Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Balu advises up-and-coming singers not to aim for instant success

— PHOTO: CH. VIJAYA BHASKAR

Expertspeak:Playback singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam during an interview with

VIJAYAWADA: “The reality shows being beamed by television channels are not meant to produce playback singers. They are conceived to enable the budding singers to master the art of singing,” says noted playback singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, who has been enthralling music lovers the world over for more than four decades. In a tête-à-tête with The Hindu on Thursday, Mr. Balasubrahmanyam, who is in the city for conducting ETV's Paaduta Teeyaga semi-finals, felt that youngsters taking part in the music shows should aim at fine tuning their singing prowess instead of trying for instant success as a playback singer. “They are like uncut diamonds and we have to polish them. We, as judges, play the role of correcting their mistakes and suggesting ways and means to improve. You will be surprised to know that it took nearly a decade for me to establish myself in the Telugu music industry. When I made my entry in the Telugu film industry, we already had established singers like Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, P.B. Srinivas, Pithapuram Nageswara Rao and Madhavapeddi Satyam. With discipline and guidance from my guru M.S. Kodandapani, I could make a mark in the Telugu film industry,” the versatile singer said.

‘Hard work needed'

The legendary singer said though reality shows brought to the fore talented singers, many went on to become “one film wonders”. He also blamed parents for exerting “unwarranted pressure” on the singers. “A strong foundation is the need of the hour. Only by hard work and dedication, success will embrace you. At times, I feel sorry for the youngsters as they needlessly undergo stress. They (singers) feel that their lives are doomed if they are eliminated in a show,” he remarked with a sense of anguish. Mr. Balasubrahmanyam felt that one should welcome invasion of technology with open arms as it was difficult to prevent it. “If you analyse evolution of film music, it has undergone a sea change from the days when orchestra used to be performed on the sets and the performer used to croon. But technology should be used properly,” he pointed out. The Padmasri-awardee agreed that technology had gradually obliterated the several instrumental players, but at least some music directors were using them in their recordings.

Deteriorating values

To a question on the deteriorating standards in lyrics, Mr. Balasubrahmanyam drew a comparison with the fall in ethical values in society. “Though I have reduced the number of my recordings, I sing one or two songs everyday, be it a film song or a devotional one,” he signed off.

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