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SPB, naturally

Photo: M. KARUNAKARAN

On a high note S.P. Balasubramanium

S.P. Balasubramaniam stepped out of an early morning flight in Kochi, got into . the car, and did what he loves to do- talk. "The flight was okay. For me business or any other class is all about the size of the seat," he laughs. "Very often I ask them to give me the adjacent seat, if it is free. As a child I was skinny, almost malnourished. Putting on weight was because of the lifestyle - not eating on time and junk food, perhaps.

"Anything not cooked at home is junk food to me. "I remember Naushad saab telling me about Mohammed Rafi saab. The singer once complained of pain in the knees. Naushad saab asked him to cut down on his weight, and try exercising regularly. I remember how meticulous Naushad saab was with his daily walk - even when he was well past eighty. I have never tried anything. Call it sheer laziness. I used to be quite agile, despite the weight, but of late I become breathless when I take a flight of steps. I think I must get working on my fitness."

Rafi saab

"I met Rafi saab only once. He was recording, and I was there too recording for Ilaiyaraaja. I ran to where Rafi saab was. They were having a break. I rushed in, touched his feet and ran back. I was told Rafi saab had asked who that young man was. That was the only meeting with the great man."

Among his many `avatars' one that is quite surprising is that of a dubbing artiste. And like everything else, SPB has plunged into it with unbridled enthusiasm. A clear voice, excellent diction and his uncanny ability to empathise with the character for which he lends his voice, SPB is now a much sought-after dubbing artiste in Telugu.

"I enjoy it. Dubbing happened by chance. The puja for the film `Manmadha Leelalu' was on, and I went there. They had sounded me on this possibility, but I had politely refused asking them to give me songs instead.

"At the puja, , they asked me to read out a dialogue, which I did, and my voice was recorded. They told me that I could not go back now, and had to do the whole film! "

SPB has been the Telugu voice for Kamal Hassan, with `Dasavatharam' being the biggest challenge. "Except for the three characters that speak English, I dubbed for the rest, including the female voice. I have often asked Kamal why he does not go with his voice for the dubbed versions when he does it for the original Telugu films. His reply was, why should he do it when I was there." The car draws up the porch of a heritage hotel. Stepping in, SPB stands in awe of the sea "This is wonderful. I will now relax and listen to Naushad saab's `Kal raat zindagi.' I don't know how many times I must listen to it to sing it anywhere close to the way Rafi saab has."

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