Language matters Balu 

The Hindu, BMG, Jul 08, 2002

Over 35,000 songs and still going strong. That is playback singer, S.P. Balasubrahmanyam for you. Fondly called `Balu', he holds the world record for the highest number of songs sung by any male singer. However, it was not an easy way to glory for him. He had his ups and downs in his career. Though he has no classical background, he worked his way to the top by dint of hard work and is there for nearly four decades.

"I was lucky to have entered the field during the `golden era' of music, when the legendary Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, P. Suseela and S. Janaki were already established singers. I was fortunate to learn from their experiences," Balu recalled during a recent chat with media people.

"I calculate everything by the day. Today also I can sing with 100 per cent fitness. Even if there is a 10 per cent decrease in the depth of my voice, I will quit my singing career," he averred. "The tenacity of a singer's voice will decrease with age but I am still robust", he says.

Balu is perturbed by the influx of singers who do not even know Telugu language. The producers of so-called `low budget' Telugu films are also importing singers from Mumbai.

It is unfortunate that artistes are playing into the hands of their fans. They say that their fans do not want a particular singer, without actually knowing the pulse of the cine-goers.

This is not to say that he is averse to the introduction of new talent. There are a good number of budding Telugu singers, whose services could be utilised. Brushing aside the contention that language is no barrier in film songs, he asked, "If that is the case why should Telugu women lend their voice to heroines from Mumbai, acting in Telugu films?".

Balasubrahmanyam believes in the philosophy of giving something to the world. He had introduced several new singers through programmes like "Paadutha Theeyaga" on ETV and says that it is his contribution to society. He plans to present a similar programme "Paadalani Undhi" on MAA TV.