Carnatic Music

Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna
Padmabhushan Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna is a Carnatic vocalist. Born on July 6, 1930 at Sankaraguptam village in Rajolu Taluk in the East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, he inherited the musical traits of his parents .His father Mangalampalli Pattabhiramayya was a famous flutist and a music teacher and mother Suryakanthama was a veena artiste. His father put him under the guidance of Parupalli Ramakrishnayya Pantul under whom he reached the heights of fame in the field of Carnatic music.

Balamurali Krishna gave his first performance at the age of eight at the Sadguru Arandhana Utsava at Vijayawada. Besides being a versatile singer, he is a master in playing the Mridangam and the violin.

Dr.Balamurali Krishna has enriched Carnatic music with his compositions and created new ragas. Dr.Balamurali Krishna has also proved his talent as a playback singer, music director and actor in several languages. He has more than 91 albums released till date. He has bagged many titles and awards like 'Gana Sudhakara', 'Gayaka Sikhamani', 'Sur Singar', 'Geeta Kala Bharati', Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 'Sangeetha Kalanidhi', Padmashri and Padma Vibushan. He was given the title of Sangeetha Kalanidhi in the year 1978. He was chosen as the 'Wisdom Man of the Year in 1992'.

The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh honored him with the 'Atma Gauravam' award in 1997. He is a Honarary citizen of Vijayawada and has a road named after him .He is a state musician in the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and is the 'Asthana Vidwan' of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, Sringeri Peetam and Anjenaya Swami Temple, Nanganallur

