S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (4 June 1946 – 25 September 2020), popularly known as SPB, was an Indian playback singer, actor, music composer and dubbing artist. He is regarded as one of the greatest singers in Indian cinema. Over a career of more than five decades he recorded tens of thousands of songs in 16 languages, mainly Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi. He won six National Film Awards and received the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam |
| Born | 4 June 1946, Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Died | 25 September 2020, Chennai (aged 74) |
| Profession | Singer, actor, composer, dubbing artist, TV host |
| Debut | Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna (Telugu, 1966) |
| Children | S. P. Charan (singer), Pallavi |
| Honours | Padma Shri (2001), Padma Bhushan (2011), Padma Vibhushan (2021, posthumous) |
| Awards | 6 National Film Awards |
Early Life
SPB was born in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, into a Telugu family. His father, S. P. Sambamurthy, was a Harikatha artist. SPB loved music as a child but went to study engineering in Anantapur and Chennai. He won singing competitions as a student, which led to his first film opportunity.
Career
SPB recorded his first film song in 1966 for the Telugu film Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna. Over the next decades he became the leading male voice in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada cinema. He formed legendary partnerships with composers Ilaiyaraaja, K. V. Mahadevan and M. S. Viswanathan, and later with A. R. Rahman. He sang for stars including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Chiranjeevi and N. T. Rama Rao. His National Award-winning work includes Sankarabharanam (1979), even though he had no formal classical training.
SPB’s Hindi debut, Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981), won him a National Film Award for “Tere Mere Beech Mein”. In the late 1980s and 1990s he became the singing voice of Salman Khan in hits such as Maine Pyar Kiya, Saajan and Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!. He also sang the title song of Chennai Express (2013).
SPB acted in dozens of films, composed music and dubbed for actors including Kamal Haasan in Telugu versions of his films. He also hosted the popular singing show Padutha Theeyaga for many years.
Personal Life and Death
SPB married Savitri, and they had two children, S. P. Charan and Pallavi. In August 2020 he was admitted to hospital in Chennai with COVID-19. He died there of complications on 25 September 2020, aged 74, and was given a state funeral.
Awards and Honours
Popular Songs
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was S. P. Balasubrahmanyam born?
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam was born on 4 June 1946 in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, India.
When did S. P. Balasubrahmanyam die?
Died: 25 September 2020, Chennai (aged 74).
What honours has S. P. Balasubrahmanyam received?
Padma Shri (2001), Padma Bhushan (2011), Padma Vibhushan (2021, posthumous).
