Belthangady barber strikes a chord with SPB classics

Mangaluru: At Neeth Men's Salon in Belthangady, haircuts come with a musical twist. Owner Sandeep Kumar, a skilled barber and gifted vocalist, serenades customers with Kannada hits originally sung by the late SP Balasubrahmanyam (SPB) and others. With a voice uncannily similar to the legendary playback singer SPB, Sandeep creates a soulful atmosphere in his modest salon. Despite encouragement, he avoids the stage, preferring to perform for his loyal clientele.
Sandeep, 45, who is running the salon for nearly 15 years, said that he used to play karaoke and sing popular Kannada and Hindi songs while working. He recalled that ‘Prema Chandrama' by Rajesh Krishnan was an inspiration to his musical journey, that commenced while he was in Class IX. At first, his family members and relatives expressed disapproval when he prioritised singing over academics. He took part in numerous auditions and competitions in Mangaluru.
During his studies at SDM ITI in Venur, he heard a senior student perform ‘Mera mulk, mera desh, mera ye vatan' by Kumar Sanu and Aditya Narayan. He obtained the song lyrics, practised at home, and performed it at the institute the following year. The enthusiastic response from students and teachers, who requested an encore, motivated him to pursue his musical aspirations further.
"That was the day when I realised that there is a singer in me. Later, I got prizes for singing at various competitions and recently, with the support of my friends, we formed a troupe–Neeth Melody Tracks. We perform at mehndi and wedding ceremonies. Many of my friends have been encouraging me to participate in singing competitions of the TV channels. However, the salon is my bread and butter as a family of five solely dependent on my income," said Sandeep, who is a fan of SP Balasubrahmanyam, Kumar Sanu, Rajesh Krishnan, and other singers.
Sandeep keeps the memory of his meeting with SPB at a programme in Vamadapadavu, Bantwal. "I was lucky to pose for a photograph with the singer, who is like a God for me," said Sandeep, singing a few lines of ‘Ee bhoomi bannada buguri'.