Saturday, September 26, 2020

An unstoppable voice, stopped by Corona – my thoughts on SP Balasubrahmanyam

End is inevitable, but when the cause of that end turns out to the Chinese Virus, it is treacherous. It is so inconsolable that a voice so captivating and youthful till the 74th year was silenced by this dreaded virus. Only ‘if only’ is occupying my mind since I heard the sad news about the musical legend SPB. If only he had not contacted this virus, his musical journey would have continued. If only he had kept away from everyone right from the time corona was reported in the country, couldn’t he have continued to be with us? An unbelievable march of that voice, growing youthful with every passing day was cruelly shut off by this villain.   

Nothing could stop him right from the time MGR decided to bring him in. His was a big replacement for the-until -then reigning King, TMS. There was lot of misgivings at that time how his voice could suit MGR’s but wonder of wonders his voice was found agreeable to the simha garjanai of Shivaji Ganesan too. That was really a break-through in his career and since then his was the only voice found suitable for the next three generation of actors – from Kamal- Rajini, to Surya – Vijay et al until the current crop of new actors. I cannot recall anyone matching this feat uninterruptedly until the deadly corona put a spoke in his 75th year.

Not everyone could get the kind of opportunities that he got but not everyone could have risen up to the opportunities as he did. His was a dedicated, committed and passionate work on his voice and on the songs he got, by which he had enthralled millions – something not possible for many with such dedication – unless designed by karmic hand shake. Such a strong Karmic backup cannot perhaps be stopped so easily unless by a sudden attack by an unknown virus - I am forced to reason out like this.

Music is a different genre in that being a vehicle to touch Brahman! And SPB was able to touch that is what I heard in one of the videos. Even if it is film music, one can feel the divine connect with the sublime Being. That SPB could evolve so well within is understood from the near-nil incidence of any blot on his character. His contribution to devotional songs is something that I want to bring to the notice of readers at a time everyone is talking about his film songs only.   

A particular song that is part of my life is played below.

The devotional songs of the trio Kannadasan – MS Viswanthan – SP Balasubrmanyam in the 80’s had stood well inspite of the competing Annamacharya songs of the Music Empress, MS Subbhlakshmi. That was the high time for divine Hindu songs, I should say. But among all those, SPB’s Ayar padi song became household song for many including me.

How many times have I sung this as lullaby to my kids?  How easily they were put to sleep by the melody of this song? How many times have I felt so tranquil at heart at the meaning and the emotion conveyed by this song! After Kannadasan, SPB is the only other personality of the filmdom about whom I am writing like this.

The lullaby he sang for Krishna, is coming back to him as I write this with moist eyes.

அவன் வாய் நிறைய பாடல் கொண்டு

மண்டலத்தை மயக்கிய பின்

ஓய்வெடுத்து தூங்குகின்றான் ஆராரோ

ஓய்வெடுத்து தூங்குகின்றான் ஆராரோ

14 comments:

  1. A tribute from a scholar to a legend🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

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    1. எம்ஜிஆருக்கு ஆயிரம் நிலவே வா பாடுவதற்கு முன்பு இயற்கை என்னும் இளைய கன்னி பாடியவர்.பொட்டு வைத்த முகமோ என்று நடிகர் திலகத்திற்கு பாடியவர் எப்படி தான் 30,000 பாடல்களால் எல்லா தரப்பு ரசிகர்களையும் இணைத் தாரோ தெரியாது ‌திருவேங்கடமுடையானுக்கு தாலாட்டு பாட போய் விட்டாரோ?

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  2. Very well articulated. Versatile singer SPB sir

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  3. Great! Used his own song to sing a lullaby for the legend on the day he is put to everlasting sleep

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  4. My first SPB song was "Pon malai pozhudhu" from "Nizhalgal"in 1981. From that time onwards i was hooked and his voice was a of my upbringing. Who can forget his "Raagangal 16 uruvaana varalaru", in the evergreen comedy "Thillu Mullu".

    With his demise I feel a great void in me. I feel curtains slowly coming down on my world too!! Cannot imagine a world without his voice!! A befitting tribute to him with his own haunting melody!!!

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  5. @ Unknown

    In case you wanted to point out that 'Ayiram nilave' was not his first song, I pointed out a major break in his career brought out by MGR. There is a story behind it which I didn't want to talk here at this time. It didn't fade away until SPB could make a break through all by himself in Shankarabharanam. That story had all the markings of the other / unknown side of MGR.

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  6. அருமையான பதிவு. ஆழமான கருத்துக்கள். உண்மையான இரங்கல்.

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  7. Dear Jayasree madam, Beautifully penned about SPB sir. All of us are living with fond memories and his mesmerizing voice which has enthralled millions. We are truly gifted to have a legend like him influencing us through his music. Truly in tears as I experience his image and tone together Subash

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  8. Madam,I come across so many tributes to SPB sir n I find this is one among the best tribute . Nobody can express their grief this beautifully.SPB Sir will live in our heart forever

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  9. @Unknown

    // I find this is one among the best tribute . Nobody can express their grief this beautifully.//

    Thank you.
    SPB will live through his songs.

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  10. Great loss for all of us and he has been a part of all of us via songs even in our happy and sad days.. He songs will be soothing during our happy and sad times :(

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