Legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, who breathed his last on Friday in a Chennai based private hospital, was laid to rest on Saturday with full state honours.

Legendary Playback Singer, SP Balasubramaniam was laid to rest at his Red Hills Farmhouse in Thamaraipakkam in Thiruvallur district, around 50 kilometres from Chennai. The final rites were finished in accordance with the Hindu rituals and Tamil Nadu Government accorded him a 72-gunshots salute.

Few hundred police personnel were deployed to guide and control the crowd thronging the farmhouse. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all those who wanted to bid goodbye to SPB were made to wear masks while entering the farmhouse.

Due to the COVID rules, most film industries stayed away from the final rites. Though no superstars came to the final rituals, Vijay braved them all and arrived there to pay his last respects. Actor Vijay, who came around the time of burial, walked to the spot and paid his last respects to the singer. He also had a few words with one of the priests supervising SPB’s final rites and spoke to SP Charan and other family members briefly.

Veteran director Bharathiraja, who was also at the hospital last evening, attended the funeral and so did singer Mano.

“We should remember his service. He is with us in the form of his songs. He has sung many songs for us. I have no other words to say,” Mano said.

Director Bharathiraja said that his friend SPB will live on forever. “Till the earth, water and air is around, there is no end for him. The entire world is enchanted by his voice... our friend is with us, with music. He has become one with the air,” he said, fighting back tears.

Director Ameer, actor Rahman, Arjun, music composer Devi Sri Prasad, producer-actor Pyramid Natarajan, TV anchor ‘Kalyanamalai’ Mohan, state minister Mafoi Pandiarajan and comedian Mayilsami were also part of S P Balasubrahmanyam's funeral.

S P Balasubrahmanyam was admitted to Chennai hospital MGM healthcare for COVID-19 on August 5 and died of a cardiac arrest on September 25. Though the singer tested negative for coronavirus on September 4, he was on ventilator support and ECMO. His health deteriorated suddenly on September 24 when the hospital told the media that he was put on ‘maximal life support’ and he died a day later, on Friday.