Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam About this sound pronunciation is a multilingual Indian singer, actor and producer. He is also popularly known as S. P. B. and Balu. Balasubrahmaniyam was born in a Tamil Brahmin family to S. P. Sambamurthy
in Konetammapeta near Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.
Balusubrahmaniyam began singing as a hobby during his childhood. His father wanted him to become an engineer; this brought him to Ananthpur, where he enrolled for the Engineering course
in JNTU. Later he discontinued the course due to typhoid and then joined as the Associate Member of the Institution of Engineers. Meanwhile, he also pursued his hobby and won awards at many singing competitions. In 1964, he won the first prize
in a music competition for amateur singers organised by the Madras-based Telugu Cultural Organisation, and earned his first opportunity from music director SP Kodandapani.