SPB Charan peeved with Thala Ajith

 

Chennai, September 29:  Looks like SPB Charan is quite peeved with the fact that Thala Ajith did not convey his condolence or attend the funeral of his father. The issue gained traction on the social media after Thalapathi Vijay fans went berserk as their idol turned up at the farm house on the city outskirts to pay his last respects. This was used as an example of how sensitive their idol is to happening around him. A photo and a video went viral which showed Vijay picking up a slipper of a fan lying on the ground and handing it over to him. There was a melee as Vijay was leaving the funeral venue.

SPB Charan at the press meet to clear the air on the story doing the social media rounds that it was not the SPB fans in Andhra or Tamil Nadu and those abroad that paid for the final pending dues at the hospital but it was Vice President Venkiah Naidu who settled it. The details are given in another report filed in this blog. read ;https://southfilmy.blogspot.com/2020/09/after-state-honours-venkiah-naidu.html

Did Thala Ajith phone SPB Charan ?

At the press conference, SPB Charan was asked several questions about Ajith’s silence. Charan had this to say – “Let Ajith mourn from his house. So what?  There is no need for him to come and give his last respects? He is a friend of mine and so also of my Dad. Let him pay his condolences from anywhere. Is it a big issue? Why should Ajith phone me and convey his wishes? Please do not spread rumors. What if he felt sad while at home and phoned me? To me and my family, SPB is no more. It is a great loss for us. We need some time to be alone,”. At the end of the press meet, a visibly drained Charan said that his outbursts were not meant against anyone but generally an expression of grief.

SPB praised Ajith for his reclusive behavior

At a reality show in Star Vijay, SPB as judge said “"One quality that I like about Ajith is that he never gives interview for magazines or TV, He does not post comments on social media and create unnecessary controversy”. SPB who introduced Ajith in a Telugu film produced by him also spoke about the actor and his son Charan being friends “ Charan  and Ajith were class mates. They did their matriculation in Andhra. In his initial days, Ajith used to wear Charan's shirts and shoes for ad shoots over sentimental reasons," he revealed.

For and against Ajith’s behavior

Sports Commentator, quiz show host and participant in TV debates, Sumanth C Raman had without mentioning names tweeted -  "When those who benefited a lot more from #SPB songs than @actorvijay chose to stay away this was a heartwarming gesture by Vijay. Respect indeed. ??". The tweet saw director Venkat Prabhu (who had directed Ajith and close friend of SPB Charan) offering his pranam. Ajith fans had raised their voice against this tweet. To this Raman tweeted – “There is no disrespect meant to anyone. It is their choice to go or not especially with Covid around. I am just pointing out a fact. But why are only fans of one particular star getting agitated and abusive?? So many didn't go."

Ajith has no social media handles and only lately he announced that his manager Suresh Chandra is his official spokesperson. Nayanthara , like Ajith keeps away from film promotions and the media. However she has a SM handle and all her outings with her BF Vignesh Shivn gets covered in full detail with photos (posted by the couple or the paparazzi). She too posted a condolence message. Kamal Haasan made it to the hospital on the evening before the death of SPB. All others issued condolences. Bharathiraaja ,the veteran director on the funeral day and previous night was present with singer Mano.Chennai, September 29:  Looks like SPB Charan is quite peeved with the fact that Thala Ajith did not convey his condolence or attend the funeral of his father. The issue gained traction on the social media after Thalapathi Vijay fans went berserk as their idol turned up at the farm house on the city outskirts to pay his last respects. This was used as an example of how sensitive their idol is to happening around him. A photo and a video went viral which showed Vijay picking up a slipper of a fan lying on the ground and handing it over to him. There was a melee as Vijay was leaving the funeral venue.

Did Thala Ajith phone SPB Charan ?

At the press conference, SPB Charan was asked several questions about Ajith’s silence. Charan had this to say – “Let Ajith mourn from his house. So what?  There is no need for him to come and give his last respects? He is a friend of mine and so also of my Dad. Let him pay his condolences from anywhere. Is it a big issue? Why should Ajith phone me and convey his wishes? Please do not spread rumors. What if he felt sad while at home and phoned me? To me and my family, SPB is no more. It is a great loss for us. We need some time to be alone,”. At the end of the press meet, a visibly drained Charan said that his outbursts were not meant against anyone but generally an expression of grief.

SPB praised Ajith for his reclusive behavior

At a reality show in Star Vijay, SPB as judge said “"One quality that I like about Ajith is that he never gives interview for magazines or TV, He does not post comments on social media and create unnecessary controversy”. SPB who introduced Ajith in a Telugu film produced by him also spoke about the actor and his son Charan being friends “ Charan  and Ajith were class mates. They did their matriculation in Andhra. In his initial days, Ajith used to wear Charan's shirts and shoes for ad shoots over sentimental reasons," he revealed.

