| P. B. Sreenivas | |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Birth Name: | Prathivadhi Bhayankara Sreenivas |
| Alias: | PBS |
| Birth Date: | 22 September 1928 |
| Birth Place: | Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh |
| Death Place: | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Instrument: | Harmonium |
| Genre: | Playback singing, Carnatic music, ghazal |
| Occupation: | Playback singer |
| Years Active: | 1951-2013 |
Prathivadhi Bhayankara Sreenivas (22 September 1928 – 14 April 2013) widely known as P. B. S. was an Indian playback singer, composer, harmonium player, Lyricist and poet known for his works in South cinema, and Bollywood.[1] [2] His major chunk of work has been in Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu languages.[3] He has garnered the Kannada Rajyotsava Prashasti, the Tamil Kalaimamani Award, and the Madhavapeddi Satyam Award by the Andhra Siva Foundation, for his contributions to music and cinema.[4] [5] In his honor, Sri Kala Sudha Telugu Association of Chennai, instituted the P. B. Sreenivas Mahapurush Award to honor veteran singers.
Prathivadhi Bhayankara Sreenivas was born into a Telugu speaking Hindu musical family Prathivadhi Bhayankara Phanindraswamy and Seshagiriamma as their younger son in Kakinada, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. His father was a civil servant and his mother was a musician. His father wanted him to become a government officer and Sreenivas was awarded a Bachelor of Commerce degree and then passed the Hindi Visharad from the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha.[6] [7]
His uncle, Kidambi Krishnaswamy, was a drama artist and a singer. When Sreenivas was 12, Krishnaswamy gave him a chance to sing in a drama. Later, Sreenivas, a trained harmonium player and singer, went to Gemini Studios, Madras. Emani Sankara Sastry, a veena player, was one of the residing musicians. He introduced Sreenivas to S. S. Vasan, the owner of Gemini Studios. There, Sreenivas sang a super hit song sung by Mohammed Rafi, his favourite singer. It was "Huye Hum Jinke Liye Barbad", from Deedar (1951), composed by Naushad Ali, which landed him the opportunity to become professional playback singer.[8] [9]
The biography titled Madhurya Saarvabhowma Dr. P. B. Srinivas-Naadayogiya Sunaadayaana (penned by R. Srinath, Publishers: Surabhi Prakashana, Bengaluru) was released on 7 May 2013 at the Palace Grounds, Bangalore by the singers S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam and K. J. Yesudas.
| Year | Title | Language | Song | Music Director | Co-Singer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Jatagam | Sindhanai En Selvam | R. Govardhanam | |||
| Mooda Nambikkaiyaale Pala Kaedu Vilaiyum | ||||||
| 1954 | Viduthalai | Tamil | Anbodu Inbamagaa Vaazhalaam | Letchumanan Kurunath | ||
| 1956 | Nalla Veedu | Tamil | Kalaimathiye En Kaadhal | Krishnamurthi & Nagaraja Iyer | R. Balasaraswathi Devi | |
| 1956 | Paasavalai | Tamil | Malarodu Vishanaagam.... Needhi Idhuthaanaa | |||
| 1957 | Bhaktha Markandeya | Tamil | Anbin Uruve Neeye | Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi | ||
| 1957 | Karpukkarasi | Tamil | Kaniyo Paago Karkando | M. L. Vasanthakumari | ||
| 1957 | M.L.A. | Tamil | Kaaman Kandu Mogam | Pendyala Nageswara Rao | Jikki | |
| 1957 | Magathala Nattu Mary | Tamil | Kannukku Naere Minnidum Thaarai | S. Janaki | ||
| 1957 | Makkalai Petra Magarasi | Tamil | Ondru Serndha Anbu Maarumaa | Udutha Sarojini | ||
| 1957 | Samaya Sanjeevi | Tamil | Gama Gamavena Narumanam Veesudhe | Jikki | ||
| 1957 | Sathiyavan Savithri | Tamil | Edhuko Indraanandham | S. Rajeswara Rao & Babu Rao | S. Varalakshmi | |
| Raavelano | S. Varalakshmi | |||||
| 1957 | Soubhagyavathi | Tamil | Thatthajam Thatthitthajam | Pendyala Nageswara Rao | ||
| 1958 | Illarame Nallaram | Tamil | Marane Un Malarkanai | K. G. Moorthy | P. Susheela & S. Janaki | |
| 1958 | Kudumba Gouravam | Tamil | Serum Kaalam Vandhachu | K. Jamuna Rani & L. R. Eswari | ||
| 1958 | Thirudargal Jakkirathai | Tamil | Azhage Unnai Kandom | S. Janaki | ||
| 1959 | Arumai Magal Abirami | Tamil | Thanga Niram Idhazh Sembavalam | P. Susheela | ||
| 1959 | Aval Yaar | Tamil | Pudhu Azhagai Rasikka Varum | Jikki | ||
| 1959 | Azhagarmalai Kalvan | Tamil | Poonthendrale Vandhiduvaai.. Kanindha kadhal | P. Susheela | ||
| 1959 | Deiva Balam | Tamil | Adichchaa Adi Vayitthile Aditchchidanum | G. Aswatthama | A. L. Raghavan | |
| Malarodu Vilaiyaadum | S. Janaki | |||||
| En Manavaanil Aadum Rani | S. Janaki | |||||
| Nilavathu Thavari Pennaai Maari | S. Janaki | |||||
| 1959 | Engal Selvi | Tamil | Unnai Nambi Aval Irundhaal | |||
| 1979 | Inikkum Ilamai | Tamil | Maalai Mayanginaal | S. P. Sailaja | ||
| 1979 | Kadavul Amaitha Medai | Tamil | Thendrale Nee Pesu | |||
| 1986 | Oomai Vizhigal | Tamil | Tholvi Nilayenna Ninaitthaal | Aabavanan | ||
| 1989 | Poo Manam | Tamil | Silaneram Yedhedho Nadakum | |||
| 1992 | Naalaya Seidhi | Tamil | Uyire Unnai Idhayam | Sangeethakatti | ||
| 1993 | Airport | Tamil | Uyire Unnai | |||
| 2004 | 7G Rainbow Colony | Tamil | Ithu Enna Maatram | |||
| 2010 | Ayirathil Oruvan | Tamil | Pemmanae | Bombay Jayashri |
Sreenivas died of a massive heart attack at home in Chennai on 14 April 2013 at the age of 84. He was cremated on the next day. He was survived by his wife and children.[13]