The Samaikyandhra Parirakshna Samithi (United Andhra Protection Committee) today criticised those opposing the installation of a statue of legendary playback singer Dr S P Balasubrahmanyam (SPB) at Ravindra Bharathi.
Samithi president Kumar Chowdary Yadav, addressing a press conference at NSS in Hyderguda, condemned certain Telangana activists for objecting to the government's plan, and said that SPB was a national icon who transcended regional and linguistic boundaries.
SPB had sung thousands of songs in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada and several other languages, earning admiration from millions, he said. He described the opposition as unfortunate and unwarranted, and said that artists, poets and singers belonged to everyone, not to specific regions.
"Even though the Telugu-speaking people are now divided across two States, we remain brothers," he said.
Yadav said that while individuals might request for statues of various cultural figures, objecting to a statue proposed by the government - especially for a universally respected artist like SPB - was inappropriate.
He also expressed willingness to approach the Andhra Pradesh government for installing a statue of revolutionary balladeer Gaddar there as well.
filed in:Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, S P Balasubrahmanyam, Tollywood, Music & Dance