Chennai, September 29:  Looks like SPB Charan is quite peeved with the fact that Thala Ajith did not convey his condolence or attend the funeral of his father. The issue gained traction on the social media after Thalapathi Vijay fans went berserk as their idol turned up at the farm house on the city outskirts to pay his last respects. This was used as an example of how sensitive their idol is to happening around him. A photo and a video went viral which showed Vijay picking up a slipper of a fan lying on the ground and handing it over to him. There was a melee as Vijay was leaving the funeral venue.

SPB Charan at the press meet to clear the air on the story doing the social media rounds that it was not the SPB fans in Andhra or Tamil Nadu and those abroad that paid for the final pending dues at the hospital but it was Vice President Venkiah Naidu who settled it. The details are given in another report filed in this blog.

Did Thala Ajith phone SPB Charan ?

At the press conference, SPB Charan was asked several questions about Ajith’s silence. Charan had this to say – “Let Ajith mourn from his house. So what?  There is no need for him to come and give his last respects? He is a friend of mine and so also of my Dad. Let him pay his condolences from anywhere. Is it a big issue? Why should Ajith phone me and convey his wishes? Please do not spread rumors. What if he felt sad while at home and phoned me? To me and my family, SPB is no more. It is a great loss for us. We need some time to be alone,”. At the end of the press meet, a visibly drained Charan said that his outbursts were not meant against anyone but generally an expression of grief.

SPB praised Ajith for his reclusive behavior

At a reality show in Star Vijay, SPB as judge said “"One quality that I like about Ajith is that he never gives interview for magazines or TV, He does not post comments on social media and create unnecessary controversy”. SPB who introduced Ajith in a Telugu film produced by him also spoke about the actor and his son Charan being friends “ Charan  and Ajith were class mates. They did their matriculation in Andhra. In his initial days, Ajith used to wear Charan's shirts and shoes for ad shoots over sentimental reasons," he revealed.

For and against Ajith’s behavior

Sports Commentator, quiz show host and participant in TV debates, Sumanth C Raman had without mentioning names tweeted -  "When those who benefited a lot more from #SPB songs than @actorvijay chose to stay away this was a heartwarming gesture by Vijay. Respect indeed. ??". The tweet saw director Venkat Prabhu (who had directed Ajith and close friend of SPB Charan) offering his pranam. Ajith fans had raised their voice against this tweet. To this Raman tweeted – “There is no disrespect meant to anyone. It is their choice to go or not especially with Covid around. I am just pointing out a fact. But why are only fans of one particular star getting agitated and abusive?? So many didn't go."

Ajith has no social media handles and only lately he announced that his manager Suresh Chandra is his official spokesperson. Nayanthara , like Ajith keeps away from film promotions and the media. However she has a SM handle and all her outings with her BF Vignesh Shivn gets covered in full detail with photos (posted by the couple or the paparazzi). She too posted a condolence message. Kamal Haasan made it to the hospital on the evening before the death of SPB. All others issued condolences. Bharathiraaja ,the veteran director on the funeral day and previous night was present with singer Mano.

Update on After State honours , Venkiah Naidu daughter paid SPB hospital bills -SPB Charan denies

 

On the issue regarding VP Venkaiah daughter clearing SPB hospital dues, Charan said that it was true that he had asked the State Health secretary to help him financially to clear the bills. It was 15 days before the death of his father's death ,he added.  He had come with the money to clear the final bill but the hospital told him to not pay anything else further . The hospital gave a NOC to conduct the funeral after they declared SPB Covid free. He denied that the hospital had asked him to pay the money to take the body of  his father. MGM hospital doctors took only medical related questions at  the media meet and left questions as to why a corporate hospital would forego a huge amount ?. When grilled further about billing details , Charan said that it was issue involving financial dealings and it needed to be kept confidential. Later he lost his cool and  asked why the reporter was keeping on asking details about the billing and nothing else. He  did not  give answer on whether it was over billed or not and vaguely replied that the cost depended on the treatment methods. Charan said that as his father showed signs of recovery, he felt that a continued stay would help. At the last moment however the lungs ollapsed, according to the hospital. He said that he had with held the news that his father was given a tracheotomy to enable him to eat as it would bring panic to his fans as they would fear that he might not sing. 

Coming close on the story that it was the nudge from Venkiah Naidu that the State Government accorded him a State funeral with 21 gun salute, a WhatsApp message got circulated saying that State Government and many Telugu organisations in India and abroad looked the other way when the MGM Health Care wanted SPB family to clear the Rs 1.38 cr pending bill before taking the body.  It was Deepa Venkat, daughter of VP on request from Charan ,who cleared the bills. The rumour about the bill was in circulation in the morning of  SPB death. Many claimed that the singer was dead but the hospital was delaying the official news as `some formality' had to be cleared. The tweet - 

Santishree

@Santishreed11

·

13h

Who helped the family of SPB to get the mortal remains, nobody from the Tamil Or Telugu film industry or the state governments but VP Venkiah Naidu, whose daughter went and paid the bill. Salute you Sir. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

