"Baahubali" music composer MM Keeravani has paid tribute to ace playback singer SP Balasubrahmanyam (SPB), who has completed 50 glorious years in the music and film industry.
MM Keeravaani has written and sung a special song to pay tribute to SP Balasubrahmanyam. KV Mahadevan has composed the tune of the track, which also features Sahithi Komanduri's voice. He has also created a video that shows the lyrics and the heroes that the playback singer has worked with. This video has been released on the official YouTube channel of Vel Records.
"It was 25 years ago on a sultry evening at Savera Hotel in Madras. I remember the day not for its weather but for the pleasantness that overshadowed it. It was the silver jubilee function where Balu Garu was felicitated by the Journalist Fraternity on his successful completion of 25 years as an undisputed king of the singers from South India," MM Keeravani recalls his memory.
"25 years have lapsed from that day. Yet... Balu Garu's unflinching journey has continued and continuing quenching the thirst of music lovers. Balu Garu's dedication towards his profession and his unrelenting effort to mesmerize his fans fill me with awe even today, the same way I felt when I first met him long long ago," the musician adds.
Like millions of music lovers, MM Keeravaani is a huge fan of SP Balasubrahmanyam. "To this great man with a humble soul and my most favorite singer I dedicate this song with utmost reverence...," the music composer concludes.
Director SS Rajamouli shared the YouTube link of the video on his Twitter handle. The Baahubali helmer also wrote, "A tribute to a master by another. Is there a pinnacle that Balugaru is yet to conquer?"
Balasubrahmanyam, who is a son of Harikatha artiste SP Sambamurthy, debuted as a playback singer with "Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna" in 1966. Then onwards, there was no looking back for this talented singer, who has recorded over 40,000 songs in various Indian languages in his career spanning five decades. He has won the Guinness World Record for recording the highest number of songs.
He won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer six times and the Nandi Awards in Telugu cinema 25 times from the Government of Andhra Pradesh. He has won National Film Awards across four languages as well as a Filmfare Award, five South Filmfare Awards and numerous state awards from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. He is a recipient of civilian awards -- Padmashri and Padma Bhushan.
