,000 songs in a span of 50 years? May be this is a world record- & that is why he has won a Guinness record! 

This is a humble attempt from "Next Octave Editzz" in just saying that music is nothing without him! We neither can digest nor accept that he cannot sing anymore, that we cannot listen to that voice once again! If at all God would have given an opportunity, his fans would would build a staircase with their tears & head towards the heaven to ask why the almighty is being too cruel! 

Here in this article, we have no songs or any reviews, narrations regarding his songs, coz I personally believe that with this loss, music itself has shut itself into silence! It needs time to heal & believe the facts & take up the reality!

Talking about the title- "The Celestial" S. P. Balasubrahmaniyum (Ganagandharvan)- it is really apt to quote him with such terms! He deserves all the respect & hype! Nothing, literally nothing can compensate his contribution to Indian Film Music! Here are some facts & trivia that make you all fall awe for him & just get back into that memory lane:

• Pan- Indian Label:

Before someone like K. J.. Yesudas, Vani Jayaram from south rocked the Bollywood with their hit numbers like 'Gori Tera Gaon' & 'Bole Re Pappihara' respectively yet their rate of sustain or success was constrained! But SPB who was initially rejected by the ace duo composers 'Lakshmikanth & Pyaarelaal' proved that music had no barriers in terms of language. SPB sang various songs for various protagonists starting from Dharmendra, Anil Kapoor, Jithender till Salmaan Khan & Sharukh Khan! His evergreen renditions of Maine Pyaar Kiya & Hum Aapke Hain Kaun remain cult classics! This is how SPB erased the mark or tag of so called South- Indian Singers & became an inspiration to singers like Shankar Mahadevan, KK, Kavitha Krishnamurthy who all made a mark in Bollywood hailing from South thus attaining a Pan- Indian label!

• World Record & Achievements:

What can one talk about his achievements? He has won almost all the awards from Indian & state governments including a Gunnies Record! He has won 6 national awards, 23 Nandi awards, 7 Filmfare Awards, 7 other state awards & a Padmashree & Padmabhushan! What else can we quote about his success? This is a proof. 

• Versatility:

SPB is not just a singer, he is an actor, music director, dubbing artist & a producer too!! Nothing can match the magnanimity of this legend singer! He is multi- faceted his talent is humongous, it cannot be put into words! 

• Association with other singers & music directors:

In 80's if there was a gold ornament which produced good music & only good music, then Ilaiyaraaja was the gold smith & SPB- S. Janaki were that raw particles of gold who were casted into wonderful ornaments! This combination SPB- Janaki- Ilaiyaraaja still remains an unmatchable success to the present gen singers & music composers! They were unique & they continue to be. Hundreds of songs in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada showcase their munificence. 

Late 70's even saw the successful reign of P. Susheela in Telugu film industry inspite of Janaki beginning her career, which were those days when SPB & Susheela got to sing many Telugu duet songs & still remain as evergreen songs in Telugu films!

Something really hard to believe or astonishing to learn is, female singers & music directors kept changing, but SPB was a constant choice for nearly 40 long years!! I repeat 40 long years!! He sang for M. S. Vishwanathan, Ilaiyaraaja, Keeravani, A. R. Rahman & he continued singing to latest sensational composers like Devi Sri Prasad & S. S. Thaman!

SPB got an amazing opportunity to work with the legend singer- Lata Mangeshkar. We all know what their combination did to Bollywood film music. LIke Md. Rafi Dada- Lata & Kishore Dada- Lata's combination SPB- Lata's combo added on to the bonnet!

• The Successful Collab:

Like I said already, for 40 years many changes took place in the music industry, but SPB was constant, in the same token- we had the opportunity to witness yet another brilliant collaboration or combo- SPB & Chithra. Ask any 90's kid about this combo,  no need of bringing language into consideration- anyone from Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam can easily say that they love these two legends for making their childhood amazing! They sang together for 20 years & continued singing till date in 6 different languages. We cannot think of a concert without their presence! Yes we saw Susheela, Janaki taking over the South- Indian Music along with SPB, but with the foray of Chithra, language barrier just turned down. 

No matter if you loved Anjali Anjali Pushpanjali (Tamil), O Priya Priya (Telugu), Ee Sundara (Kannada), Saathiya Tune Kya Kiya (Hindi), Janmo Janmo Nebo (Bengali) or Tharapatham (Malayalam) but this combination ruled the hearts of music lovers! They are just beyond expression! 

That's it we cannot ask for anything else, thankyou SPB sir for happening to us:

I grew up listening to your music & will continue to do so. Sometimes there are such expressions where you cannot put in words how you feel!! This is the same feeling now, A'm broken 🙏 

Next Octave Editzz has a note attributing to the legend singer:

" Something gone too soon is something great, someone gone with no farewell often bid a memory lane back in past , they are no more yet we hear to their voice when we utter their name & their lovely smiling face flashes while hearing to their lovely voice"