1 Chennai Express (2013) -- The title track
With Salman Khan moving to other playback singers, SP Balasubrahmanyam went missing from Hindi cinema for a while in the Noughties. So when he made a comeback in a Shah Rukh Khan film, it was bound to create headlines. SPB sang the title song of Chennai Express. Both the film and the song were hits.
2 Roja (1992) – Yeh Haseen Waadiyan
This was the film that launched AR Rahman. Roja’s music was nothing less than revolutionary. Balasubrahmanyam sang three songs in the original Tamil version, while the Hindi one had him singing the title track and the joyfully romantic number Yeh Haseen Waadiyan.
3 Agneepath (1990) – I Am Krishnan Iyer MA
Music was not the focal point of this brooding gangland drama, but one song that became popular was the ‘I Am Krishnan Iyer‘ track that served as an introduction to Mithun Chakraborty’s character.
4 100 days (1991) – Sun Beliya
SP Balasubrahmanyam had formed a great partnership with Lata Mangeshkar. 100 Days did not feature Salman Khan but the duo lent their voice to this romantic number featuring Jackie Shroff and Madhuri Dixit.
5 Kabhi Na Kabhi (1998) – Mere Yaara Dildaara
Ageing stars Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor wee wooing a young Pooja Bhatt in the 1998 flick Kabhi Na Kabhi. Not great lyrics, but the Mere Yaara Dildaara track had a touch of the classic 1990s beat.
6 Ghoonghat (1997) – Gore Gore Paon Mein
Very few would remember a film starring Ayesha Jhulka and Inder Kumar, but the duo would consider themselves lucky to have a song that was crooned by SP Balasubrahmanyam.
7 Dushmani (1996) – Kabhi Haste Hain Kabhi Rote Hain
This was yet another clichéd romantic saga from the 1990s, with clichéd 1990s music. Sameer penned the Kabhi Haste Hain, Kabhi Rote Hain track with Balasubrahmanyam’s voice providing the sober touch.
8 Tadipar (1993) – Yeh Zindagi Kabhi
A classic Mithun Chakraborty film, Tadipar saw Balasubrahmanyam dole out this philosophical and sober track. Tadipar was Mahesh Bhatt’s first film with Chakraborty.
9 Suhaag (1994) – Tere Liye Jaanam
For this song, Ajay Devgn found himself romancing Karisma Kapoor on a cliff. The 'Tere Liye Jaanam' track brought SP Balasubrahmanyam and Chitra back together in Hindi films for the first time since Roja.
10 Gardish (1993) – Hum Na Samjhe The
A box-office success, Gardish earned nominations in various categories at noted awards functions. It was also one of the early films of director Priyadarshan. SP Balasubrahmanyan had to his credit this heartbreaking, soulful song.