Andhra Pradesh CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in a letter to PM Modi urged to confer India’s highest civilian honour – the Bharat Ratna – on the later singer S.P. Balasubramanyam for his contribution to music and culture.
“As a tribute to the legendary singer for his outstanding contribution in the field of music and art, I request you to confer Bharat Ratna award upon him,” Reddy said.
The CM also listed other legendary singers such as Lata Mangeshkar, Bhupen Hazarika, M.S. Subbulakshmi, Bismillah Khan and Bhimsen Joshi who have been bestowed with the honour.
“This will be the highest recognition to his remarkable work which lasted for five decades and stays in our memory forever,” he said.
“He won six national film awards for best male playback singer for his work, 25 AP state Nandi awards for his work in Telugu cinema and numerous other state awards in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu,” he said.
“Our state of AP is fortunate for being the birthplace (Nellore) of the great maestro. His untimely departure not only caused much distress to fans and celebrities living in India but also has affected the international music fraternity,” observed Reddy.
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy also requested to present the late singer with the honour.
“I appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to award him the Bharat Ratna,” he said.
In 2001, Balasubramanyam was honoured with the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan in 2011 by the Government of India.
SP Balasubrahmanyam was hospitalised at MGM Healthcare in August after testing positive for covid-19. Initially, he suffered mild symptoms but soon after his health deteriorated. He was then put on ventilator an ECMO support.
SPB tested negative the infection on September 7. However, he was still kept on the ventilator and ECMO support.
On September 25 at 1:04 pm, SP Balasubrahmanyam passed away after suffering a cardio-respiratory stroke.
