|
Name |
Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna |
|
Nicknames |
Murali gaaru, Guruji, Balamurali |
|
Date
of Birth |
6th
July 1930 |
|
Mother
Tongue |
Telugu |
|
Religion |
Hindu |
|
Nationality |
Indian |
|
Profession |
Classical
Vocalist, Composer, Poet, Actor, Multi-instrumentalist |
|
Birth
place |
Sankaraguptam,
Andhra Pradesh, India |
|
Family |
Father
– Mangalampalli Pattabhiramayya (Flute artist)
Mother – Suryakanthamma (Veena artist)
Maternal Aunt - Subbamma |
|
Education |
Could not continue
beyond his sixth standard because of the numerous
concerts. |
|
Guru |
‘Gayaka Sarvabhauma’
Parupalli Rama Krishnayya Pantulu |
| Debut
public performance |
'Sadguru
Arandhanotsavas' at the age of 8, in Vijayawada |
|
‘Bala’ |
Given the title
'Bala' by Musunuri Satyanarayana, (Harikatha performer)
|
|
Languages known |
Telugu, Kannada,
Sanskrit, Tamil, French |
|
Innovated |
‘Tala systems’ by
introducing new principles |
|
Ragas composed
by him |
* Mahati
* Sumukham
* Trisakthi
* Sarvashri
* Omkari
* Rohini
* Pratimadhyamavathi
* Janasammodini
* Manorama
* Vallabhi
* Lavangi
* Pratimadhyamavathi
* Sushama
* Ganapathi
* Moohanangi |
|
Asset |
Vibrant, widely-ranged
magnetic voice |
|
Titles |
* Gana Sudhakara
* Gayaka Sikhamani
* Sur Singar
* Geeta Kala Bharati
* Sangeetha Kalanidhi
* Nada Vidya Bharati |
|
Doctorates from |
* Andhra University
* Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University
* Sri Venkateswara University
* University of Hyderabad |
|
Plays instruments |
* Violin
* Viola
* Veena
* Mridangam
* Khanjira |
|
Contributions
to Carnatic music |
* His compositions nearly 400 include Varnams,
Kritis, Javalis, Devotional songs and Thillanas. |
|
Some of his famous
compositions |
* Sri Sakala Ganadhipa
Palayamam
* Mahadevasutham
* Gam Gam Ganapathim |
|
Jugalbandhis |
Performed
“jugalbandhis” with
* Himsen
Joshi
* Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia
* Kishori Amonkar |
|
Asthana Vidwan
of |
* Tirumala Tirupati
Devasthanam
* Sringeri Peetam
* Adivyadhi Hara Baktha Anjaneya Swami Temple,
Nanganallur
* State Musician of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
|
|
Chosen as |
Wisdom Man of the
Year (1992) |
|
World record |
Released 250 audio
cassettes brought out by the Sangeetha Recording
Company |
|
Unique feat |
Only musician to
win National Awards for
* Classical music
* Music direction
* Playback singing |
|
Founder of |
* MBK trust for
developing art and culture and imparting training
(to research in the field of music therapy)
* 'Academy of Performing Arts and Research' in
Switzerland
* Music school VIPANCHEE (a part of MBK trust)
run by his managing trustee Kalaimamani Saraswati.
|
|
Advice for future
musicians |
“Concentrate on
art for art's sake and not for opportunities.”
|
|
About himself |
“I am not a musician,
but an instrument of God to convey music through
me.” |
|
About him |
Swami Chinmayananda
:
"Music, when it flows from Balamuralikrishna you
can realise what the crazy gopies felt in their
ecstasy of divine Love." |
|
Awards |
* Silver Lotus Award
as Best Playback Singer (Male) for Hamse Geethe
(1975)
* Raja-Lakshmi Award from Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation,
Chennai (1980)
* Silver Lotus Award as Best Music Direction for
Madhavacharya (1986)
* “Naada Maharishi” by the Nrityala Aesthetics
Society (1996)
* Atma Gauravam' award from AP government (1997).
* "Sangeetha Saraswathi" from Manava Seva Kendra
(2005).
* Papanasam Sivan Award from Papanasam Sivan Karnataka
Sangeetha Sabha at Madipakkam (2006)
* Sree Guruvayurappan Chembai Award, instituted
by the Guruvayur Devaswom (2007)
* Padma Vibhushan
* Padma Shri
* UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Silver Medal
* Cavalier award of France
* Musician of the Century.
* Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
* Naada Maharishi, from Nrityala Aesthetics Society
|
|
His parents |
* His father was
a well known musician and was well versed in playing
the Flute, Violin and Veena.
* When he was only 15 his mother died and was
brought up by his maternal aunt. |
|
Music prowess |
*Started performing
vocal concerts from the age of five.
*Was touted as a child prodigy who perfected almost
every song and every tune.
* Before he was fifteen he became a popular performing
artist who composed songs in all the 72 Melakarta
ragas.
* Learnt to play the Viola and Khanjira by himself.
* Can sing perfectly in three octaves.
* Has given more than 26,000 performances throughout
the world.
* Recreated the traditional style in his own neo
classical style, which is well received by his
audience.
* Because of his clear diction in several languages
he was invited to record Tagore's entire Rabindra
Sangeet compositions in Bengali, preserving them
for future generation.
* He has ventured into jazz fusion, collaborating
with the top Carnatic percussion teacher, Sri
T.H. Subash Chandran, in a concert for Malaysian
royalty. |
|
Facts |
* Is a Honarary
citizen of Vijayawada and has a road named after
him.
* Has appeared as featured soloist with an award-winning
British choir.
* He has performed the "Gitanjali Suite" with
words from Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel Prize-winning
poetry and music by Dr. Joel, (UK-based Goan composer).
* Played as Narada in the film ‘Bhakta Prahlada’.
* He was portrayed as a hero in the Malayalam
film 'Sandhya Kendina Sindooram'
* He had served as executive committee member
of Central Sangeetha Nataka Academy.
* The Governor of Maharashtra honored him for
services rendered for the cause of National Integration.
* He is the only musician ever to be honored with
All India Radio's "Top Grade" for seven different
performance areas.
* During the late-1960s, he served as music producer
for the Vijayawada and Hyderabad All-India radio
station and launched an early morning show of
devotional readings, “Bhakthi Ranjani”.
* He has served as the principal of the Government
Music college, Vijayawada. |
