Multiple National award-winning singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, who had been hospitalized since August 5 after testing positive for the coronavirus, died on Friday at MGM Health Care hospital in Chennai at the age of 74, his son has said. “SPB belongs to everyone. He will live on in his songs. My dad passed away at 1.04 pm,” he told reporters.
After showing signs of recovery over the last few weeks, his health deteriorated. A medical bulletin from the hospital said “he was on extreme life support” on Thursday. SPB, as he was fondly called, is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. “In a further setback this morning, despite maximal life support measures and the best efforts of the clinical team, his condition deteriorated further and he suffered a cardio-respiratory arrest. With profound grief, we regret to inform that he has passed away on September 25. at 13:04 Hours. We express our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, well-wishers and admirers at their loss during this time of anguish and sorrow,” the hospital said in a statement.
A legend, Balasubrahmanyam gave his voice to thousands of songs spanning across languages and genres. Winner of six National awards, he sang from actors ranging from MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Salman Khan.His fans had given him the title of Paadum Nila (Singing Moon).