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Woke up to this brilliant brilliant news of playback singer SPB garu donating his ancestral house in Nellore to the @KanchiMatham. It would become a Veda Patashala soon, under the guidance and blessings of current Acharyal Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati. 
A short thread.
A short thread.
Many don't know that SPB's father, Panditharadhyula Sambamurthy Bhagavathulu (1906 - 1987) was a great Harikatha Vidwan. He was a great devotee of Saint Tyagaraja. He was called 'Tyagaraja Bhikshuvu'. He began the Tyagaraja Aradhana in this same house, decades ago!
Every great stalwart of Carnatic music has visited this house and sung here over the decades. Bhagavatulu garu's ancestral home was like a temple to Saint Tyagaraja.
Few years ago, SPB unveiled another beautiful bronze statue of his presented by the citizens of Nellore.
Few years ago, SPB unveiled another beautiful bronze statue of his presented by the citizens of Nellore.
I can go on and on about the wonderful service Bhagavatulu garu did for spreading music, but that's for another time.
Today, his son SPB did him proud! The home, once filled with music, will now be reverberating with vedic Mantras once it becomes a Patashala!
Today, his son SPB did him proud! The home, once filled with music, will now be reverberating with vedic Mantras once it becomes a Patashala!
With this unprecedented act of generosity, SPB and his family acquire great Punyam!
You can be the richest, greatest and most popular human on earth, but what is a life if you can't do something for your Desham and Dharmam?
SPB has set a great example!
You can be the richest, greatest and most popular human on earth, but what is a life if you can't do something for your Desham and Dharmam?
SPB has set a great example!
Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam (1946- 2020)
Your music and service to dharma made you immortal!
Atma Shanti!
Your music and service to dharma made you immortal!
Atma Shanti!
పలుకు రాగ మధురం
నీ బ్రతుకు నాట్య శిఖరం
సప్తగిరులుగా వెలిసే
సుస్వరాల గోపురం!
ఆత్మ శాంతి బాలసబ్రహ్మణ్యం గారు
నీ బ్రతుకు నాట్య శిఖరం
సప్తగిరులుగా వెలిసే
సుస్వరాల గోపురం!
ఆత్మ శాంతి బాలసబ్రహ్మణ్యం గారు
Continuing this thread with few of my favourite #SPBalasubrahmanyam songs. There are just way too many to choose from!
This classic from Shankarabharanam.
This classic from Shankarabharanam.
I like the Telugu version of this song better! Starring @ikamalhaasan and Sridevi.
#SPBalasubrahmanyam
#SPBalasubrahmanyam
This song with @realradikaa where #SPBalasubrahmanyam also acted!
Once again, the Telugu version sounds better!
Once again, the Telugu version sounds better!
And Swarnakamalam!
One can just watch all K Viswanath classics and hear the best of #SPBalasubrahmanyam songs!
One can just watch all K Viswanath classics and hear the best of #SPBalasubrahmanyam songs!
And that is my dear friend, Pravachana Mahavidwan Chaganti Garu speaking about #SPBalasubrahmanyam garu.
Truly, a Kaarana Janma!
Truly, a Kaarana Janma!
Another Viswanath classic 'Swathi Muthyam' with @ikamalhaasan and @realradikaa.
What a beautiful song! Such deep meaning!
#SPBalasubrahmanyam
What a beautiful song! Such deep meaning!
#SPBalasubrahmanyam
Why just his mother language Telugu, #SPBalasubrahmanyam garu gave some brilliant songs in Kannada too!
Here #SPBalasubrahmanyam talks about dubbing @ikamalhaasan's 'Dashavataram' into Telugu, where he rendered his voice for numerous characters! What an extraordinary mimic!
Just see the outpouring of all the love for #SPBalasubrahmanyam garu! He himself told Kannada actor Ramesh Aravind in his show about how he felt!
In another show, #SPBalasubrahmanyam garu speaks about his association with the great Mandolin Shrinivas.
Tell me this Tamil song doesn't touch your heart!
What range! The beautiful voice of #SPBalasubrahmanyam garu!
What range! The beautiful voice of #SPBalasubrahmanyam garu!
What about #SPBalasubrahmanyam garu's brilliant songs for Hindi cinema!
Truly, "I don't know what to say!"
Truly, "I don't know what to say!"
Here #SPBalasubrahmanyam garu talks to Sonu Nigam about how he developed an admiration for the songs of the great Mohammad Rafi.
