Renowned singer SPB under treatment for COVID-19 'critical,' says hospital

Later in the evening, his son SP Charan said his father was 'stable' while stalwarts of Tamil cinema--director Bharathirajaa and musician Ilayaraja wished SPB, as he is known, a speedy recovery. The 74-year old singer was on life support in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and currently under observation by a team of experts from critical care, a health bulletin issued by MGM Healthcare, where he was admitted on August 5, said.

Veteran playback singer S P Balasubrahmanyam, who has tested positive for COVID-19, was in a "critical" condition after his health deteriorated, the private hospital treating him said on Friday. Later in the evening, his son SP Charan said his father was 'stable' while stalwarts of Tamil cinema--director Bharathirajaa and musician Ilayaraja wished SPB, as he is known, a speedy recovery.

The 74-year old singer was on life support in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and currently under observation by a team of experts from critical care, a health bulletin issued by MGM Healthcare, where he was admitted on August 5, said. "There has been a setback in the health of Thiru (Mr) S P Balasubrahmanyam.... in a late night development on August 13, his condition had deteriorated," MGM Healthcare Assistant Director of Medical Services Dr Anuradha Baskaran said.

The hospital had on Thursday said he was "stable." "... based on the advice of the expert medical team attending to him, he has been moved to the ICU and he is on life support and his condition remains critical," Baskaran added. The singer-actor, admitted with mild symptoms of COVID-19, is currently under observation by the team of doctors from critical care and "his haemodynamic and clinical parameters are being closely monitored," she said.

Meanwhile, Charan, also a singer and actor, thanked one and all for the "concern and enquiries" about his father. "He is in ICU...his condition is stable," he added.

Ilayaraja, to whose tunes Balasubrahmanyam has crooned a number of chartbusters, especially in the 80s and early 90s, said "Balu, return well soon." "I am waiting for you. Our life doesn't end with cinema and didn't start with cinema," he said in a video message, recalling their association even earlier. Bharthirajaa, a veteran filmmaker, described the singer in a tweet as "self-confident" and "strong" and said he will return in good health.

Balasubrahmanyam, who has worked across Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam film industries and rendered thousands of ever-green songs, was admitted to the hospital here on August 5 following complaints of cold and "on and off" fever for two-three days then..

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