The demise of legendary singer SP Balasubramanyam created a void that cannot be filled by anyone in the South Indian film industry. He died on Friday in ‘MGM Healthcare’ hospital after battling with his health ailments for more than 40 days. Balu’s last rites were performed at his Tamaraipakkam farm house. The who’s who from film fraternity and politics attended the event. Hero Arjun Sarja who paid his final respect to SPB requested the Centre to confer ‘Bharat Ratna’ award to SPB posthumously.
Arjun reminded that being a singer who sang nearly 45 thousand songs in all the Indian languages, SPB has the stature to be conferred ‘Bharat Ratna’. He said no singer can break SPB’s record when it comes to the number of songs he sang. Arjun made the clarion call to all the South Indian regional film industries to come together and request the Centre to award Bharat Ratna. Right from his first song in ‘Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna’ in 1966, he lent his voice to every star in four regional film industries. From Chandrababu Naidu to Lata Mangeshkar, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, celebs and politicians across India expressed their condolences to the departed singer.