Bad quality video but you can still see it.
Bad quality video but you can still see it.
#SPBalasubrahmanyam, #Ghantasala and #PBSreenivos ...the three Telugus who redefined cinema playback singing in their own inimitable style!
Each one really ruled different eras!
Each one really ruled different eras!
#PBS and #SPB ...two Telugus whose contribution to the Kannada playback is equally significant!
So much so, I know many of my Kannadiga friends think they too were Kannadiga!
#SPBalasubrahmanyam
So much so, I know many of my Kannadiga friends think they too were Kannadiga!
#SPBalasubrahmanyam
How can we leave Malayalam cinema behind! Listen to #SPBalasubrahmanyam singing a Hindustani bandish in Raag Darbari Kanada, written by Maharaja Swati Thirunal in the biopic on him. The other singers in the movie were KJ Yesudas and Dr Balamurali Krishna.
The other two superstar Telugu divas of playback singing!
P Susheela and S Janaki.
Only god knows the countless duets #SPBalasubrahmanyam sang with them!
P Susheela and S Janaki.
Only god knows the countless duets #SPBalasubrahmanyam sang with them!
Couple of years ago, in Nellore, a special postage cover was released in the honour of #SPBalasubrahmanyam garu. A rare honour for a living legend.
As a compulsive philatelist, I managed to get a copy of that special cover!
It has a stamp of MLV on it!
It has a stamp of MLV on it!
Sharing a few rare images of #SPBalasubrahmanyam garu from his younger days, before I wind up this long thread!
I had no clue I was such a fan of his music till now! What a loss! Sigh!
I had no clue I was such a fan of his music till now! What a loss! Sigh!
Listen to #SPBalasubramanyam garu speaking about the great Carnatic maestro Dr Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna, who considered him like his son.
For #SPB30 he honoured several stalwarts in classical music and cinema music. Here with Ilayaraja, Sadasivam Bharat Ratna MS Subbulakshmi and @mangeshkarlata.
Wanted to end this thread but how can one stop listening to such beautiful songs!
ಪವಡಿಸು ಪರಮಾತ್ಮ ಶ್ರೀ ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ
ಮನವೆಂಬ ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆಯ ಹೂವ ಹಾಸಿಗೆ ಮೇಲೆ
ಪವಡಿಸು ಪರಮಾತ್ಮ ಶ್ರೀ ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ .. ಸಪ್ತಗಿರಿವಾಸ...
He put the Lord to sleep with this song. May he too rest in music at the lord's feet!
ಪವಡಿಸು ಪರಮಾತ್ಮ ಶ್ರೀ ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ
ಮನವೆಂಬ ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆಯ ಹೂವ ಹಾಸಿಗೆ ಮೇಲೆ
ಪವಡಿಸು ಪರಮಾತ್ಮ ಶ್ರೀ ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ .. ಸಪ್ತಗಿರಿವಾಸ...
He put the Lord to sleep with this song. May he too rest in music at the lord's feet!
#SPBalasubramanyam loved life! He loved to live and enjoy everything about life! He said so, in many interviews. 
A feature about #SPBalasubramanyam garu over half a century ago in Andhra Prabha. He had just begun his career then!
Got this late last night from octogenarian Susheela amma. A heartfelt tribute to #SPBalasubrahmanyam. She is currently the only person who has seen his entire career from day 1.
Posting it in two parts.
Posting it in two parts.
Part 2. She talks about how #SPBalasubramanyam impressed the great Ghantasala.
When #SPBalasubrahmanyam sang this song for Pejawara Shri Swamigalu.
https://twitter.com/veejaysai/status/1309518042129260545?s=19
https://twitter.com/veejaysai/status/1309518042129260545?s=19
At a function in honour of Carnatic maestro Dr Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna, #SPB who considered him a father figure, was asked to speak. He paid his respects. The maestro replied saying "If Balu did a lot of Sadhana, he can sing like me. But how much ever...
...Sadhana I do, I will never be able to sing like Balu!".
#SPBalasubramanyam took this comment as the greatest blessing in his life. He even announced that he wanted this statement inscribed on his Samadhi! He mentioned this in numerous interviews later!
#SPBalasubramanyam took this comment as the greatest blessing in his life. He even announced that he wanted this statement inscribed on his Samadhi! He mentioned this in numerous interviews later!
