PB Srinivas enthralled music lovers for over five decades

Known for belting out hundreds of hit songs, veteran playback singer PB Srinivas carved a niche for himself in the music world with his lilting voice and enthralled fans for over five decades.

Fluent in eight languages including Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi, Srinivas debuted as a singer in the 1952 Hindi film 'Mr Sampat'. Three years later, he sang in the Malayalam film 'Harishchandra'.

However, his first breakthrough came in 'Prema Pasam', in which he sang a duet with singer P Susheela.

The 83-year-old singer, who breathed his last in Chennai on Sundaty, sang over 3,000 songs with most picturised on Tamil actor Gemini Ganesan and Kannada thespian, late Rajkumar.

Born to Phanindra Swamy and Sesha Giriamma, in Kakinada, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, on September 22, 1930, Srinivas' talent was noticed by producer Nagendra Rao, who offered him an opportunity to sing in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages.

Popularly known as PBS, the veteran singer lent his voice in all four South Indian languages besides Hindi.

Some of his memorable hit songs include 'Kaalangalil Aval Vasantham', 'Mayakkama Thayakkama', 'Yaar yaar avar yaaro', "Neeli kannula needala lona" and 'Ellu hogalla'.

Songs such as 'Aaha Mysooru Mallige', 'Bare Chandrama', 'Kolalanoodi Kuniva' and 'Odeyithu' were chartbusters.

Srinivas' last song was in Tamil film Aayirathil Oruvan in 2010.

His devotional songs include 'Sharadha Bhujanga Stothram', 'Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatham', 'Mukunda Mala', 'Shri Mallikarjuna Stotram' and Purandaradasa compositions.

Srinivas was honoured with various awards including the Tamil Nadu government's Kalaimamani Award.

He is survived by two sons and daughter.

Twitterati mourns the death of the veteran playback singer:

CM Venk @Heyman_guy:
PB Srinivas has a place up there in heavan for enthralling so many millions of people like me with his vengala kural #nuffsaid

khushbusundar @khushsundar:
RIP- PB.Srinivas avl..u were a gem of tamil industry..had the privilege and honor to share the dias with you few times..

Whïstle Podu Machi @Ravi_Chandran88:
Omg veteran playback singer #PBSrinivas paased away may his soul rest in peace!! #RIP #LEGEND

Ashwin Subramaniam @ashrsubbu:
OMG! PB Srinivas?? Tell me this is false.. Whattey Singer he is.. Always adored his voice in the little songs I have heard of his..

Rahini @R_Rahini:
The voice of the beautiful Kaalangalil Aval Vasantham and Mounamae Paarvaiyaal has passed away. Rest in Peace PB Srinivas sir. :(

sreekaanthreddy @sreekaanthpolu:
“Great Legendary singer PB Srinivas garu is no more. May His soul rest in peace"

Shanmuganathan @Shan_6183:
Pb Srinivas sir.. Our own hariharan of yesteryears.. Love his love songs.. Love his voice.. Even his 7G song by yuvan is semme.. RIP sir

jambunathan @jambunatan:
RIP PB Srinivas, my favorite singer of the past era.

Sriram @gsmba:
RIP the legend PB SRINIVAS SIR. UR VOICE was magic

August Prabhu @augustprabhu:
Oh my God. PB Srinivas dead.One of the finest voices of Indian music.ur voice will live on my hard disks forever!RIP!

anutations @anutations:
RIP PB Srinivas sir- a regular at Woodlands, T Nagar. 9/10 times, you could be sure of finding him there, sipping coffee whenever you went.

khushbusundar @khushsundar:
Wish some1 cud translate-"naam gum jaayega,chehre yeh badal jaayega..meri awaaz hi pehchaan hai.." just right for Shri.Late.PB.Srinivas. RIP