A Small Tribute to a Legend

 To talk about a legend, a musical wizard, a person loved by almost everyone across the country, especially when I didn't know him personally nor a musician myself, borders on sacrilege.  Also, as they say in Kannada, it is like holding a candle to the Sun.  However, SPB - Shri/Dr Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubramanyam - was a singer par excellence who touched everyone's life and heart in the South (if not the entire country).  

This post is not to eulogise and write about his life and qualities.  I am no expert.  Nor do I want to copy information from Wikipedia and post here. As a small tribute to the man who sang thousands of songs in Kannada - both film and non-film - I would like to enlist songs that were watershed moments either in his career, or those of actors, or stood out musically.  This is not an easy task at all, considering the body of work and immense popularity of so many of his songs; yet I am sticking my neck out and making a list of just ten gems.

SPB first sang in Kannada in 1967 - his second ever song was in Kannada.  M Ranga Rao made him sing in the movie, 'Nakkare Ade Swarga', a duet with P Susheela.  For an industry that was awed by the voice of PBS - Prativadi Bhayankara Srinivas, it took a while to warm up to SPB.  Between 1967 and 1972, SPB did sing many songs, and some of them became immensely popular too.  But, then came a breakout performance that made him a star singer. The list is not organised chronologically, except for the first number.

1.  Havina Dwesha Hanneradu Varusha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKmE7D_bx2M

1972.  Puttanna Kanagal, ace Kannada director, was launching a new hero Sampath Kumar,with the movie, "Naagara Haavu" based on a novel by the same name penned by literary great, T R Subba Rao (otherwise known as ThaRaaSu).  He wanted a fresh voice to lend vocals to an angst-ridden song.  Vijayabhaskar, one of the best music director Kannada has seen (and Puttanna's favourite) suggested SPB.  The song - penned by Vijayanarasimha - was composed more like a slow, dramatic monologue, than a typical song.  

The movie, its hero (and heroine), and this song were all runaway hits. Sampath Kumar became the new star of Kannada cinema as Vishnuvardhan. And, SPB became the go-to voice of every hero from then on.  And, this marked the end of the peak of PB Srinivas as a playback singer in Kannada.  

2.  Naliva Gulaabi Hoove

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrTvmCyGjvo 

SPB arguably has sung his best numbers in Kannada for Shankar Nag.  His mannerisms, the energy he would bring in all epitomised what Shankar Nag reflected on the screen.  I could even make an exclusive SPB-Shankar Nag anthology of great numbers, from across many movies, starting from Seetha Ramu to SP Sangliana.  

Auto Raja, the movie in which this song plays, catapulted Shankar to a superhero status, and to this day he is the demigod that every Kannadiga auto driver swears by, even though he died three decades ago. Rajan-Nagendra, the most successful/popular music duo of Karnataka composed music for this number; the lyrics are by the word maestro, Chi Udayashankar.  

3.  Entha Marulaiyya Idu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X10mWHSrURg

1970s in Kannada Cinema stands out because of new-wave and art-house films.  P N Srinivas was one such talent; his movies though were neither completely art-house nor fully commercial.  Even though he made very few movies, they all have stayed in the minds of connoisseurs of good movies.  He began with Spandana, and the music composed by C Ashwath, feels fresh to this day.  This song sung by SPB is one of my all-time favourites.  The lyrics are by the poet, N Lakshminarayana Bhat are soul-stirringly poignant, if you understand Kannada.  

4.  Nammoora Mandara Hoove

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySRGK6PVz3Q 

Another talent that emerged in Kannada in the late 70s was Suresh Heblikar.  He specialised initially in suspense and mysteries, and later branched out to make movies on psychological issues.  There are amazing songs from many of his movies, like  'Aparichita'(Ee Naada Anda Ee Kaala Chanda), and 'Amara Madhura Prema' (Naaleyu Barali Santasa Tarali), and yet I thought I'd chose only one. This song is from, 'Aalemane'.  The lyrics  are by Doddarange Gowda, an underutilized powerhouse wordsmith.  Music is by the extremely talented Ashwath and L Vaidyanathan.  The duo were known as Ashwath-Vaidi, and gave music to several movies in Kannada.  This romantic number and its intensity of emotion could only be brought alive by the vocals of SPB.  None else can be imagined to sing it. Through out the 80s, almost everyone sang this song at school competitions, college fests, and every possible occasion!

5.  Bhale Bhale Chandada Chandulli Hennu Neenu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNrG2uFtPmQ 

Ramesh Arvind arrived in late 80s and soon established himself in playful roles which earlier were earmarked for Ramakrishna.  But, then he turned up in an intense, psychotic movie role in 'Amritavarshini', directed by Dinesh Baboo.  It was a break-out performance that helped him cement his career. The music helped in no less measure, and without doubts, SPB's vocals in this song composed by Deva, and penned by K Kalyan.  The lyrics are fresh, romantic, and make you think of spring in intense summer, and the singing gives you goosebumps.  

