S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Playback Singer
Playback Singer

S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

Born 4 June 1946 · Andhra Pradesh — Died 25 September 2020

Sang over 40,000 songs in 16 languages, setting a Guinness World Record for most recorded songs by a singer.

Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam, commonly known as SPB or Balu, was an Indian playback singer, television presenter, actor, music composer, dubbing artist, and film producer. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian singers of all time. He worked in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi films and sang in a total of 16 languages.

✨

A detail that
surprised us

“

On February 8, 1981, SPB recorded 63 songs in a single day across Kannada, Tamil, and Hindi films, a record noted by the Guinness World Records.

The Story

1
🎤 On December 15, 1966, in Chennai, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam recorded his debut playback song "Emiyee Vinta Moham" for the Telugu film Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna, setting the stage for a career spanning over five decades.
2
In a staggering feat on February 8, 1981, SPB recorded 28 Kannada songs in a single day, along with 19 Tamil and 16 Hindi songs, an achievement noted in the Guinness Book of World Records.
3🏆 Over his lifetime, he won six National Film Awards for Best Male Playback Singer across four languages and received 25 Andhra Pradesh Nandi Awards, reflecting his multi-lingual mastery.
4In 1989, SPB became the voice behind Salman Khan in the Hindi film Maine Pyar Kiya, with the song "Dil Deewana" earning him a Filmfare Award and cementing his presence in Bollywood's music scene.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

SPB recorded over 50,000 songs in 16 languages, a feat documented in the Guinness Book of World Records, surpassing many global artists in song volume.

🖼️

Through the Years

4 photographs from the archives
Close-up portrait of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam in 2013
Close-up portrait of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam in 2013
2013
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam receiving the centenary award at IFFI in Panaji, Goa (2016)
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam celebrating 50 years of musical journey in Dubai (2016)
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam at the 'Gurkha' audio launch event (2019)

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh
Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam was born into a Telugu Brahmin family in Konetammapeta near Nellore.
1946
⚡
Career
Won Telugu Cultural Organisation singing contest
SPB won first place in an amateur singing competition organized by the Telugu Cultural Organisation in Madras, marking a career turning point.
1964
⚡
Career
Playback singing debut in Telugu cinema
Recorded his first playback song "Emiyee Vinta Moham" for the film Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna, composed by S. P. Kodandapani.
1966
🌟
Other
Set record for songs recorded in one day
Recorded 28 Kannada, 19 Tamil, and 16 Hindi songs in a single day, a Guinness World Record noted feat.
1981
⚡
Career
Breakthrough in Bollywood with Maine Pyar Kiya
Became the singing voice for Salman Khan, winning a Filmfare Award for "Dil Deewana" in the hit film Maine Pyar Kiya.
1989
🕊️
Death
Passed away in Chennai
Died due to complications from COVID-19, ending a prolific career spanning over 50 years.
2020
🏅
Award
Bronze statue unveiled in Hyderabad
Telangana IT Minister and former Vice-President of India unveiled SPB's bronze statue at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad.
2025
More moments to come...
+ Add a moment

🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Just eight days after his debut Telugu song, SPB recorded his first Kannada song for the film Nakkare Ade Swarga in 1966, showing his early multilingual abilities.

02 / 04
💡SURPRISING

SPB's duet "Didi Tera Devar Deewana" in the 1994 Hindi blockbuster Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! remains one of Bollywood's iconic romantic songs, blending his voice with Lata Mangeshkar.

03 / 04
👤PERSONAL

His father, a Harikatha artist, influenced SPB's early musical training, where he self-learned harmonium and flute, combining classical and folk traditions.

No quote recorded for S. P. Balasubrahmanyam yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Legendary Singer SP Balasubramanyam | Alitho Saradaga | Full Episode | ETV Telugu
More from this archive
Legendary Singer SP Balasubramanyam | Alitho Saradaga | Full Episode | ETV Telugu
01
Legendary Singer SP Balasubramanyam | Alitho Saradaga | Full Episode | ETV Telugu
S P Balasubrahmanyam Special Interview | S P Balu | Sakshi TV FlashBack
02
S P Balasubrahmanyam Special Interview | S P Balu | Sakshi TV FlashBack
SP Balasubrahmanyam Exclusive Interview | Sakshi Legends Interview | Sakshi TV FlashBack
03
SP Balasubrahmanyam Exclusive Interview | Sakshi Legends Interview | Sakshi TV FlashBack
S P Balasubrahmanyam Special Full Interview | S P Balasubrahmanyam About Singers | iDream Exclusive
04
S P Balasubrahmanyam Special Full Interview | S P Balasubrahmanyam About Singers | iDream Exclusive
SP Balasubrahmanyam About His Wife | Sakshi Legends Interview | Sakshi TV FlashBack
05
SP Balasubrahmanyam About His Wife | Sakshi Legends Interview | Sakshi TV FlashBack
SP Balasubrahmanyam About Veturi Sundararama Murthy Songs | @SakshiTVFlashBack
06
SP Balasubrahmanyam About Veturi Sundararama Murthy Songs | @SakshiTVFlashBack
ಎಸ್.ಪಿ.ಬಾಲಸುಬ್ರಮಣ್ಯಂ ಜೀವನ ಕಥೆ Part 1 | Weekend With Ramesh S2 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam - Zee Kannada
07
ಎಸ್.ಪಿ.ಬಾಲಸುಬ್ರಮಣ್ಯಂ ಜೀವನ ಕಥೆ Part 1 | Weekend With Ramesh S2 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam - Zee Kannada
S.P.Balasubrahmanyam Sir & Gangai Amaran Sir's Rare Interview - Funny Interview - Coffee with Anu
08
S.P.Balasubrahmanyam Sir & Gangai Amaran Sir's Rare Interview - Funny Interview - Coffee with Anu
S.P. Balasubrahmanyam talks about his music and his Musical Career
09
S.P. Balasubrahmanyam talks about his music and his Musical Career
S.P. Balasubrahmanyam Exclusive Interview | The Finale | Mojo Projects
10
S.P. Balasubrahmanyam Exclusive Interview | The Finale | Mojo Projects

🌱 What changed because of them

SPB transformed playback singing by crossing linguistic and regional boundaries, setting new standards for versatility with his recordings in 16 languages. His work influenced the South Indian and Bollywood film industries, inspiring a generation of singers and expanding the scope of Indian cinema music. Institutions like the Telugu film industry and various state governments recognized his contributions with multiple awards, while his legacy continues through his son and protégés.

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