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SPB, the legend with the legends of his era

TNN | Last updated on - Sep 25, 2020, 11:26 IST
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1/18

​SPB with Sivaji Ganesan

SPB with acting legend Sivaji Ganesan on the set of Sumathi En Sundari. The singer sang his first song for the actor in this film, directed by CV Sridhar - the melody Pottu Vaitha Mugamo. Looking on is composer Ganesh of the Shankar-Ganesh duo.

2/18

​SPB with MSV and S Janaki

SPB rehearsing a song with MSV, who introduced him in Tamil films, and made him the voice of many of his latter period songs, and singer S Janaki, at a recording studio.

3/18

​SPB with Ilaiyaraaja

SPB and Ilaiyaraaja were friends even before they became successful in films. In the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, SPB was Ilaiyaraaja's go-to singer. Their friendship, despite some sour notes a few years ago over the maestro's royalty claims, continued to remain strong till the end. When the singer was hospitalised, Ilaiyaraaja put out a video asking SPB to recover and get back to work.

4/18

​SPB with P Susheela

SPB with veteran singer P Susheela during a recording. Many of the duets that the two singers have sung together have gone on to become memorable hits.

5/18

​SPB with S Janaki and Ilaiyaraaja

SPB with singer S Janaki and music composer Ilaiyaraaja at the recording booth. The trio ruled the Tamil cinema of the 1980s and were behind innumerable chartbusters of that time.

6/18

​SPB with K Balachander

SPB with director K Balachander during the shoot of Manathil Uruthi Vendum. The director constantly encouraged the singer to act and was a fan of his effortless acting style. Also seen in this pic is director Vasanth (centre, sporting a beard), who cast SPB as the lead in Keladi Kanmani.

7/18

​SPB with PB Sreenivas

SPB with legendary singer PB Sreenivas. The older singer was one of his favourites, and SPB was a big fan of his singing of the song Nilave Ennidam Mayangathe, and would sing it in his concerts.

8/18

​SPB with KJ Yesudas

SPB with his contemporary and senior KJ Yesudas, whom he considered as an elder brother. The friendship between the two stalwarts also shone through every time they were on stage

9/18

​SPB with Gangai Amaren

SPB gifting a ring to music director, lyricist and director Gangai Amaren, who is also his longtime friend.

10/18

​SPB with AR Rahman

SPB with AR Rahman at one of the Oscar Winner's early concerts. Also seen are (from L to R) singers BlaaZe, Sukhwinder Singh, Sadhana Sargam and Vasundhara Das

11/18

​SPB with Hariharan

SPB in conversation with Hariharan a an event

12/18

​SPB in Manathil Uruthi Vendum

SPB in a still from Manathil Uruthi Vendum, with Suhasini and Kavithalaya Krishnan. In this K Balachander film, SPB played a cheerful doctor in the hospital in which the film's lead, played by Suhasini, works as a nurse.

13/18

​SPB in Keladi Kanmani

SPB with Baby Neena in Keladi Kanmani. In his first lead role, SPB played a man who does odd jobs and is a single parent. When his daughter is unable to accept the woman he is in love with, he walks away from marriage. The child grows up and on the eve of an operations, reunites her father with his old flame.

14/18

​​SPB in Sigaram

SPB in Sigaram, for which he also composed the music. He played a music director who is forced to separate from his girlfriend and marry another woman. Years later, after his wife's death, he falls ill and his girlfriend walks into his life again.

15/18

​SPB in Paatu Paadavaa

SPB with MS Viswanathan, Gangai Amaren and Lavanya. SPB, in a lead role, played a character with a tragic past who poses as a mentally challenged and mute person, and his rise to a successful singer

16/18

​​SPB in Kadhalan

SPB with Prrabhudeva in Kadhalan. In this romantic entertainer, directed by Shankar, SPB played a father who is more of a friend to his son, played by Prrabhudeva

17/18

​SPB in Minsara Kanavu

SPB with Girish Karnad in Minsara Kanavu. SPB played a boisterous father to Arvind Swami's character, and a former business associate of haughty businessman played by Karnad in this romantic musical directed by Rajiv Menon.

18/18

​SPB in a still from Priyamaanavale

SPB in a still from Priyamaanavale. He played the character of a rich bu well-meaning father in this romance drama starring actor Vijay and Simran.

Top Comment
dixit08007 Dixit
2081 days ago
My favourite singing superstar is dead. Attain the abode of Lord Krishna , oh dear
Read allPost comment
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