S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, popularly known as SPB, is regarded as one of the greatest playback singers in Indian cinema. He holds the record for recording one of the highest numbers of songs in the history of Indian cinema and was known for his versatility, mellifluous voice and impeccable diction.
SPB remained one of the busiest singers for much of his career, particularly in Telugu and Tamil cinema, while also recording songs in several other Indian languages. He passed away in September 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an old interview, the legendary singer spoke candidly about the personal cost of his extraordinary career. Despite enjoying immense success and recognition, SPB admitted that his relentless pursuit of work came at the expense of his family life.
“I sang the highest number of songs, and people called me the number one singer in those days. I was happy that I always remained busy. However, the price I paid was my personal life,” he recalled.
He went on to explain how his demanding career meant he missed many important moments in his children’s childhood.
“I didn’t watch my kids growing up. My wife came into my life at a very young age and she took up all the responsibilities. I didn’t know what was happening at home. All my sisters also began staying with me, and my wife took care of all the responsibilities, including their education,” SPB said.
He added that he also took on the financial responsibilities of his family, including getting his sisters married.
“I married off my sisters and bore all the financial responsibilities. It was a race to stay in the competition and earn money. I didn’t even realise how I was running in this race,” he said.
SPB credited his wife for managing the responsibilities of their personal life while he remained occupied with his career.
“Perhaps I could run that race because my wife took care of all the responsibilities in my personal life. There is a saying that every boon carries a curse. My life is an example of that. I had a glorious career, but the curse was that I lost my personal life,” he reflected.
