SPB laid to rest with 24-gun salute by TN police at Tamaraipakkam farm house

After the singer’s son SPB Charan performed the funeral rites amid Vedic chants by priests, last post was played by a police band and 24 personnel in ceremonial attire gave a gun salute. Later, the body with SPB’s glasses on and smeared with ‘thiruneeru’ (sacred ashes) on the forehead and draped in zari dhoti was lowered into a deep pit and buried as chants of “SPB Pugazh Onguga” (Live long SPB’s fame) rent the air. Flower petals were showered on the body and crystal salt strewn around inside the pit before its closure. His body was lowered into the pit around 12.30 pm.

With policemen, their rifles tucked under their arms marching along, the body was brought on a traditional hay lined bier to the final resting place on the verdant premises from a ‘pandal’ earmarked for people to pay homage and perform rituals. The farm house teemed with his fans, well-wishers and celebrities including actor Vijay, veteran director Bharathiraja, music composer Devi Sri Prasad, actor Arjun and comedian Mayilsami attended the funeral. Singer Mano broke down several times while watching his mentor being laid to rest. Many politicians from Tamil Nadu, including AIADMK ministers D Jayakumar, Ma Foi Pandiarajan and Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Minister Anil Kumar Yadav had turned up to pay their last respects. Though police had initially said only about 150

people would be allowed to pay homage, more and more men and women trooped to the singer’s idyllic house to pay homage.

Before becoming ill, he recorded a zestful opening song for the under production Rajinkanth starrer Annathe, a D Imman musical and it turned out be his last song in his career that spanned over five decades. Imman said, “I feel so blessed that his last song was in my music. Such a cultured and affectionate man, there is no replacement for him. We miss you.” Bharathiraja said SPB has no death and continued to live through his songs. He was admitted to MGM Healthcare here on August 5 after he tested positive for coronavirus.