P. B. Sreenivas

Prathivadhi Bhayankara Sreenivas (22 September 1930 – 14 April 2013) widely known as P. B. Sreenivas, was an Indian playback singer, composer, harmonium player, lyricist and poet known for his works in various Indian languages. His major chunk of work has been in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu languages, though he sang many songs in Malayalam and Hindi too. He has garnered the Kannada Rajyotsava Prashasti, the Tamil Kalaimamani Award, and the Madhavapeddi Satyam Award by the Andhra Siva Foundation, for his contributions to music and cinema.

In his honour, Sri Kala Sudha Telugu Association of Chennai, instituted the P. B. Sreenivas Mahapurusha Award to honour veteran singers.

Musical career His uncle, Kidambi Krishnaswamy, was a drama artist and a singer. When Sreenivas was 12, Krishnaswamy gave him a chance to sing in a drama. Later, Sreenivas, a trained harmonium player and singer, went to Gemini Studios, Madras. Emani Sankara Sastry, a veena player, was one of the residing musicians. He introduced Sreenivas to S. S. Vasan, the owner of Gemini Studios. There, Sreenivas sang a super hit song sung by Mohammed Rafi, his favourite singer. It was "Huye Hum Jinke Liye Barbad", from Deedar (1951), composed by Naushad Ali, which landed him the opportunity to become professional playback singer.

Voice of Dr. Rajkumar PBS has sung at least 300 super hit numbers for Rajkumar. The actor once described Sreenivas as his Shàreera (voice in Kannada) while he himself was a mere Sharira (body in Kannada), summing up how some of the best-known films of the actor are unimaginable without Sreenivas lending his voice.

Until 1974, Sreenivas was Rajkumar's most frequent singing voice in films. However, once when Sreenivas was not available to sing for the movie Sampattige Sawaal, Composer G K Venkatesh encouraged Rajkumar to sing the song Yaare Koogadali that was supposed to be sung by Sreenivas. With that song, Rajkumar restarted his singing career, which had stopped after the movie Ohileshwara. Thus began his journey as the most famous actor-singer that Kannada film industry has ever seen.

Biography on PBS

The Kannada biography titled Madhurya Saarvabhowma Dr. P. B. Srinivas-Naadayogiya Sunaadayaana (penned by R. Srinath, Publishers: Surabhi Prakashana, Bengaluru) was released on 7 May 2013 at the Palace Grounds, Bangalore by the singers S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam and K. J. Yesudas. The Tamil Nadu state's honorary Kalaimamani Award The prestigious Karnataka Nadoja Award - constituted by Kannada University, Hampi, Karnataka awarded by the governor of Karnataka Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award - Kalaivanar Award in 2002 Filmography Tamil songs Year Title Language Song Music director Co-singer 1953 Jatagam Tamil Sindhanai En Selvam R. Govardhanam Mooda Nambikkaiyaale Pala Kaedu Vilaiyum 1954 Viduthalai Tamil Anbodu Inbamagaa Vaazhalaam Letchumanan Kurunath 1956 Nalla Veedu Tamil Kalaimathiye En Kaadhal Krishnamurthi & Nagaraja Iyer R. Balasaraswathi Devi 1956 Paasavalai Tamil Malarodu Vishanaagam.... Needhi Idhuthaanaa Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy 1957 Bhaktha Markandeya Tamil Anbin Uruve Neeye Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi 1957 Karpukkarasi Tamil Kaniyo Paago Karkando G. Ramanathan M. L. Vasanthakumari 1957 M.L.A. Tamil Kaaman Kandu Mogam Pendyala Nageswara Rao Jikki 1957 Magathala Nattu Mary Tamil Kannukku Naere Minnidum Thaarai R. Parthasarathy S. Janaki 1957 Makkalai Petra Magarasi Tamil Ondru Serndha Anbu Maarumaa K. V. Mahadevan Udutha Sarojini 1957 Samaya Sanjeevi Tamil Gama Gamavena Narumanam Veesudhe G. Ramanathan Jikki1957 Sathiyavan Savithri Tamil Edhuko IndraanandhamS. Rajeswara Rao & Babu Rao S. Varalakshmi Raavelano S. Varalakshmi 1957 Soubhagyavathi Tamil Thatthajam Thatthitthajam Pendyala Nageswara Rao 1958 Illarame Nallaram Tamil Marane Un Malarkanai K. G. Moorthy P. Susheela & S. Janaki 1958 Kudumba Gouravam Tamil Serum Kaalam Vandhachu Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy K. Jamuna Rani & L. R. Eswari 1958 Thirudargal Jakkirathai Tamil Azhage Unnai Kandom K. V. Mahadevan S. Janaki 1959 Arumai Magal Abirami Tamil Thanga Niram Idhazh Sembavalam V. Dakshinamoorthy P. Susheela 1959 Aval Yaar Tamil Pudhu Azhagai Rasikka Varum S. Rajeswara Rao Jikki 1959 Azhagarmalai Kalvan Tamil Poonthendrale Vandhiduvaai.. Kanindha kadhal B. Gopalam P. Susheela1959 Deiva Balam Tamil Adichchaa Adi Vayitthile Aditchchidanum G. Aswatthama A. L. Raghavan Malarodu Vilaiyaadum S. Janaki En Manavaanil Aadum Rani S. Janaki Nilavathu Thavari Pennaai Maari S. Janaki 1959 Engal Selvi Tamil Unnai Nambi Aval Irundhaal K. V. Mahadevan 1960 Mannathi Mannan Tamil Neeyo Nano Yaar Nilave Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy K. Jamuna Rani, P. Susheela 1960 Kuzhandhaigal Kanda Kudiyarasu Tamil "Sitterumbu Putrinile" T. G. Lingappa 1965 Santhi Tamil "Senthur Murugan" Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy P. Susheela 1965 Santhi Tamil "Vaazhnthu Paarkka" Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy T. M. Soundararajan 1968 Kuzhanthaikkaga Tamil "Raman Enbathu" (Devan Vanthan) M. S. Viswanathan T. M. Soundararajan, Sirkazhi Govindarajan 1969 Anbalippu Tamil "Madhulam Pazhathukku" M. S. Viswanathan P. Susheela 1979 Inikkum Ilamai Tamil Maalai Mayanginaal Shankar–Ganesh S. P. Sailaja 1979 Kadavul Amaitha Medai Tamil Thendrale Nee Pesu Ilaiyaraaja 1986 Oomai Vizhigal Tamil Tholvi Nilayenna Ninaitthaal Manoj–Gyan & Aabavanan Aabavanan 1989 Poo Manam Tamil Silaneram Yedhedho Nadakum Vidyasagar 1992 Naalaya Seidhi Tamil Uyire Unnai Idhayam Adithyan Sangeethakatti 1993 Airport Tamil Uyire Unnai S. P. Venkatesh 2004 7G Rainbow Colony Tamil Ithu Enna Maatram Yuvan Shankar Raja 2010 Ayirathil Oruvan Tamil Pemmanae G. V. Prakash Kumar Bombay Jayashri

Death Sreenivas died of a massive heart attack at home in Chennai on 14 April 2013 at the age of 82. He was cremated on the next day. He was survived by his wife and children.