“It is not frequent that a nation discovers a Balamuralikrishna in its history”.
– These are the words of Swami Chinmayananda.
Not everyone among the performing artistes is fortunate enough to become a legend in his or her lifetime, but this rare distinction has come to stay in the case of Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna, who is rightly regarded as the best exponent of South Indian classical music for over six decades now. No wonder, a road in Vijayawada has been named after him by the local corporation and he has been honoured as Honorary First Citizen of Vijayawada and handed over the Golden Key. A Kalyana Mandapam has been constructed in his name in Visakhapatnam. He is a fifth generation descendant in the guru Sishya Parampara (Hierarchy of disciples) of saint composer Shri Thyagaraja. He was a child prodigy born to musician parents Smt.Suryakanthamma and Shri.Pattabhiramayya becoming a versatile, popular vocalist and composer at the young age of fifteen years itself. At the tender age of sixteen, he composed songs in all the seventy two Melakartha ragas, considered the very foundation of our music and perhaps all other music on earth.
Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna was born at Sankaraguptham in Andhra Pradesh and is endowed with the ability of being an accomplished instrumentalist in addition to being a vocalist. He plays Violin, Viola, Ganjira, Veena and Mridangam with equal ease. He has 400 compositions to his credit including Varnams, Krithis, Havalis, Devotional songs and Thillanas.
Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna also did a comparative study of ragas in film music and classical music and presented the same in Doordarshan. Being the first producer in All India Radio, he is also known for pioneering early morning broadcasting called ‘Bhakthi Ranjani’. He was the first principal of Government Music College, Vijayawada besides having sung in various languages including Tamil, Oriya, Marathi, Telegu, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and French. He is the state musician of Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Asthana Vidwan of Sringeri Peetam and Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam. He is the member, Expert Advisory Committee, Music Academy, Executive Committee Member, Kalakshetra Foundation, ICCR and Central Sangeeth Natak Academy.
In fact it is very difficult to find words to express in exact terms Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna’s rich contribution to the Indian classical music, especially his sustained efforts that were responsible for resurrecting ragas which were not in vogue like Narthaki, Sunadavinodini etc., besides creating new ragas like Lavangi, Mahathi, Manorama, Murali, Omkari, Prathimadhyamavathi, Rohini, Saravashree, Sumukham, Sushma, Ganapathi, Siddhi, Pushkara Godvari etc., He is also credited with innovating Tala Systems. He has also presented Rabindra Sangeeth for preservation for future by All India Radio.
The magnetic capacity of his voice and music saw crowd puller towards Jugal Bandhis he performed with renowned vocalists and instrumentalists of North Indian classical music and helped in bringing about an understanding of National Integration through music.
To record and print all his creations to preserve for posterity, a Trust by name VIPANCHEE has been created and the work is in progress under the direction of chairperson Kalaimamani Dr.Saraswathi, a versatile artiste.
Balamuralikrishna died at his residence in Chennai on 22 November 2016; he was 86. Balamuralikrishna is survived by his wife, three daughters, and three sons who are all Doctors.
Awards
- Rotary Continental Centeneray Award, Bangalore – 2004
- National Artist of India, Govt of India – 2004
- Life Time Achievement award by Kanchi Kamakoti Swami – 2004
- Madhava Peddi Satyam Award – 2003
- Narayana Iyengar Award, Chennai-2003
- Uthama Vaggeyakara Award by Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mumbai – 2003
- Nada Laya Siromani – 2003 (Valayapatti Award)
- Desh Rathna Award by Govt. of Orissa – 2002
- Buddha Maha Bodhi Dharma Award – 2002
- Nada Vidya Bharathi National Award – 2002
- Kalidas Samman Award, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal – 2001
- Vishishta Puraskar by Telegu University, Awarded by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Shri. Chandrababu Naidu – 2001
- Tamilnadu Film Industry ‘GOLD IS GOLD’ Award – 2000
- Cine Musicians’ Union Award, in recognition of services rendered to film field – 1999
- Ganayogi Panchakshareshwara Award, Bangalore – 1999
- Pandit Seshadri Panchakshara Gowai Award, Bangalore – 1999
- Beswada Gopala Reddy Award – 1999
- Indira Priyadarshini Award, New Delhi – 1998
- Kinnara Ugadi Award – 1993
- Gana Kala Prapoorna – Wisdom – Star of India – 1991
- Padma Vibhushan by President of India, Shri R.Venkataraman – 1991
- Abhinava Thyagaraja Vamsi Art Academy Award, Hyderabad – 1987
- Padma Shri By President of India, Shri V.V.Giri – 1971
- Cash Award by Dr.S.Radhakrishnan, President of India – 1958
- Golden Medal by Babu Rejendra Prasad, President of India – 1953
- Fellow, Central Sangeeth Natak Akademi, New Delhi
- Central Sangeeth Natak Akademi Award, New Delhi
- Andhra Pradesh Sangeeth Natak Akademi Award
- Golden Jubilee Award of Central Sangeeth Akademi, New Delhi presented by Shri A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, President of India.
- Kerala Sangeetha Natak Akademy Award, Tiruvananthapuram
- Rajalakshmi Foundation Award
- Hridayanath Mangeshkar Award by Lata Mangeshkar
- Hafiz Ali Khan Award
- National Integration award by Maharashtra Governor
- Gandhi Memorial Medal, UNESCO, Paris
- Prathiba Vyjayanthi Award, Rajahmundry
- Athma Gowravam Award by Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
- Purandara Prasasthi Award (Karnataka)
- Sri Krishna Vedavvyasa Award by Raja Marthanda Verma, Travancore.
