Unknown Facts about SP Balasubrahmanyam – Birthday Special!

Today, on June 4^th, the legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam is celebrating his 73^rd birthday. He is the best singer who is serving music for the Indian cinema for years. Though there are number of singers, SP Balu is the favorite singer for many. So, on his birthday, let’s know some lesser known facts about him!

SP Balu had a thyroid problem during his college days. For this reason, he dropped his idea of joining an engineering college.

Balasubramanyam from his childhood has participated in many singing competitions. In the competition, where S.P. Kodandapani and Ghantasala were judges, Balu won the competition. Since then S.P. Kodandapani became his mentor.

SP Balu has started composing music for films in December 1966 with Sri Maryada Ramanna under his mentor Kodandapani.

He sang 21 songs in the span of 12 hours for Kannada composer Upendra Kumar.

Till now, Balu has sung more than 40,000 songs in different languages.

Balu has won six national awards over four languages - Three in Telugu for Sagara Sangamam, Rudraveena, and Shankarabharanam, One in Hindi for Ek Duje Ke Liye, One in Tamil for Minsara Kanavu and One in Kannada for Sangeetha Sagara Ganagoyi Panchakshara Gavai.

Balasubramanyam has acted in 72 films in three different languages, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.

Balasubramanyam is also the chairman of Kodandapani Audio Labs, Chennai.

Balasubramanyam was the leader of a light music troupe which had Ilaiyaraaja (on guitar and later on harmonium), Baskar (on percussion), and Gangai Amaran (on guitar).

He was once rejected by a Hindi music composer, saying that South Indians can’t pronounce Hindi properly. But, later he won a National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for his first Hindi movie Ek Duje Ke Liye!