How the singer warmed up to journalists, and sometimes even sang a few lines exclusively for them
July 28, 2006 was a lucky day for me. My favourite singer SP Balasubrahmanyam was in town for a concert and I reached the concert venue at Perks School grounds in Coimbatore early enough, hoping to get an exclusive interview with him. As expected, the event organisers turned down my request, but I was not going to let go. I sat in the front row, mesmerised, as he sang some of his gems like ‘Sangeetha Megham’, ‘Idhu Oru Ponmalai’ and ‘Kaeladi Kanmani’.
During a break between the songs, I clambered on to the stage and whispered my request to him. SPB promised to meet me at his hotel after the concert. He kept his word, and greeted me with his trademark smile and a “Thanks for your patience.”
That was the start of my 40-minute conversation with the legendary singer….