Rajini, Kamal, AR Rahman to take part in prayer for SPB's speedy recovery

Actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, music composers Ilayarajaa and AR Rahman, veteran filmmaker Bharathirajaa, among others, will take part in a 5-minute prayer at 6 pm on Thursday (August 20) for the speedy recovery of singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, who is under treatment at a private hospital in Chennai after testing positive for COVID-19.

Many actors and film personalities have appealed to their fans and the public to join the prayer as the 74-year old singer continues to remain critical on ventilator and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support at MGM hospital in the city. Rajinikanth said, “Let us pray together for SP Balasubrahmanyam’s recovery from 6 to 6.05 pm.”

The actor hailed the singer as “Padum Nila,” which means a singing moon, a pointer to Balasubrahmanyam’s cool, captivating voice and urged his fans and people to join the prayer.

Bharathirajaa too appealed to the people to observe a one-minute silent prayer at 6 pm and play a song sung by Balasubrahmanyam. He urged television channels to join the prayer by broadcasting one of Balasubrahmanyam’s songs at 6 pm.

Bharathirajaa said besides Ilayaraja, Rahman, Rajinikanth and Kamal, lyricist Vairamuthu, directors, musicians, members of Film Employees Federation of South India, producers, theatre owners, distributors and billions of SPB fans across the globe would sing SPB songs at their respective places and pray for his recovery.

Actors Saroja Devi, Radhakrishnan Parthiban, Vivek, STR and Manobala have also appealed to people to join the prayer.

The singer was admitted to MGM Healthcare on August 5 after he tested positive for coronavirus and he suffered a setback on August 13, prompting doctors to put him on life support.

(With inputs from agencies)