Belated Happy Birthday SPB
SPB turned 60 yesterday, June 4. Considering how young he sounded singing Devuda Devuda... just a year ago, I didn't believe that he has touched 60 (Ilaiyaraja is just 3 years older!). Gifted with an amazingly smooth, mellifluous voice, not to mention the special touches he adds to the songs (like the laugh in Pattu Kannam...), he was, is and will always be my favorite singer. Here's a nice article that traces his career from a Telugu perspective.
To celebrate the occasion, here are some of my favorite SPB solo numbers picked completely at random. I know they just scratch the surface of his incredible collection of songs but when we're talking about a truly gifted person like SPB, there's not much more we can do!
Sangeetha Jaadhimullai... (Kaadhal Oviyam)
Idhayam Oru Koyil... (Idhaya Koyil)
Satham Illaadha... (Amarkkalam)
Rojaavai Thaalaattum... (Ninaivellaam Nithya)
Enna Satham... (Punnagai Mannan)
Andhi Mazhai Pozhigiradhu... (Rajapaarvai)
Salangayittaal Oru Maadhu... (Mythili Ennai Kaadhali)
Ponmaalai Pozhudhu... (Nizhalgal)
Senorita... (Johny)
Nilaave Vaa... (Mouna Raagam)
He may have turned 60. But his voice will always be 16... Happy Belated Birthday SPB!
Balaji's Thots... [Permalink]
Your Thots (14)
14 Comments:
Really sweet news for me. Everyone has loved his voice and the way he delivering the hums in between the songs. And in 80's SPB is the king ruled the Tamil cinema sharing a seat with Illayaraja. Belated wishes SPB sir!!!
Thanks Prasanna for reminding abt Karthik's Bday. Happy Bday Karthik!!!
So soon I can expect photos of BDay functions..rite Balaji?
SPB is, was and will be a true legend. I watched the concert by Illayaraja recently, and the first song was by SPB(mandram vandha.. from Mouna Ragam) - amazing voice.
On another note, I have also admired SPB for his selection of screen roles. Some roles as I remember them.
Keladi Kanmani
Sigaram
Kadhalan(The scene where his song triggers emotions of Prabhudeva - very good scene)
Thiruda Thiruda
Avvai Shanmugi
Rajesh
SPB is probably my favorite singer too. He has definitely sung most of my favorite songs. You are a brave man to even attempt a Top 10 :) I think I could manage a Top 50, nothing lesser.
But sadly, he doesn't sound 16 anymore. His voice has deteriorated in the last few years. I didn't really like his rendition of 'Devuda Devuda'. I wish he retires soon, instead of carrying on like my other favorite, Lata.
Acting-ku Kamal Hassan, Singing-ku SPB! Need I say more, BB, abt how much I adore SPB?!
He's my favorite singer by a mile. I usually joke with friends that I rate actors on a scale of 1 to Kamal! The scale's of course 1 to SPB for Singers!
What a lovely voice...it really is God's gift, his voice that has hardly changed over three or so decades of a prolific career.
My favs (totally random)-- Mandram Vandha Thendralukku, Pon Maalai Pozhudhu, Senorita, Kaalakaalamaaga, Mannil Indha Kaadhal, Kaadhal Rojave (my all time fav song-- not just from SPB's oeuvre...but my ALL TIME FAV), Thanga Thaamarai Magaley, Raakamma, Vannam Konda Vennilavey, Andhi Mazhai, Unakkenna Maelae Nindraay, and a lot more...
Rajesh stole my words!!! Just kidding...but yeah, I love SPB the actor...he was brilliant in the movies Rajesh mentioned...esp. the first two...there is this scene in Sigaram where he says that his son, a drunkard, is "committing the longest suicide." His intonation in that scene was amazing...but I think his greatest scene as an actor remains the pre-intermission sequence of Sigaram following the demise of the Rekha character. The silences broken only by the "Pakkathil Neeyumillai" from the background is an exquisitely composed scene and a wonderfully acted one as well...
Belated B'day wishes, SPB Sir!
His voice is just pure magic. Cant believe he is 60, when you listen to some of his latest hits. Like Prakash said, you are a brave man to come up with a list of top 10 of your favorites (even given the fact that they are random).
The moment I saw a list of songs, my eyes went searching for 'Enna satham indha neram' and I was glad that I found it in your list. I remember SPB himself saying in some interview that it is his personal favorite among all the songs that he had sung. Other songs that I thought would be great additions to the 'random' list would be - Munpaniyaa from Nandha and Minnale from May Maadham. Only SPB could have done justice to songs of that calibre.
Happy birthday to the legend!!
Happy Belated B-Day SPB......
It was also Illayarajah's B-Day a couple of days back........why isn't there a special on him Balaji???
The Illayaraja-SPB combo has always been my favorite and SPB's voice is unbeatable. Too bad that he is not given singing chances like he used to before, bcos of the new comers. Although some of them have turned out to be good singers, none have matched SPB's voice. I think what makes him stand out is the liveliness that he brings to the song, depending on its nature.
rajesh, yes SPB the actor was wonderful too. Always underplayed his role but had a unique style. Was noticeable even in crap movies like 'ratchagan' :)
prakash, i simply wrote out 10 songs as they came to mind and refused to think further. no way i could've stopped otherwise :)
ram, i think spb's the other other person who i have ever called thalaivar :)
and 'unakkenna mele nindraai' is a nice but not very common pick. not sure if i'd have remembered it but spb was great singing that...
skanda, didn't know that. didnt c any news items on that. has the bday passed? i would've loved to write about him too :)
filbert, considering ur music gnyaanam is way more than mine, i'm sure your list would be a really interesting one. ur 2 picks prove it :)
anon, missed that one. but did write about it last year :)
mitr, the time with ilaiyaraja-spb-vairamuthu combo could probably be called the golden period in TFM.
and i always blame arr for making it stylish to use singers with nasal voices and bad pronunciation, effectively pushing good ones like spb out :)
bb, think I mite've overlooked that had I not checked out Simla Spl. recently...it's a nice movie with some wonderful characterizations and meaningful dialogue (Visu).
But yeah, this song was the highlight of the movie! Kizhhhhi...
SPB is simply great. Still going strong.
I pray to the God almighty to give SPB many more years of happy singing.!!
Thanks Balaji for writing about SPB.
My favorite SPB songs - Nilaave Vaa selladhe vaa , pohgudhe pohgude en paingiLi vaanile, valaiosai kala kala kala,Manram vandha thenralukku...can keep adding :-)
Can you imagine SPB singing for MGR also. I think he made 'Aayiram Nilave Vaa' a timeless classic. Or am I just getting old!!
Of course, the mention of the laugh in Pattu Kannam always grass-itch-ufies. Even today.
can u add Azhakana Rakshashiye, maanguyile poonguyile to that list ! ...
i am a big fan of SPB too...from those earlier songs to those of todays...he is true versatile...n if u remember the "breathless" kinda song from movie unknown to me..starer SBPji n radhika...i like that song in telugu...dont know about tamil...but that one of my favs in telugu.
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