Thread by @kbalakumar

Another small thread on SPB songs mostly from the 70s. But all under music directors other than MSV and Ilaiyaraaja, just to showcase the point SPB's voice was found most versatile by all music directors.

We start with the obvious, and one of Tamil cinema's all-time classic, Nanda En Nila from the eponymous film. Legendary Dakshinamoorthy's masterpiece. You may classify it as Dharmavathi or Madhuvanthi. Heck, either way, it's too good.

This is a song that was originally made famous by SG Kittappa. When music director SV Venkatraman reprised the same 'Kami Sathyabama' in Sri Krishna Leela, SPB showed his classical ability in no small measure.

Shankar-Ganesh duo was prolific in Tamil, especially in the 70s. SPB has sung many songs for them. But this is my favourite. The most peppy RD Burmanesque Unnai Naan Parthathu. It is said SPB also sang the harmonies. SPB is million bucks in this one.

Under GK Venkatesh, SPB's most famous number is Then Sindhuthe Vaanam. But Thoduvathenna Thendralo is no less outstanding. When the lines go Udalengum kuliraavadhenna, en manamengum nerupaavadhenna, SPB is both fire and ice. Amazing.

This was a huge hit on the radios. M B Srinivasan's Oru Chinna Paravai, and SPB warbles like a bird in top flight. Compact melody.

Vijay Bhaskar has had several hits with SPB. But this 'party' song, Samsaram Enbathu Veenai, where the hero sings his heart out in dulcet tones kind of became SPB's specialty for the rest of his career.

This is Shyam's remarkable Mazhai Tharumo En Megam in Manidhargalil Ithanai Nirangala. It could also have been SPB idam ithanai thiramaigala. One of his very best. Can listen to this on loop all day. Still won't find it stale.

This Aradhanesque, SD Burmaesque Ponguthe Punnagai is for the music director --- wait for it --- Bhanumathi Ramakrishna.

T R Pappa's Iru Mangani where SPB's sings a duet with, well, J Jayalalithaa. Listen to his huskiness that was tailor-made for such songs.

When Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan had to score music for an 'English' song, he knew it had to be SPB just for that flamboyance and felicity in rendering those lines. Another of SPB's hallmarks

And we round off with Naan Ennum, Salil Chowdhury's all-time great tune that had wowed fans in Bengali and Hindi. In Tamil alone, it is in male voice. And what a voice it is.
SPB ennum pozhudhu yedho sugam engo dhinam sellum manadhu.