Legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam was posthumously honored with the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award, at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi on Tuesday. His son S. P. Charan received the award on behalf of his father from President Ram Nath Kovind. Lovingly called as SPB by fans around the world, the iconic singer passed away last year in September due to COVID-19 complications. He was 74. The late celebrated singer being honored with the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India is his third national distinction after he was felicitated with the Padma Bhushan in 2011 and Padma Shri in 2001 apart from winning the National Award on six occasions. 

SP Balasubrahmanyam's death last year left many around the country, including fans, in a state of deep grief for many days. SPB's singing career spanned more than five decades as he sang more than 40,000 songs in his glorious career across several Indian languages and has worked with legendary composers around the country, with his collaboration in Tamil music with MS Viswanathan, Ilaiyaraaja and A. R. Rahman remaining the most prolific of his lifetime. Apart from singing, SP Balasubrahmanyam also carved a niche for himself as a talented actor having given notable performances in films like Keladi Kanmani, Thiruda Thiruda, Kadhalan, Minsara Kanavu, Priyamaanavale to name a few. He is survived by his wife Savithri and two children - daughter Pallavi and son SPB Charan.