When he received an award at Alva’s Virasat Award at Moodbidri, Gaana Gandharva SB Balasubrahmanyum became emotional and wished to take rebirth in Karnataka, in another life.
Moodbidri: “Until now in my entire life, never have I witnessed an award ceremony such as Alva’s Virasat Program. I don’t have any belief that such felicitation programs would also be conducted in the future. Given another life, I would love to be reborn in Karnataka.”
Our beloved SP Balasubrahmanyam was expressing his feelings about our state – Kannadanadu on Thursday evening, the 24th December 2015, at Alva’s Educational institution, Vidyagiri, Moodbidri on the occasion of the 22nd Alva’s Virasat Award Program.
The grand program was graced by several dignitaries such as religious leader Rajarshi Dr. D Virendra Heggade, and Smt. Hemavathi V Heggade, along with 35,000 artistes at an enormous stadium at Puttige Vivekananda Nagara. The celebration touched his heart to such an extent that he said that no other felicitation could come near it, nor would he want one after it. “It is such a debt to my loving parents, who gave birth to me.. it cannot be repaid.”
On December 16, 1966, When music director, Kodandapani gave SP Balasubramanyam his first opportunity to sing in the film industry, he thanked the entire team of musicians, band members, directors, lyricist, producers, and actors for giving him the chance to make a mark. His first performance for a Kannada movie was in “Nakkare Ade Swarga”. Knowing that a language such as Kannada existed, but never knew how the language was, or how was it spoken, he shared his scary experience with us.
An Unforgettable Moment: the felicitation of SPB
Just like the waves of the sea, each wave causing its own ripples and roar, the gathering was filled with an ocean of his fans. The evening began with a cultural procession with colored umbrellas and artistes performing as they led the singing superstar SPB along with other dignitaries to the dais. Passion for culture ran high in the crowd as the stage lights shone on the guests!
SPB was felicitated by well-known music scholar RK Padmanabha Shashtri.
The ceremony began with a Classical Concert called “Abhivandane”, then with the Yaksha Musical, conducted by Satyanarayana Punachittaya, followed by the clamor of “Chenda”, taking the roles of Yaksha in based on Manipuri and Sri Lankan dancers, the artistes amazed the audience gathered that day. SPB watched with great attention the various art forms, from music to dance. The artistic vibrancy of the cultural event stunned SP Balasubrahmanyam, who said time and again witnessed such an honor never before.
When the legend visited the Alvas Virasat for the first time
But it was on January 11, 2009, that he first visited Alva’s institutions for the Alva’s Virasat Program which was held in Shobhabhavan, Mijar for the first time.
SPB’s humility came through when he said, “Being an aspiring engineer, I instead became a singer. As given in my name, “Bala” would suggest that I will always be a small, common man, like everybody else
That day his melodious voice filled the Shobhavana ground where the program was held. Fans thronged the grounds to hear him sing crowd favorites, Tere mere beech main, Naguva Nayana Madhura Mauna, Shankara… Naadashariraapara, and several other super hit songs.
Today those days are memories that will always linger.
By Ganesh Kamath M; Photos Ravi, Manasa Studio
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