- Award by Mother Terasa at Hyderabad
- Platimum Jubilee Award by Governor of Tamilnadu
- Best Playback Singer – National Award
- Best Music Director – National Award
- Best Playback Singer – Andhra Pradesh State Award
- Best Playback singer – Kerala State Award
Honors
- D.Litt., University of Madras, Chennai – 2004
- Asthana Vidwan – Sri Kalahasthi Devasthanam – 2003
- Sangeetha Kala Visharada by Indian Institute of Music and Arts, Bangalore-2002
- Gana Sarvobhowma by Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri S.M.Krishna-2002
- Sangeetha Vidyanidhi, Andhra Pradesh Music Academy – 2001
- Bharatha Jyothi, Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, New york – 2001
- First contemporary Vaggeyakara by Music Academy, Chennai-2000
- Asthana Vidwan – Srisailam Devasthanam – 2000
- National Citizen
- Advisor, Cabinet Rank to Govt. of Andhra Pradesh for Culture (Music)
- Ph.D. Andhra University, Visakapatnam
- D.Litt., Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupathi
- D.Litt., Central University, Hyderabad
- D.Sc., Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad
- D.Litt., Rabindra University, Kolkata
- Asthana Vidwan – Govt. of Andhra Pradesh (Former)
- Asthana Vidwan – Sringeri Sarada Peetam, Sringeri
- Asthana Vidwan – Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (Former)
- Asthana Vidwan – Govt. of Tamilnadu (Former)
- Asthana Vidwan – Sri Kanakadurga Devasthanam, Vijayawada
- Asthana Vidwan – Hanuman Temple, Nanganallur, Chennai
- Pro-Chancellor, Telegu University, Hyderabad (Former)
- First Professor, Dr.Radhakrishnan Chair, Central University, Hyderabad
- Expert Advisory Committee Member, Music Academy, Chennai
- Executive Committee Member, Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai
- Executive Committee Member, ICCR
- Professor Emeritus, Government of Kerala Music College, Tiruvananthapuram
- Ghanta Kankanam by Shri N.T.Rama Rao, Ex-chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
- Member, Sangeeth Natak Akademi
- Gaja Arohanam (Twice)
- Ganapinderam by Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavathar
- Kala Seva Niratha by Sangeetha Vidwath Samajam, Chennai
- Sangeetha Sagara by cultural Centre of Performing Arts – 1989.
Titles
- Sangeetha Yogi Rathna by Pamban Swamigal Music Trust, Chennai-2005
- Sangeetha Kala Sikhamani by Nungambakkam Cultural Academy,Chennai-2004
- Bharatha Kala Ratna by Pracheena Kala Kendra, Chandigarh-2003
- Isai Perarignar by President of India, Dr.Abdul Kalam – 2002
- Gana Sarvbhowma by Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri S.M.Krishna-2002
- Sangeetha Kala Visharada by Indian Institute of Music and Arts, Bangalore-2002
- Bharatha Jyothi, Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, New York – 2001
- Sangeetha Vidyanidhi by Andhra Pradesh Music Academy-2001
- First Contemporary Vaggeyakara by Music Academy, Chennai – 2000
- Sangeetha Kala Ratna by Andhra Association, Chennai – 2000
- Kala Rathna by Rasika Ranjani Sabha, Chennai – 1999
- Sangeetha Sagara by Cultural Centre of Performing Arts, Bangalore-1999
- Nadhabrahmam by Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai – 1995
- Gayakaratna by Swathi Thirunal Sangeetha Sabha – 1992
- “Isaichelvam”, Muthamizh Peravai by Chief Minister of TamilNadu – 1990
- Gandharvagana Visharada by Lions Club International – 1990
- Gana Sudhakara – 1945
- Sangeetha Kalanidhi – Madras Music Academy, Chennai
- Sangeetha Kala Sikhamani by Indian fine Arts Society, Chennai
- Sangeetha Bhoopathi, Sri Lanka
- Madhura Gana Ravali Krishna, USA
- Sangeetha Sarva Bhowma, USA
- Sangeetha Mahopadhyaya, USA
- Annamacharya Vidwanmani by TTD
- Nadyogi, by Ganapathi Sachinandaswami, Mysore
- Nada Sudharnava by all Nada Sudharnavas
- Sangeetha Sudhakara by Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Kanchipuram
- Adwitheeya Shatabdi Gayaka by Simhapuri Sangeetha Sabha, Nellore
- Geetha Kala Bharathi
- Gandharvagana Kalanidhi
- Vaggeyakara Vachaspathi
- Gayaka Sikhamani, Visakapatnam
- Pumbhava Sarada
- Sangeetha Samrajya Sarvabhowma
- Gana Saraswathi Manibhooshana
- Sangeetha Ratnakara
- Sangeetha Vidya Bhaskara
- Sangeetha Kala Sagara, Hyderabad
- Ghandarvagagana Vithahar, Srilanka
- Swara Vilas, Mumbai
- Sirsinger, Mumbai
- Sapthaswara Samrat
- Sangeetha Kala Nipuna
- Kala Seva Niratha by Sangeetha Vidwath Samajam, Chennai
- Sangeetha Sarada by Vijaya Durga Peetam, Kanchipuram
Source : http://www.vipanchee.com/index.html