SPB has sung in mainstream films across 16 languages including Tamil, Telugu Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi. He has also acted in a few films. Not many playback singers have managed to achieve what SPB did as an actor. He received a lot of love from the audience and carved a niche for himself as a character artist. Throughout his decades-long career, singer SP Balasubrahmanyam juggled multiple roles, including that of an actor. In Tamil cinema, in particular, he acted in about 30 films.
SPB was the perfect choice to handle the multiple layers of the movie. With strong acting abilities and charisma, SPB makes the audience laugh and cry. While fans adored him for his music, many also admired his acting skills. Apart from these, the legendary singer has also acted in films including Palaivana Ragangal, Thiyagu, Sigaram, Gunaa, Thalaivasal, Kadhal Desam, Ullaasam, Ratchagan, Bharathan and April Maadhathil in Tamil.
SPB as lead
The first film of SPB in which he played the lead, Keladi Kanmani. This film finds a place amongst the list of one of his finest performances. The film follows the life of AR Rangaraj and the people he loves – Anu, his daughter, and Sharada, the woman he wants to spend his life with. His rendition of “Mannil Indha”, which he does without taking a single breath in between the lines, is immensely popular even today.
Avvai Shanmugi
In a brief scene, elevated to comedy gold by Crazy Mohan’s witty lines, Sethuraman Iyer (Delhi Ganesh) attempts to explain to the doctor what the emergency is. SPB interjects each attempt with a possible explanation even before Sethuraman can finish. His role, as the man who ends up giving the final stamp of approval to hire “Avvai Shanmugi”, is memorable.
Favourite Father
As Prabhu Deva’s Father in “Kadhalan”, SPB is downright emotional at the perfect times especially in a scene where SPB has to “Treat” Prabhu Deva as ordered to by his Inspector boss. As the father of an immoral son in “Priyamanavale” is caught between the ultra-modern/immoral Vijay and between his angel-like daughter in law – SPB plays his emotions beautifully.
Happy birthday Sir, Thank you so much for leaving yourselves in each human being’s heart.
