Singer G Venugopal’s tribute to SPB’s memories

Singer S P Balasurbrahmaniam is no more, but the musical fraternity is doing all they can to keep his memories alive.
After a recent music video by Rahul Raj, which had singer Haricharan rendering his voice, veteran vocalist

G Venugopal

also sings a track dedicated to the memories of SPB.

Sharing the same on his social media page, Venugopal said, “A tearful tribute to the great singer SPB, who left us all for his heavenly abode. Lyrics, by P.K. Gopi, Music by Nobi Bentex. Sung by G. Venugopal. Video Edits : Jithinraj Kakkoth (sic).”

Venugopal adds, “My dear friend, film critic, blogger and vlogger Suresh Raveendran, who heard an outline of this song soon after it was composed, said, ‘If we build a musical temple for SPB, this song would be the Harivarasanam of the same.”

The song goes ‘Ilayanilavu Polinju’ and its tune starts off reminding one of SPB’s hit tracks ‘Ilayanilaa.’
It is on September 25 that the legendary playback singer cum actor passed away in a hospital in Chennai, at the age of 74. In August this year, he was hospitalized after testing positive for Covid – 19, and after doing well for a few days, his condition had worsened. Later, on September 4, he had tested negative as well, though the virus affected his overall health condition. While many in South India prayed for his health and recovery, the artiste passed away, leaving behind about 40,000 songs across 16 languages, for us to remember him.

SPB has also acted in a handful of movies, like ‘Manathil Uruhi Vendum,’ ‘Kaadhalan,’ ‘Keladi Kanmani’ and ‘Sigaram.’ He has also worked as a music composer in films like ‘Sigaram.’