Legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, who has crooned more than 40,000 songs in 16 languages, winning multiple awards and National and international honors for his divine voice, celebrates his 74th birthday today. While SP Balasubrahmanyam is popular as a singer who has been the voice of almost all popular heroes of the nation starting from MGR to the young heroes of this generation, not many acknowledge his excellent acting skills.

After making an appearance on screen for the first time as an actor in a song in the Telugu version of Cho's Mohammad Bin Tughlaq (1972), SPB made his proper debut as an actor, with K Balachander's 1987 drama Manadhil Urudhi Vendum. Just like many other stars launched by K Balachander, SPB went on to act in several movies, delivering unique, memorable performances.

Let's take a look into some of his most memorable performances in Tamil.

Manadhil Urudhi Vendum (1987):

SP Balasubrahmanyam played a doctor, Dr Arthanari, the mentor figure of the protagonist played by Suhasini, and delivered a lovely performance on debut. With humorous lines as well as philosophical ones, SPB excelled as the doctor who inspires and motivates the central character Nandini to continue serving patients, overcoming her emotional conflicts and life issues.

Keladi Kanmani (1990):

This movie was director Vasanth's debut as a director, and had SP Balasubrahmanyam playing the lead role for the first time. Besides being known for breathless number "Mannil indha kaadhal indri", Keladi Kanmani also has a memorable emotional performance from SPB as a doting dad, a widower who's caught between his sick daughter and his newfound companion and decides to sacrifice his own life. Displaying multiple emotions like love, grief, care and pain, Keladi Kanmani has one of the best performances by SPB.

Kadhalan (1994):

Shankar's second movie after the success of Gentleman had a surprise cast - Prabhu Deva and debutant Nagma as the lead pair, and SP Balasubrahmanyam was cast as a police constable Kathiresan, the protagonist's father. It was a role that had its share of fun as well as emotions, as Kathiresan is someone who treats his college going teenage son as a friend, motivates in his love, indulges in crazy acts to support him, and also sheds tears and is worried after seeing his son battered by people in power. SPB also did a fun dance jig in Kaadhalikkum Pennin song, alongside the Indian Michael Jackson himself!

Minsara Kanavu (1997):

As the loud mouthed James, who has a knack of irritating his ex boss Amalraj with his antics, SPB as the newly rich guy and the father of one of the protagonists Thomas (played by Arvind Swami), delivered a fun filled act. As a father who wants his son to get nothing less than the best, besides his own agenda of overpowering his ex boss and his arrogance, SPB gave a humorous performance in Minsara Kanavu, Rajiv Menon's debut directorial venture.

Priyamanavale (2000):

The beginning of the new millennium had SPB returning as an actor in this important supporting role in Vijay's Priyamanavale. It was an interesting combination, watching SPB play Vijay's father, and SPB did it with ease, in a role that had many emotions to convey. As a rich industrialist Vishwanathan who wants his son to settle but has to agree to his crazy agreement, his respect for his daughter in law played by Simran and situations making him unable to help her, the joy of watching his son as a family man and taking up work, etc were portrayed well by SPB.

Besides these movies, SPB has given subtle performances in supporting roles in movies like Ullasam, Thalaivasal, etc and had even surprised, playing a negative role in his home production Nanayam. As far as non Tamil films, one must watch out for his lovely performance in the company of veteran Lakshmi, in his Telugu movie Midhunam (2012).

Hoping to witness more of SPB the singer as well as the actor, in the coming days, here's wishing the legend a very happy birthday!!