PBS who enthralled music lovers for over five decades

Known for belting out hundreds of hit songs, veteran playback singer P B Srinivas carved a niche for himself in the music world with his lilting voice and enthralled fans for over five decades.
Fluent in eight languages including Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi, Srinivas debuted as a singer in the 1952 Hindi film 'Mr Sampat'. Three years later, he sang in the Malayalam film 'Harishchandra'.
However, his first breakthrough came in 'Prema Pasam', in which he sang a duet with singer P Susheela.
The 83-year-old singer, who breathed his last here today, sang over 3,000 songs with most picturised on Tamil actor Gemini Ganesan and Kannada thespian, late Rajkumar.

Born to Phanindra Swamy and Sesha Giriamma, in Kakinada, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, on September 22, 1930, Srinivas' talent was noticed by producer Nagendra Rao, who offered him an opportunity to sing in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages.
Popularly known as PBS, the veteran singer lent his voice in all four South Indian languages besides Hindi.

Some of his memorable hit songs include 'Kaalangalil Aval Vasantham', 'Mayakkama Thayakkama', 'Yaar yaar avar yaaro', "Neeli kannula needala lona" and 'Ellu hogalla'.
Songs such as 'Aaha Mysooru Mallige', 'Bare Chandrama', 'Kolalanoodi Kuniva' and 'Odeyithu' were chartbusters.
Srinivas' last song was in Tamil film Aayirathil Oruvan in 2010.

His devotional songs include 'Sharadha Bhujanga Stothram', 'Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatham', 'Mukunda Mala', 'Shri Mallikarjuna Stotram' and Purandaradasa compositions.
Srinivas was honoured with various awards including the Tamil Nadu government's Kalaimamani Award.
He is survived by two sons and daughter.