MSV ticked him off for Telugu accent’

MSV ticked him off for Telugu accent’

Film-maker recalls how SPB got a chance to sing in Shanthi Nilayam

26/09/2020

Chithralaya Gopu

“I sing the notes as they are written but it is the Almighty who comes out as my voice,” was a frequent statement made by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam. His first recorded song was from the film Shanti Nilayam, produced by Gemini Vasan, and the script work was done by me. Englishman Marcus Bartley was the cameraman.

M.S. Viswanathan had tuned a song Iyarkaii Ennum Ilaiyya Kanni and a few months earlier, SPB had frequented his house seeking an opportunity to sing in films. “Get rid of your Telugu accent and improve your Tamil!” MSV told him, and within months, SPB’s Tamil improved. MSV made him sing Iyarkaii Ennum Ilaiyya Kanni and it was an instant hit. He received ₹150 as remuneration for the song.

eanwhile, MGR had an issue with T.M. Soundararajan, and SPB had the opportunity to sing for him — the song Ayiram Nilave Vaa in Adimai Penn. Though Adimai Penn released first, SPB’s first recorded song was from Shanti Nilayam.

SPB loved working with our Chithralaya Unit and before singing Panivizhum Malarvanam, he said, “Gopu sir, Chithralayaa is my mother’s home.”

Baalu, as we fondly called him, was a perfect gentleman. The film industry will not be the same again.