S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Playback singer who recorded songs in 16 languages
- Lived
- 74 yrs
- 1946 – 2020
- Works listed
- 4
- Film songs, Song
- Honours
- 5
- Most recent 2021
- Profile views
- 3
- 0 followers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam was a playback singer, actor and music director whose voice defined South Indian film music for five decades. He is believed to have recorded tens of thousands of songs in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and other languages, and won six National Film Awards. He died in 2020.
Biography
Engineering student to singer
SPB, as he was widely known, was studying engineering when he won a singing competition judged by composers including S. P. Kodandapani, who gave him his first film song in the Telugu film Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna (1966). He soon became the leading male voice in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada cinema.
Sankarabharanam
Although he had no formal classical training, he sang the demanding Carnatic-based songs of K. Viswanath’s Sankarabharanam (1980), winning his first National Film Award. His long partnership with composer Ilaiyaraaja produced hundreds of popular Tamil songs.
Hindi films
His Hindi debut, Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981), won him another National Film Award. In the late 1980s and 1990s he became the singing voice of Salman Khan in Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) and Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), recording hits such as “Dil Deewana” and “Didi Tera Devar Deewana”.
Many talents and legacy
SPB also acted in films, composed music, dubbed voices for actors such as Kamal Haasan, and hosted the long-running Telugu talent show Paadutha Theeyaga. He received the Padma Shri in 2001, the Padma Bhushan in 2011 and, posthumously, the Padma Vibhushan in 2021. He died in Chennai on 25 September 2020 after complications from Covid-19.
Timeline
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1946
Born in Konetammapeta, Nellore district, Madras Presidency (now Andhra Pradesh)
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1966
First film song
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1980
Sankarabharanam; first National Film Award
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1981
Hindi debut in Ek Duuje Ke Liye
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1989
Maine Pyar Kiya
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2001
Padma Shri
-
2011
Padma Bhushan
-
2020
Dies in Chennai
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2021
Padma Vibhushan (posthumous)
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2020
Died, aged 74
Notable works
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1980
Sankarabharanam (songs) Film songs
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1981
Tere Mere Beech Mein (Ek Duuje Ke Liye) Song
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1989
Dil Deewana (Maine Pyar Kiya) Song
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1994
Didi Tera Devar Deewana Song
Awards and honours
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National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer
1980 · Sankarabharanam.
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National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer
1981 · Ek Duuje Ke Liye.
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Padma Shri
2001
-
Padma Bhushan
2011
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Padma Vibhushan
2021 · Posthumous.
Did you know?
-
1
He had no formal classical training.
-
2
He was the singing voice of Salman Khan in the early 1990s.
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3
He dubbed the voices of actors including Kamal Haasan.
Connections
Related people
-
Ilaiyaraaja
Film & TV · Film composer who has scored more than a thousand films
Long-time collaborator
-
Salman Khan
Film & TV · Hindi film star and host of Bigg Boss
Singing voice in Maine Pyar Kiya
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Kamal Haasan
Film & TV · Actor, filmmaker and politician known for daring roles in Tamil cinema
Dubbed his voice in Telugu versions
-
K. J. Yesudas
Film & TV · Classical and film singer with a record eight National Film Awards
Contemporary playback singer
Frequently asked
Who is S. P. Balasubrahmanyam?
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam was a playback singer, actor and music director whose voice defined South Indian film music for five decades. He is believed to have recorded tens of thousands of songs in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and other languages, and won six National Film Awards. He died in 2020.
When did S. P. Balasubrahmanyam die?
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam died on 25 September 2020 at the age of 74.
Where is S. P. Balasubrahmanyam from?
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam was born in Konetammapeta, Nellore district, Madras Presidency (now Andhra Pradesh).
What is S. P. Balasubrahmanyam known for?
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam is best known for Sankarabharanam, Ek Duuje Ke Liye, Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!.
What awards has S. P. Balasubrahmanyam received?
Notable honours include National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer (1980), National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer (1981), Padma Shri (2001), Padma Bhushan (2011).
References
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam — Spotify. Spotify. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Official website. www.spbala.com. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (Q2049688) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “S. P. Balasubrahmanyam”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
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About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/s-p-balasubrahmanyam
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