#GoldenFrames: S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, a Guinness World Record holder for recording the highest number of songs

S. P. Balasubrahmanyam was affectionately called ‘Balu’ by his loved ones and film fraternity. SPB was an Indian musician, playback singer, music director, actor, dubbing artist and film producer who worked predominantly in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam. He made his singing debut in 1966 and sang over 40,000 songs in as many as 16 languages.

In This Pic : S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

SPB was born in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, into a Telugu Brahmin family. His father, S. P. Sambamurthy, was a Harikatha artist who acted in plays, and his mother was a housewife. He had two brothers and five sisters, including singer S. P. Sailaja.

In This Pic : S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

SPB developed an interest in music at an early age, studied musical notations and learned music. He enrolled at the JNTU College of Engineering Anantapur with the intention of becoming an engineer. He discontinued his studies early due to typhoid and joined as an associate member the Institution of Engineers, Chennai.

In This Pic : S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

SPB continued to pursue music during his engineering studies and won awards at singing competitions. In 1964, he won the first prize in a music competition for amateur singers organised by the Chennai-based Telugu Cultural Organization. He was the leader of a light music troupe composed of Anirutta (on the harmonium), Ilaiyaraaja (on guitar and later on harmonium), and Baskar (on percussion) and Gangai Amaran (on guitar). He was selected as the best singer in a singing competition judged by S. P. Kodandapani and Ghantasala. Often visiting music composers seeking opportunities, his first audition song was 'Nilave Ennidam Nerungadhe'. It was rendered by veteran playback singer P. B. Srinivas, who used to write and give him multi-lingual verses in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Sanskrit, English and Urdu.

In This Pic : S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

SPB made his debut as a playback singer in the Telugu movie 'Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna' (1966). The first non-Telugu song he recorded just eight days after his debut Telugu song was in the Kannada movie 'Nakkare Ade Swarga' (1966). He recorded his first Tamil song, "Athaanodu Ippadi Irundhu Eththanai Naalaachu", a duet with L. R. Eswari for the movie 'Hotel Rambha' (1969), which was never released. Other early songs he sang were duets with P. Susheela, "Iyarkai Ennum Ilaya Kanni" in the movie 'Shanti Nilayam' (1969), starring Gemini Ganesh, and "Aayiram Nilavae Vaa" for M. G. Ramachandran in 'Adimai Penn' (1969). His first song with S. Janaki was "Pournami Nilavil Pani Vizhum Iravil" in 'Kanni Penn' (1969). He was then introduced to the Malayalam film industry by G. Devarajan in the movie 'Kadalpalam' (1969).

In This Pic : S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

Pic Courtesy : BCCL