Dr. Balamuralikrishna has contributed a lot in the world of music. He established the "Academy of Performing Arts and Research" in Switzerland. He is also working on music therapy. For extensive research in the field of music therapy, he also established the MBK Trust to develop art and culture and spread the knowledge. "Vipanchee", a dance and music school is a part of this trust and is managed by his trustee Kalaimamani Saraswati.
Madras Lalitangi Vasanthakumari (popularly referred to as MLV) (July 3, 1928 - October 31, 1990), was a disciple of G. N. Balasubramaniam, one of the great singers in the Carnatic musical tradition of southern India. She is also popularly referred to as one among the female trinity of Carnatic music, others being D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulakshmi. She was the youngest among the established musicians of that era, and was the youngest awardee of the most prestigious award in Carnatic music, Sangita Kalanidhi. As well as being a much sought-after playback singer for films, her most famous disciples include Srividya (her daughter), Sudha Raghunathan, A. Kanyakumari and Charumathi Ramachandran.[3]
Education
MLV's school education was in Madras, in a convent, where all was set to pursue a medical career until the great Carnatic musician G. N. Balasubramaniam (GNB) came into her life. He became her guru. In her own words:. Once G N Balasubramaniam heard me sing and he prevailed upon my parents to place me under his tutelage. It was he who was responsible for the status I occupy in the music world today'.
Learning Carnatic music
MLV was very privilleged to learn Carnatic music at the feet of G. N. Balasubramaniam. She was also GNB's first disciple. GNB was a genius, so much so that what might have seemed like a deviation from tradition was acceptable from him though it might not have been so from a lesser artiste. His charismatic personality, bold innovations and technical virtuosity became an inspiration for an entire generation of musicians.
MLV imbibed much of his style, but did not make a fetish of speed and struck out on her own and evolved an inimitable style.[3]
Performing
In 1940 her mother Lalithangi gave a resplendent musical recital in Simla. MLV was then only 12 years old. She made her debut by accompanying her mother. Two years later in 1942, MLV gave a solo recital in Bangalore. A learned music critic has said that MLV brought the struggle of women in the world of music to a successful culmination. Her music had more male characteristics than that of any other female musician.
Disciples
MLV taught her daughter Srividya, who at the age of 10 was ready to perform and sang very much like MLV. Srividya however, wanted to pursue a career in the film industry, so wasn't well known as a Carnatic musician, but as an actress in Indian movies.
MLV trained several other students, and many of them are the front-ranking musicians today. Some of the notable musicians who have studied under MLV include Sudha Ragunathan, A. Kanyakumari, Trichur Ramachandran, Charumathi Ramachandran, Vanaja Narayanan, T.M Prabhavathi, Meena Subramaniam, Jayanthi Sridharan Jayanthi Mohan, Rose Muralikrishnan and Bama Visveswaran. She also taught music to children at the Rishi Valley School started by Jiddu Krishnamurti.
Sindhubhairavi
She popularised the composition 'Kalyana Gopalam', composed by Narayana Theerthar, in raga Sindhubhairavi. She also popularised the composition 'Venkatachala Nilayam' in the same raga, but composed by Purandaradasar. Hindustani maestro Bade Ghulam Ali Khan was generous in his praise for her music. Sudha Ragunathan mentions, ``MLV Amma has told me that it was Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Saab who taught her the nuances of Sindhu Bhairavi in the Hindustani style."
Ragam Thanam Pallavi
A.Kanyakumari who had accompanied MLV on violin for almost two decades says, "MLV-akka had a sharp mind and good memory and I have never seen her practice a song or a ragam or for that matter a ragam-tanam-pallavi also before a concert." Sudha Ragunathan, a prime disciple of MLV, remarked that "In all my twelve years of learning under her, I had never seen Amma practising at home. But, to my great surprise, she would compose a Pallavi in the car on the way to the concert!"
Awards and Honours
MLV, the youngest woman (at age 49) to receive the Sangita Kalanidhi award from Madras Music Academy
MLV was honoured with a Doctorate degree.
She also received the third highest civilian honour from the Indian Government, "Padma Bhushan".
MLV also received the most prestigious award in Carnatic music, Sangita Kalanidhi in 1977. She was the youngest woman to earn this award, at age 49.
MLV was a front ranking artiste for more than 50 years. She passed away in 1990 at the age of 63. Beauty and sublimity were the cardinal characteristics of her music.
Family
MLV got married to Late Kalaimamani Vikatam R.Krishnamurthy in the year 1951. They had a son, K.Shankarraman and Late K.Srividya (Renowned South Indian artist).
She received the third highest honour given to Indian Citizens which is Padma Bhushan. The Bharat Ratna is the highest honors given to Indian Civilians (Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi was awarded with the Bharat Ratna)
Bombay Jayashri Ramnath (or usually referred to as Bombay S. Jayashree) is a Carnatic classical singer and a popular playback singer in Indian movies.
Jayashri was born in Mumbai, India. Her voice best suits the slow numbers, proved by the series of hits in films.
Biography
Her first public concert was in 1982, in Mumbai. In 1989 she relocated to Chennai to be under the tutelage of Maestro Shri. Lalgudi G Jayaraman. She performed in several important venues, among which the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, in 1999. The QEH forms part of Southbank Centre arts complex and stands alongside the Royal Festival Hall,
She received several titles and awards, among which the titles of "Yuva Kala Bharati" in 1992, "Isai Peroli" in 1997, "Asthana Vidhushi of the Shringeri Mutt" and "Naadabhooshanam" in 2001, the "Kalki Award" in 2002, "Atma Vanishri" in 2003, "Jana Gana Mana" in 2004, the "Sangeetha Choodamani" award in 2005.[1]
Some of her songs from Tamil films include
Ninnai Charan : Baarathi
Narumugaiye :Iruvar
Mudharkanave :Majnu
Vaseegara :Minnale
Thithi Thidavae :Jana
Unnai thedum :Ponmegalai
Theenda Theenda :Thulluvatho Ilamai
Ondra renda :Kaaka Kaaka
Malargale :Puthukkottaiyilirindhu Saravanan
Uyire Ennuyire :Thotti Jaya
Suttum Vizhi :Gajhini
Theenda :Chinna
Partha Muthal :Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu
Unakkul Naane :Pachaikili Muthucharam
Pudichirukku Pudichirukku :Nenjirukkum Varai
Uppu Kallu :Karupasamy Kuthagaithaarar
Minnalgal Koothadum :Polladhavan