Balasubrahmanyam off ventilator, doctors happy with his progress, says sister Sailaja

SP Sailaja has confirmed in a voice note that her brother SP Balasubrahmanyam is on the road to recovery and has been relieved of ventilator support.

Last Friday, the legendary singer was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of MGM Healthcare, Chennai, after his condition deteriorated. SPB, as he is popularly known, had got himself admitted to the hospital on 5 August after testing positive for the novel coronavirus.

In a voice note that Sailaja shared today, she said: “He is getting better with each passing day and the progress is evident. Doctors are very happy. He has been taken off ventilator but he is still being closely monitored. He is also able to pass urine freely. I know that the whole world is praying for him and he’ll come out of this situation very soon.”

The news of SPB being admitted to hospital and battling for life sent shockwaves across the nation. Several film personalities like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Dhanush and Mahesh Babu, among others, wished for his speedy recovery.

Rajinikanth, who enjoys a long association with SPB, shared a video yesterday in which he wished for the singer’s speedy recovery.

“For over 50 years in many languages, SP Balasubrahmanyam has mesmerized audiences with his voice. I'm glad to know he is on the road to recovery after being hospitalized and becoming critical. I pray for his speedy recovery,” Rajinikanth said in his video message.

On Sunday, giving an update about his father's condition, SP Charan had said in a video message on Facebook, “Dad was shifted from the third-floor ICU to an exclusive ICU on the sixth floor. The pleasant news is there is some mobility. He is moving around a little bit and signed thumbs up to the doctors and is able to recognize them.

"He is still on life support, [but] he is breathing a little more comfortably than a few days back. Doctors see it as a very good sign that he is on a road towards getting better. There is a lot of effort from the medical team and he will take a long time for recovery. But we are all hopeful.”