Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin recently announced that the main road of Nungambakkam Kamdar Nagar in Chennai will be renamed 'S.P. Balasubrahmanyam Salai' in honor of the legendary singer. This announcement coincided with the fourth death anniversary of SP Balasubrahmanyam, who passed away on September 25, 2020.
SP Balasubrahmanyam was a self-taught Indian playback singer with a remarkable career spanning over five decades. He recorded over 50,000 songs in 16 languages, earning numerous awards, including six National Film Awards and three Padma honors. His versatility allowed him to dominate various regional film industries, primarily Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi.
With a career that spanned over 40,000 songs, SPB left an indelible mark on thousands of evergreen songs, evoking various emotions. He worked with generations of music composers and seamlessly blended different sounds and voices into his songs. SPB also appeared on the silver screen in a handful of films, showcasing his acting abilities.
The evergreen song 'Ayiram Nilave Vaa' shot him to fame in 1969, and he remained a prominent figure in the music industry throughout his life. Renowned playback singer S Janaki spotted his talent early on, predicting he would become an unmatched singer in the world of cine music. SPB's legacy continues to inspire and influence the music industry.