Singing legend SP Balasubrahmanyam (SPB) passed away on September 25, 2020, leaving a void that perhaps no voice can ever fill. His son, SP Charan, who had already carved a niche for himself as a singer and actor, continues to carry the legacy forward. In a career spanning decades, Charan has not only sung numerous hits but has also emerged as a music producer and an integral part of his father’s memorable stage shows.
In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Charan opened up about the initial struggles of being the “legend’s son,” the burden of comparisons, and how he eventually found his own voice.
‘I struggled to find my original voice’
Charan admitted that the primary challenge was not a lack of talent or opportunity, but the intense psychological pressure of constantly being compared to SPB. “Mentally, I struggled a lot on how to be original — not to copy him,” Charan revealed.
“There were times when I would go to the recording studio and the director would say, ‘Wow, you sound like your father’ or ‘You sound exactly like him.’ It would put me down,” he recalled. “I used to feel upset because I wanted them to say, ‘You sound nice,’ not that I sounded like him.”
This conflict between embracing his lineage and establishing his own identity is a classic struggle for star kids, but for a vocalist, it was deeply psychological. “My father would sing a song, it would be a hit. I would record the same song and it would be okay, but people are bound to compare. I didn’t know how to not be him,” Charan added.
The Father’s Wisdom
Despite the musical shadow he cast, SPB was adamant that his son find his own path. Charan revealed that he once approached his father and told him, “I want to be like you.”
SPB’s reply, however, was unexpected. “You are not me. You are you. You have your originality. Find that. I want to hear your colour, not mine,” Charan recounted his father’s words.
That single piece of advice became the cornerstone of Charan’s career. “Once I stopped worrying about sounding like him and just focused on the music, things changed. I realized that I wasn’t there to replace him, but to continue the tradition.”
The Moment of Realization
Even today, Charan finds himself surprised by his own vocal inflections. He shared that recently, while taking a trial for a song, he listened to the recording and realized, “God, I sound just like dad!”
However, instead of upsetting him, it now brings a sense of comfort and legacy. He acknowledged that being SPB’s son is a “double-edged sword”—it opens doors, but it also raises the bar of expectation to an almost impossible height. “Unless you are good, you won’t survive,” he stated.
Beyond Singing: The Music Producer
Apart from singing, Charan has carved a niche as a music producer and has been instrumental in preserving SPB’s legacy through digital platforms and live orchestras. He runs his own recording studio and has been actively involved in introducing independent music, mentoring young, aspiring singers—helping them avoid the pitfalls he faced.
“I think we need to spend more energy on music education and creating an environment where we don’t look for the next ‘X-Factor’ or the next ‘SPB’, but simply look for good, unique voices,” Charan concluded.
