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Being Balasubrahmanyam: The perfectionist
Published on Sun, Jul 13, 2008 at 02:59, Updated on Sun, Jul 13, 2008 at 10:13 in Entertainment section
Tags: Being, SP Balasubrahmanyam
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The Tamil and Telugu moviegoers were familiar with his deep voice and though he had already got a national award in 1979, he became extremely popular because of the songs in the film Ek Duuje Ke Liye in 1981.
Anuradha SenGupta: Let me start by talking about a movie which helped the rest of India discover you. You know which one I am talking about.
SP Balasubrahmanyam: Yes, Ek Duuje Ke Liye.
Anuradha SenGupta: 1981, Ek Duuje Ke Liye.
SP Balasubrahmanyam: Prior to Ek Duuje Ke Liye, I sung in couple of dubbed films from Tamil or Telugu to Hindi. The journey was made but not straight into the nucleus actually. When I was at a concert tour in US, suddenly Prasad ji called me.
He somehow caught hold of my number and called and he said, ‘You have to break your journey in Mumbai Baalu because we are making a film, the Hindi version of a Telugu film in which you have sung’ and he said ‘Mr Balachander wants you to sing in the film. My music directors Lakshmikant Pyarelal want to meet you’ and actually Lakshmi ji was there and he asked me to sing a Hindi song.
Anuradha SenGupta: What did you sing? Do you remember?
SP Balasubrahmanyam: I sang their number only from Dosti, Jaane walon zara, mud ke dekho mujhe.... That was a comfortable number, which I was used to doing on stages prior to my entry into the films. Then he asked me to sing another number, I sang the title number from Mere Mehboob. He was not very convinced. He said he would get back to me. That is exactly what he said. I too was very apprehensive. I did not even dream of it, so even if it fizzled, I would not feel too bad about it.
Then I went back and Balachander was adamant that I should sing in his film. Even if there is a problem in my pronunciation, he said the character himself is a Tamil person in the film. He said it should not be a problem at all. Since then, I have sung in many films and no one has found fault even in my pronunciation. So, that was my entry into the Hindi film music.
Anuradha SenGupta: You have won six National awards and one of it was for the film Ek Duuje Ke Liye.
SP Balasubrahmanyam: Yes, Tere mere beech mein...
Anuradha SenGupta: Yes, but can I tell you the song that I still remember and love, was picturised on Kamal Hassan and Rati Agnihotri in the lift.
SP Balasubrahmanyam: Mere Jeevan saathi…! That song was fun. We had a very nice time and moreover those days, there was live recording with the orchestra and even the musicians felt so nice while recording it.
Anuradha SenGupta: It is an energy which in itself gives you a high. Isn’t it?
SP Balasubrahmanyam: Even in a cubicle, through a glass, if you look at the musicians, and you give your feedback, it is an amazing feeling.
Anuradha SenGupta: It is the feeling of the feedback that is coming instantly from everyone around.
SP Balasubrahmanyam: You get so much of energy. That is what we are losing now. For a beginner, when you start your career, it is very important to have the presence of senior singers, co-singers, musicians etc. There are lots of corrections and improvisations to be made and by the presence of these people, you feel you have some support. That is missing now. Most of the times, these days, we don’t even have the music directors present in the recording studios. Now, everything is so fixed and stipulated. These are small compromises one has to make, but at the same time, there are some advantages also. You save a lot of time.
Anuradha SenGupta: You can do more work.
SP Balasubrahmanyam: You don’t have to strain yourself. When there is an advantage, there is always a disadvantage following it. All said and done, we have to move with time.
In 1989, SP Balasubrahmanyam sang for Salman Khan in Maine Pyaar Kiya and the hit connection was made endearing him even further to Hindi movie goers.
SP Balasubrahmanyam: When it happens, it happens! They thought they needed a voice that was not too heard of in Hindi. Though I was quite popular before Maine Pyaar Kiya, my voice was heard, but not overheard yet. All the songs made a lot of difference and then came Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and the other subsequent films. The best thing is that the music should become a hit, only then a voice will be heard. And the combination here became successful. Even out of Rajshri films, the other film, the song, Dekha Hai Pehli Baar... from the film Saajan became a hit. It was pure luck. There are no reasons for certain things. I feel that things just happen. Like my becoming a singer!
Anuradha SenGupta: Yes, we lost an engineer to get a singer. Isn’t it?
SP Balasubrahmanyam: My dream was to become an engineer.
Anuradha SenGupta: Did you complete studying engineering?
SP Balasubrahmanyam: No, one more year is left.
Anuradha SenGupta: Just gave it up.
SP Balasubrahmanyam: For three years, I did both studying and singing but it was very difficult. Then I had to take a decision. I thought that if it does not work well in music, I could go back and finish my engineering. But with singing, I may not get a chance again. I might get late. So, the industry never allowed me to go back and study.
SP Balasubrahmanyam holds a record for recording most number of songs. He is amused with the fact how people keep inflating the number from around 36, 000 that he says it is, to 39,000 and even 50,000. Though he is not working towards any records, he says that the numbers do mean something.
SP Balasubrahmanyam: Even at the age of 62, even after 42 years of singing, I everyday record at least two songs, unless I feel lethargic. That means that I am still in the race. And I am still able to give what my music directors are asking for. That feeling gives you satisfaction. It is not the numbers but the fact that I am able to shell out what my directors’ want. I think even at 62, I am very comfortable in going out and doing shows and singing.
Anuradha SenGupta: Shivaji was the big hit. Balle Lakka, the Rajini introduction song as they call it. You did that. But are you now consciously doing less work?
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URBANEYE
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SPB you are a popular singer in Telugu, Kannada and Tamil industry. I think anchor missed completely the work you
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SP Bala.. has sung thousands of songs in kannada also. But neither he or the interviewer has mentioned about it,
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So, it happens again! SP is a household name in Kannada filmdom and was a numero uno through 70's till
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It would be an understatement to say that SP is a versatile and an accomplished singer. However, India seems to
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No Doubt Balu is a great singer.
My only concern over here is that IBNLIVE has not played a single telugu
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