National Anthem row: Balasubrahmanyam comes out in support of Bachchan

Hyderabad: Legendary singer S P Balasubrahmanyam has come out in support of Amitabh Bachchan over the controversy related to Bollywood megastar's rendition of the National Anthem at Eden Gardens ahead of the India-Pakistan WT20 cricket match.

Indian Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan(C)and Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee (C) look on as Shafqat Amanat Ali(L)sings the Pakistan national anthem ahead of the start of the World T20 cricket tournament match between India and Pakistan at The Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium in Kolkata on March 19, 2016. / AFP Photo / Prakash Singh

"I was really moved by the way Sri Amitabh Bachchan ji rendered our National Anthem in Kolkata the other day. It was dignified, in perfect pitch and perfect pronunciation," Balasubrahmanyam said in a Facebook post.
A Delhi-based lawyer on Monday lodged a police complaint against Bachchan, claiming he stretched the national anthem by around 30 seconds to one minute and 22 seconds, violating government guidelines restricting the time to 52 seconds.

"Somebody filed a PLC against him saying that his singing was a few seconds more than the prescribed duration for singing the National Anthem. Is there a law like that?

Surprise!!!," said Balasubrahmanyam, who won the National Award for best male playback singer six times in four Indian languages.

"How could nobody mention anything about the duration of the National Anthem sung by Lathaji, Bhim Sen Joshiji, Balamuraliji and lots of others in which I too participated,"he wondered.

"Sir, the judges are struggling to find time to dispose off pending cases. Is it necessary that one would add another pain in their neck? There are plenty of issues in the country.

If possible let us help to solve them. Let us not find petty ways to seek publicity. Let us be magnanimous. "I really feel proud when AB sir sang the Anthem. Hats off to you, Sir," Balahsubrahmanyam said.