S P Balasubrahmanyam: A R Rahman in a flashback with SPB (courtesy Arrahman)
Strong points
- “You have proven that music can be produced anywhere”: SPB tells Rahman
- 1992 film ‘Roja’ marked A R Rahman’s debut as a composer
- “So quick, so professional, so humble,” A R Rahman said of SPB
New Delhi:
To R Rahman, who made his debut as a music composer with the 1992 film Roja, paid tribute to iconic singer S P Balsubrahmanyam one post after another. Rahman, who was one of the first to tweet “devastated” after the legendary singer’s death, wrote: “Celebrating the music, life and personality of S P Balasubramanyam” in another tweet. He shared a video, talking about the music legend as he knew him. Among the many interesting anecdotes Rahman shared on SPB, the music maestro also talked about his interaction with SPB while recording Roja soundtracks. “My other memories with him … when we recorded my first Roja recording Kadhal Rojave. He walked into the studio and the first thing he said was, “How can this studio produce a cinematic song. So I smiled at him and he came back after the movie came out and said, ‘You have proven that music can be produced anywhere. That’s what you do with it, ”Rahman said in the video.
1992 movie Roja marked A R Rahman’s debut as a composer. It was the first of many SPB-Rahman projects together. When Rahman debuted in 1992, S P Balasubrahmanyam was already a biggie in the music industry – he had won four of his six national awards by then. SPB sang three songs in the Tamil soundtrack of Roja – Rukkumani Rukkumani, and the duo and solo versions of Kaadhal Rojave. In the Hindi soundtrack he sang two duets – Yeh Haseen Waadiyan and a version of Roja Jaaneman (the second version was sung by Hariharan).
“He’ll learn a song in 15 minutes, sing it in 10 minutes, and move on to the next recording. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a singer like that. So quick, so professional, so humble,” added AR Rahman. Watch the full video here:
Celebrate #SPBalaSubramanyamthe music, life and personality of. ????https://t.co/7Gga4Ffflh
– A.R. Rahman (@arrahman) September 26, 2020
A few hours after SPB’s death on Friday, A R Rahman paid musical tribute to S P Balasubrahmanyam, describing him as “the voice of victory, love, dedication and joy”. Along with the words, Rahman shared an obituary along with a song sample. He followed up with a return photo from a gig with SPB.
The voice of victory, love, devotion and joy! #RIPSPBalaSubramanyampic.twitter.com/nd3H8oRcnO
– A.R. Rahman (@arrahman) September 25, 2020
A R Rahman was one of the first to mourn SPB on Twitter. He could just type “devastated”.
#ripspb … devastated pic.twitter.com/EO55pd648u
– A.R. Rahman (@arrahman) September 25, 2020
A R Rahman and S P Balasubrahmanyam have worked together on a number of films, including the blockbusters Sir, Sivaji and Enthiran. Songs such as Anjali Anjali, Vellimalare, Kadalenum, Azhagana Rakshasiyea, Swasamae, July Matham, Minnale Nee and Thoda thoda are some of the most memorable creations of Rahman and S P Balasubrahmanyam.
S P Balasubrahmanyam’s funeral took place at his farm in Red Hills in the Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu with the honors of the police.
