Veteran Carnatic Music exponent Balamuralikrishna passes away

M. Balamuralikrishna, an Indian Carnatic vocalist, died on 22 November 2016 in Chennai. He was 86. Balamuralikrishna, a recipient of Padma Vibhusan, was suffering from age-related geriatric problems.

Hailing from the Sankaraguptham village in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, Balamuralikrishna began his musical journey at the age of 8. Since then, he has performed in over 25 thousand concerts.

About M. Balamuralikrishna

• During his long musical career, he excelled as a prominent Carnatic vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, playback singer and composer as well as an actor.

• He has penned about 300 kirtanas.

• Many Universities decorated him with honorary doctorates.

• He is the person, who is credited for creation of ragas like Ganapathi, Sarvashri, Mahati, Lavangi and others

• He was a recipient of by the French award Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Mahatma Gandhi Silver Medal from UNESCO.

• He was a recipient of several awards and honours. Few of the awards and honours conferred on Balamuralikrishna were

a) Padma Vibhushan (1991)

b) Padma Shri(1971)

c) Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1975)

d) National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Hamsageethe – "Himadri Suthe Pahimam" (1976)

e) National Film Award for Best Music Direction for Madhavacharya (1987)

• He was offered the title Sangita Kalanidhi by the Music Academy of Chennai.

The multifaceted artist, Balamuralikrishna, shot to fame in acting also in his debut film Bhakta Prahlada (Telugu) in which he performed the role of Narada.