K.R.Murthy
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday requesting him to confer Bharat Ratna award to legendary singer Sripati Panditaradhula Balasubrahmanyam. ‘Our State of Andhra Pradesh is fortunate for being the birthplace (Nellore) of the great music maestro Sri S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, who left for his heavenly abode on Friday (25 September 2020). His untimely departure not only caused much distress to fans and celebrities living in India but also has affected the international music fraternity,’ said the CM.
‘The unending saga of his staggering achievements go beyond music. With his unparalleled talent, Sri SP Balasubrahmanyam has lifted compositions to sublime levels,’ Jagan Mohan Reddy said in his letter. The chief minister has also informed the PM that SPB won six national awards, 25 AP Nandi awards and a national Filmfare award besides six Filmfare South awards for being the best singer. SPB was adjudged the best film personality in India for the year 2016 and was given silver peacock Medal. The music maestro was felicitated by the Union government with Padma Sri in 2001 and Padma Bhushan in 2011, the prime minister was told.
Modi was reminded that earlier music stalwarts like Lata Mangeshkar, Bhupen Hazarika, MS Subbulakshmi, Bismilla Khan and Bhimsen Joshi were conferred Bharat Ratna award by Government of India. “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. This will be the highest recognition to his remarkable work which lasted for five decades and stays in our memory forever,” he concluded. Jagan Mohan Reddy has to be appreciated for recognizing the strong desire of crores of SPB’s fans and articulating their ardent wish through his letter to the prime minister and also for deputing AP Irrigation Minister Anil Kumar Yadav to Chennai to participate in Balu’s funeral. The letter has to be pursued in Delhi till the highest civilian honour is conferred on the legend.
