Legendary Playback Singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam Battles For Life In A Chennai Hospital

The health of legendary playback singer and Padma Bhushan awardee S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, who was admitted to MGM Healthcare in Chennai with Covid-19 symptoms on August 5, has deteriorated. He is currently in a critical condition and on life support.

According to a statement issued by the hospital today, the singer’s condition took a turn for the worse late last night (Aug 13) and based on the advice of the expert medical team attending to him, he was moved to the intensive care unit. The hospital said that his condition continues to remain critical

The singer had himself posted aideo message on his social media (Facebook page) confirming that he had tested positive for Covid-19 after showing mild symptoms

"No one needs to worry about me and please don't call me to find out how I am. I am perfectly alright except the cold and fever. Fever has also subsided. In two days, I will be discharged and I will be home," Balasubramaniam, 74, said in the video, which is doing the rounds on Twitter.

Balasubrahmanyam has been working in the film industry for the past five decades. He has rendered more than 40,000 songs till now.

Born as Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam in a Telugu family, the singer has received the National Film Award six times so far, and also holds a Guinness World Record for recording the maximum number of songs. He is also a recipient of other civilian honours — Padmashri and Padma Bhushan — from government of India.

In Bollywood, he shot to fame with his songs in "Ek Duuje Ke Liye". In the nineties, he was popular as Salman Khan's voice, having belted out several hits in films such as "Maine Pyar Kiya", Humn Aapke Hain Koun..!", Hum Saath-Saath Hain", and "Patthar Ke Phool", among many others.