S P Balasubrahmanyam: An archival photo from the SPB (Courtesy: ispbofficial )
Strong points
- SPB was brought to his farm in Chennai on Saturday
- Supporters following the hearse decorated with flowers
- Fans lined up on the sides of the highway to pay their final respects
Chennai:
Famous singer S P Balasubrahmanyam would be buried with police honors, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said on Friday. In a sign of respect to Balasubrahmanyam, who has “won a perpetual place in the hearts of the people” not only of Tamil Nadu but of the whole country, the singer “would be buried” with the honors of the police department, the Chief Minister announced in an official press release.
Balasubrahmanyam’s body was taken from his Nungambakkam residence in town to his Thamaraipakkam farm in the nearby neighborhood of Thiruvallur, about 45 km from here with dozens of fans and sympathizers following the hearse – decorated with flowers and d ‘a’ trishul ‘on top of the vehicle – on two-wheelers and cars.
The funeral is expected to take place on Saturday, sources close to SPB’s family said.
From young people to seniors, people lined up on the sides of the highway towards Thiruvallur District at several locations, including the Red Hills Junction, to pay their respects. Several men stood in the middle of the road to water flower petals on the van carrying the singer’s body.
The van had to be slowed down or stopped to allow people to pay their respects in several places. Despite restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, SPB’s residence here has seen a relentless crowd of fans, supporters and politicians, including DMK youth wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Dravidian MK party leader Stalin to honor the singer.
Police struggled to control the crowd of fans who had gathered to pay their last respects. An iconic music composer and close friend of SPB for over 50 years, Illaiyaraja mourned the singer’s death in a moving video post.
The acclaimed musician said he had no words to describe the irreparable loss and added: “Balu, I told you to come back. You didn’t listen and you left … are you went to sing for the Gandharvas? (Life forms higher than humans. according to ancient Hindu belief), the world became a Sunyam (empty) with your passing. I have no words to describe the loss .. there is a limit for all sorrow but not for that. “
Another longtime SPB associate and veteran Tamil filmmaker Bharathiraja said he had no words to describe the loss of a close friend for more than 50 years. “I am in mourning. I cannot speak. I have no words,” he said.
Social media was abuzz with condolence messages and several users, including actress Khusbu Sundar, changed their display images and posted images of the singer as a sign of respect while famous music composer AR Rahman posted. a video, “Voice of victory, devotion of love and joy”. honoring SPB on his Twitter account.
The legendary play-back singer died on Friday after battling COVID-19 at MGM Healthcare here since August 5.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
