SP Balasubrahmanyam, the voice of Salman Khan

After Maine Pyar Kiya made Salman Khan an overnight star he insisted on SPB as his voice, although in Mumbai they said SPB sounded too South Indian to be Khan’s voice. Salman didn’t care. He insisted on SPB for some projects before letting him go in favour of more North Indian voices. A dekko and suno at the best songs SPB sang for Salman.

1. Ate jate hanste gaate (Maine Pyar Kiya): Blatantly lifted from Stevie Wonder’s I just called to say I love you and uplifted by SPB and Lataji, the track bleeds romance.

2. Mere rang mein rangne wali (Maine Pyar Kiya): Soft tender subdued, this love ballad epitomizes Salman’s definition of romance. He likes it suggested, insinuated rather than in-your-face.

3. Dil deke dard-e-mohabbat liya hai (Maine Pyar Kiya): A duet with Lataji “inspired” by a Lata-Mukesh duet Hum toh tere aashiq hai from the Jeetendra starrer Farz. Director Sooraj Barjatya wanted the song to be a tribute to the old number.

4. Na jaa na jaa (Patthar Ke Phool): Like Maine Pyar Kiya, in Salman’s sophomore project SPB sang all the vocals for Salman. Admittedly the songs by Raamlaxman were mediocre. But SPB elevated this solo to something special. His duet with Lataji Kabhi tu chhalia lagta hai paying a tribute to all the greats of Hindi cinema was also a treat because of the singing.

5. Saathiya tu nay kya kiya (Love): This Ilaiyaraja classic remains the best song that Salman has ever sung on screen. Credited to Anand-Milind the glorious tracks were all rehashes of the original Tamil film Premam, all rendered to perfection by SPB and the evocative Chithra who sang for Salman.

6. Pehla pehla pyar hai (Hum…Aapke Hain Koun): Out of the 14 tracks in this musical blockbuster only one was a solo for SPB. In Pehla pehla pyar hai he captures all the hesitancy and uncertainty of first love. There is an incomparable freshness to the singing. No wonder this is Salman’s favourite song sung by him on screen.

7. Hawa mein kya hai (Jaagruti): A little-known soundtrack by Anand-Milind saw Salman reuniting with his favourite ghost voice SPB for this dewy gentle ballad with Chithra. The film flopped. Its music was forgotten. But this song should not be relegated to the trashcan.