SPB Statue Unveiled At Ravindra Bharathi
Hyderabad: Former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday unveiled the statue of legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam at Ravindra Bharathi in the presence of political leaders, cultural figures and musicians at parties.
Addressing the meeting, Venkaiah Naidu described Balasubrahmanyam as an artist who moves with his voice. “He didn’t just sing. He performed with his voice. When he sang for actors in other languages, including Kamal Haasan, it felt as if the actor himself was singing.”
Recalling his career, Naidu said Balasubrahmanyam recorded more than 40,000 songs in around 16 languages over nearly 50 years. “Wherever he went, he carried Indian morals and values with him,” he said.
IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu said that Balasubrahmanyam belongs to everyone. “Balu sir was for everyone,” he said. “Beyond the records and awards, he was a man of value and that is why he remains a source of pride.”
Former Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatreya said Balasubrahmanyam’s songs accompany people at every stage of life. “From the innocence of a child in ‘Oh Papa Lali’ to the songs loved by young and old alike, her voice has stayed with families,” he said.
State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao said the singer is beyond political identities. “It connected people across ideologies and regions,” he said.
The departed singer’s son Charan said that his father consciously stayed away from political views. “My father was always apolitical, and that’s what people loved about him. He talked about important things but maintained the same civility towards everyone across parties and regions.”
“This alone shows that it belongs to everyone,” Charan said, pointing to the many leaders on stage. He also said that his father did not like being reduced to regional labels and preferred to be known simply as SP Balasubrahmanyam.
While the speeches reflected Balasubrahmanyam’s social stature, the choice of December 15 for the statue’s unveiling had a quieter personal meaning. He recorded his first song for Balasubrahmanyam’s film ‘Maryada Ramanna’ on this day in 1966; This was a turning point remembered in detail by his childhood friend GV Murli, who had known him since he was 13-14 years old.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Murli recalled that Balasubrahmanyam almost missed the opportunity. “A car was supposed to pick him up at 1.30pm and take him to the studio. He didn’t show up even after an hour. Balu almost gave up,” he said. “I told him we would only give up if the studio people themselves said no.”
Murli said he took Balasubrahmanyam to the recording studio on a bike. “The guards did not let us in. We argued with them and said that he was given the chance to sing,” he said. “That’s how he finally broke in and recorded his first song.”
Murli, a percussionist and retired radio engineer, accompanied Balasubrahmanyam in various competitions and shows before trying his hand at singing. He also recalled that singer Janaki, who was a judge at one of the competitions won by Balasubrahmanyam, encouraged him to sing for films even though he was shy initially.
Many speakers touched on Balasubrahmanyam’s journey from local performances to national recognition, stating that it was based on discipline rather than ambition. Many people also talked about his mentor role in the television show Padutha Theeyaga.
One of the organizers recalled: “He could have just finished the show and gone home. But he was not just a judge. He was a mentor who taught beyond singing, including culture, tradition and morals.”
PS Gopalakrishna, author of ‘Jeevanagaanam: SP Balasubrahmanyam’, said that he initially considered himself a long-time fan of the singer. “He was a living, walking art form. It feels right to place him next to Ghantasala,” he said. Another fan, Karunamma J, said, “We may not miss his songs because they are recorded, but we will always miss the warmth of his lyrics.”
Sculptor Padayaru said it was the honor of his life to be allowed to build the statue. He said he tried to capture Balasubrahmanyam in a way that reflects his Telugu cultural identity.
The inauguration took place amid tight security after some Telangana activists announced their protest against the erection of the statue to Ravindra Bharathi. Police said preventive arrests were made to avoid disruptions. The program continued without a hitch.
