Prathivadhi Bhayankara Sreenivas (22 September 1928 – 14 April 2013) widely known as P. B. S. was an Indian playback singer, composer, harmonium player, Lyricist and poet known for his works in South cinema, and Bollywood.[1][2] His major chunk of work has been in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu languages, though he sang many songs in Malayalam and Hindi too.[3] 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.[4][5] In his honor, Sri Kala Sudha Telugu Association of Chennai, instituted the P. B. Sreenivas Mahapurush Award to honor veteran singers.[2]

P. B. Sreenivas
Background information
Birth namePrathivadhi Bhayankara Sreenivas
Also known asPBS
Born(1928-09-22)22 September 1928
Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh
Died14 April 2013(2013-04-14) (aged 84)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
GenresPlayback singing, Carnatic music, ghazal
OccupationPlayback singer
InstrumentHarmonium
Years active1951-2013

Early life

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Prathivadhi Bhayankara Sreenivas was born into a Telugu speaking Hindu musical family Prathivadhi Bhayankara Phanindraswamy and Seshagiriamma as their younger son in Kakinada, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh.[5] His father was a civil servant and his mother was a musician. His father wanted him to become a government officer and Sreenivas was awarded a Bachelor of Commerce degree and then passed the Hindi Visharad from the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha.[6][7]

Musical career

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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.[8][9]

Biography on PBS

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Srinivas, recording in studio with singer Sangeetha Katti

The 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.[4]

Awards

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Filmography

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Tamil songs

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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 Jikki
1957 Sathiyavan Savithri Tamil Edhuko Indraanandham S. 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. Susheela
1959 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
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

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Sreenivas died of a massive heart attack at home in Chennai on 14 April 2013 at the age of 84. He was cremated on the next day. He was survived by his wife and children.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Srinivasan, Meera (14 April 2013). "PBS leaves behind a treasure trove of melodies". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  2. ^ a b "Mangalorean.com - Mangalore News Articles, Classifieds to Around the World". 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  3. ^ "PBS no more". The Hindu. 14 April 2013.
  4. ^ a b Kolappan, B. (15 April 2013). "A singer who evoked pathos, a nonpareil". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  5. ^ a b "Chennai: Legendary singer Dr P B Sreenivas no more". Daijiworld. 14 April 2013.
  6. ^ "The Hindu : Bit of drive-in nostalgia". Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ Khajane, Muralidhara (14 April 2013). "P.B. Sreenivas was the voice of Rajkumar". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  8. ^ "Archived copy". mobiletoi.timesofindia.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ Madhurya Sarvabhouma Dr.P.B.Srinivos - Nadayogiya sunaadayaana by R. Srinath
  10. ^ a b "P.B. Sreenivas was the voice of Rajkumar". Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Rajyotsava Awardee's list". Karnataka Govt website. Govt of Karnataka. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  12. ^ "PB Srinivas gets Dr Rajakumar Souhardha award - South Cinema - Kannada News - ibnlive". 9 June 2012. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012.
  13. ^ "Null | NewsWhip |". www.newswhip.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
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