SPB's Legacy in Telangana: Statue Unveiled Amid Controversy
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In a move that sparked controversy, the Telangana government on Monday installed a 7.2-foot bronze statue of legendary playback singer S P Balasubrahmanyam at the Ravindra Bharati cultural centre in Hyderabad. The unveiling ceremony, initially set to be attended by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, was instead led by state minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu. According to Sridhar Babu, SPB's contributions to Indian film music have left an enduring mark on the country's cultural landscape. However, the installation of the statue has not been without its critics. On Sunday evening, a group of activists from the Telangana Kranti Dal, led by Sangamreddy Prithvi Raj, threatened to vandalize the statue, citing SPB's refusal to sing a pro-Telangana song during the state's agitation for independence. Telangana Jagruthi president Kalvakuntla Kavitha also expressed her disapproval, stating that while she respects SPB's talent, his refusal to sing the Telangana anthem makes him unworthy of a statue in the heart of Hyderabad. The move has sparked debate about the role of art and culture in the state's identity and the legacy of its cultural icons.