6.  Yaava Hoovu Yaara Mudigo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nQ8rmu5ZFU

Srinath was known as King of Romance (Pranaya Raja) during his heyday in Kannada cinema.  But, SPB had not sung a song for him until Shubhamangala (1974).  This song is from 'Besuge', another romance with his best onscreen heroine, Manjula.  SPB's contribution is immense in sustaining the image of Srinath as the perennial lover.  Most of the songs that made a mark and became popular were duets ('Nille Nee Nalle', 'Besuge Besuge..', 'Ee Sambhashane', and so on).  SPB and Srinath built a lifelong friendship from the days of Shubhamangala, even after Srinath moved away from being the lead to character roles. 

Geethapriya debuted as director with this movie, and even penned the lyrics.  Music is by Vijayabhaskar. 

7.  Noorondu Nenapu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJgrLFDr5vE 

'Bandhana' (this song features in it) was the most successful film of Vishnuvardhan ever.  Even though he had the tag of an angry young man, and played to the masses as a tough action hero, this was a completely romantic movie, not essentially matching his image.  But, SV Rajendra Singh Babu, the director, produced a masterpiece that enchanted the entire state's audiences. Based on a novel by Usha Navaratnaram by the same name, the movie retains a cult status in romantic movies.  

The music for this movie was scored by M Ranga Rao, and the lyrics were penned by RN Jayagopal, the son of R Nagendra Rao, a doyen of Kannada cinema.  

8.  Santhoshake Haadu Santhoshake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbvU2qscN9g 

Will there be any 'all-time best' lists be complete without an Ilayaraja number? Most probably not.  

Shankar Nag was a multi-faceted personality.  He though debuted through stage, he went on to become an actor, director, script-writer, producer, and even established a sound recording studio in Bengaluru.  He made the eponymous 'Malgudi Days' for DD, based on RK Narayan's works. 'Geetha' was one of the early movies he directed, and dealt with the travails of a man in love with a cancer patient.  Even though the movie was not a great success, its music continues to stay on the minds of people; Ilayaraja used one of his compositions from this movie in 'Cheeni Kum', 30 years later!

9.  Karunaada Taayi Sadaa Chinmayi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDUzQJMY0ug

If it is Kannada song list, it will stay incomplete without a Hamsalekha number; or for that matter, a song featuring V Ravichandran, the crazy star.  This song from 'Nanu Nan Hendti' was only penned by Hamsalekha; it was set to music by Shankar-Ganesh duo.  This movie also started one of the longest and successful associations of actor-musician resulting in a series of musical hits, Prema Loka, Ranadhira, Anjada Gandu, and so on, over the next decade and a half.  Ravichandran gave a big break as a music director (and lyricist) to Hamsalekha; Hamsalekha made a star out of Ravichandran, with his dialogues, lyrics, and music.  And, it was the voice of SPB that brought all those compositions to life. 

Hamsalekha often repeats everywhere, 'a singer like SPB takes birth only once in 500 years'.  

10. Umandu Ghumandu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMM9TBrpbTA 

Chindodi Bangaresh and Chindodi Leela, two stalwarts of Kannada theatre always had a dream to make a movie on Panchakshari Gavai, a gifted blind Hindustani Classical musician  from North Karnataka.  Surprisingly when they chose to make it, they chose Hamsalekha to compose music.  The entire industry circles were shocked - one, the movie was about Hindustani Classical music; two, Hamsalekha was known to break every musical tradition and come up with crazy numbers.  Some even used to call him, 'Dhwamsalekha' (meaning, the pen that destroys). Yet, the result was no less than outstanding.

Gana Yogi Panchakshari Gavai, not only brought National Award to SPB - his fourth - for singing, it even fetched the Best Music Director Award to Hamsalekha, a much needed validation of his music talent!

A1. One for the road - Mamaravello Kogileyello

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6jrsgJxNAI 

SPB used to sing one particular song in most of his musical concerts.  He used to refer it to as the ideal song for 'Kantha Shuddhi', in his programmes.   

This song is from a movie, Devara Gudi, featuring Vishnuvardhan and his wife, Bharati.  The music was by Rajan-Nagendra, and lyrics are by Chi Udayashankar.

SPB not only sang, but also gave music to several Kannada movies, 'Sandarbha', being the first one. Strangely, in one of the movies where he acted and scored music, someone else was his playback singer! Dr Rajkumar gave the vocals for SPB on screen in the movie, 'Muddina Maava'.  When the request was made to Rajkumar he is believed to have exclaimed, "it is like the river Ganga has come asking for a cup of water!" Incidentally, Rajkumar is the only star for whom SPB didn't playback. 

SPB is no more.  But his voice and songs are forever alive, making us come alive, shed tears, romance, believe and live!