 Dismissing rumors that Vice President Venkaiah Naidu had paid the hospital bills of late singer S P Balasubrahmanyam during his last days, the artiste’s family Sunday said such claims were “offensive” and hurtful. . Deepa Venkat termed it as factually incorrect. Charan  hinted that the person behind the rumour was known to him and added that "SPB was a person who would have forgiven this person who spread this rumour,” A senior doctor in MGM Healthcare said several individuals and groups had volunteered to pay the singer’s bills — including his fans and Tamil groups in Tokyo, London and Paris. “There were many more individuals from Tamil Nadu who volunteered to do the same as the hospital stay was long. But some doctors who treated him had decided to not charge any fee for the legendary musician’s treatment. The management also had taken a similar decision in my knowledge,” the doctor said. Sources said that MGM had even outsourced some equipment from Apollo Hospital.

Sources said the family had paid a certain sum after the first 15 days of Balasubrahmanyam’s treatment and the remaining amount wasn’t accepted by the hospital out of respect for the late singer.A member of MGM Healthcare’s Board refused to comment on the management’s decision to not accept pending bills.“Patient confidentiality is very important. Only thing I want to clarify is we were accountable to his family alone — his son and daughter. Nobody else,” he added. “But let me tell you, whatever (rumours) people are putting out are unfortunate and distasteful. This was not the time for that. We are Tamil people, we are much bigger fans of SPB (as the singer was known fondly among fans) than anyone else. We don’t need a single rupee from them,” the Board member further said.

When SPB was in hospital, his publicist said that COVID 19 test was negative but his son Charan denied it. Charan in defense says that the Hospital told him that if the news came out and SPB did not return home, they might face a lawsuit. However on Sept 25th, PRO Nikil Murugan put out a MGM official note that the singer was tested negative before death. If this note had not come the funeral would have been a closed door affair. Charan says that the health and police officials gave him permission to keep the body overnight at the house. As crowds grew, the neighbours faced trouble from visitors who jumped over their compund walls and damaged the property. The police then asked Charan to take the body to the farm house.

SPB the singer who drank-smoked- thrived on ice water and knew no Carnatic music

 

SPB broke all my notions  of a singer and that too of an accomplished one. It was an audio release at a Star hotel and after the function there was a cocktail party. SPB was in the hall where drinks were served. As he was a singer, I expected him to push off after exchanging pleasantries as alchol damaged their voice and the smoke from cigarettes in the hall was more harmful. Myself. Filmnews Anandan, Cinema Express Ramamurthy and Cinenews Selvam as usual settled in a corner table with our glasses..SPB walked to our table and greeted the others at the table. I was a newcomer and so got introduced. He then signaled for a drink and pulled up a chair. He pulled out a pack and lit a cigarette. Next shock was he told the bearer to put a few ice cubes with cold soda. This left me dumbfounded and speechless/ As the session progressed, SPB asked my friends - Your friend speaks very little?. I just managed to smile.

As a rule, I always avoided singers- music directors since  my knowledge of music was nil. All I could do was enjoying music that suited my taste. As in most cases of film music, the picturization elevated the popularity of the song and of course the actors who acted on screen. I usually assigned the interviews in that category to those who had a backdrop of music. As Screen was not a publication that was interested in the eating habits, dress sense and favorites, I felt someone who could ask about music was apt. I had M L Narasimhan who wrote on Telugu films for us to interview him. He was also personally close to the singer.

At another party hosted by my friends who were owners - Chiefs of music companies that bought the films audio rights, SPB and I met. He said that we kept meeting at such parties but have not met personally so far. I told him that I wanted to interview him but as my technical knowledge of music was zero, I kept away. He laughed and said that he too had no idea about Carnatic music or the so called raga- pallavi . He said that when he heard a fresh tune, he just asked the director what it was and made effort to study them. He said that he ran away when people came to book him for a kutcheri. I was stunned. Fresh out of college and working as a trainee, I had seen Sankarabharanam and went gaga over the songs and the film. I had this image of SPB of being like the Somayajulu in the film. I heard about SPB being chosen over Yesudas.

He never believed in putting his foot down on any issue or any job too low. I remember a singer making a snide remark when told that SPB was inside dubbing. " Dubbing ? that too he will not leave to others ?. Anyway what he sings is like dubbing only “he remarked. Music directors say that he always was open to corrections. He had a Malayalam connect apart from regarding Yesudas as his role model. Director- lyricist- music director Sreekumaran Thampi and he did Engineering together in College and their children too studied in the same school. He used to tell me that among all languages it was Malayalam that was difficult to pronounce. Even when a copyright issue cropped up between him and friend Illaiyaraja, SPB took the way of non confrontation.

Veteran journalist Girija Jinnaa who interviewed SPB when he got his national award and was a contributor to Screen magazine put out a FB post that I think was something which sums his outlook to life and also on how our STARS react.  The photograph is from FB page of Durai Selvaraj , son  of Cinenews Selvam. It was taken in London. Posted on Aug 20 wishing SPB a speedy recovery.