Learn Carnatic Flute | Dr.BMK Compositions - Vol 1

🙏 Remembering the Legendary Maestro Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna 🙏

Dr. Muthuswamy Balamurali Krishna (29 August 1930 – 23 February 2017) was an Indian musician, composer, and singer from Tamil Nadu who was versatile in classical music as well as light music. He was honored with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, posthumously in 2018 for his exceptional contributions to Carnatic music.

Here is a summary of his remarkable life and achievements:

Biographical Overview:

• Born on 29 August 1930 in a small village called Pudiya Kodey (now known as Balamurali Krishna Salai) in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu.
• His father, Muthuswamy Iyer, was a teacher of Carnatic music, and his mother, Lakshmi Ammaiyar, was a renowned veena player. He grew up in a musical environment and trained under her till he was 14.
• By the age of seven, he performed on All India Radio, and by thirteen, he became a professional artist of AIR.

Musical Versatility:

• He was proficient in playing various instruments, including the violin, veena, flute, mridangam, and ghatam.
• He composed music for more than 400 films in various Indian languages like Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi.
• He introduced ragas of Hindustani music to Carnatic music and vice versa, thus being instrumental in 'Raga Rewriting.'

Contributions to Music:

• Awarded the Padma Shri in 1971, Padma Bhushan in 1985, and Padma Vibhushan posthumously in 2018.
• Received the Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the Government of France in 2005.
• Honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1975 and conferred with the title Sangeetha Kalanidhi by Madras Music Academy in 1978.
• He was also honored with the Raja Lakshmi Award, Doctor of Letters and Science from Andhra University, and many other prestigious awards.

Educational Recognitions:

• Conferred with honorary doctorates from several universities for his contribution to music.
• Recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Global Indian Music Academy Awards in 2011.

Cinematic Contributions:

• He was a playback singer and composer who contributed immensely to film music, with notable works including "Hamsageethe" and "Madhvacharya."
• He won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the Kannada musical movie "Hamsageethe" in 1975.

Legacy:

• His legacy lives on through his music, recordings, and the influence he has had on musicians across the world.
• The Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna Memorial Trust was established by his family to preserve and promote his musical works.

Final Years and Demise:

• He died on 23 February 2017, after a brief illness, at the age of 86 in Chennai.
• He was cremated with state honors in Chennai, and thousands attended his funeral. His wife, Smt. Annapurna, passed away three months later on 16 February 2017.

Recognition Posthumously:

• He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2018, which recognized his exceptional and distinguished service in the field of arts and particularly for the promotion and advancement of Carnatic music.

Balamurali Krishna's contribution to music remains unparalleled. His music continues to inspire generations of musicians and fans around the world. The government of India has also commemorated him by releasing a postal stamp in his honor. His life and work remind us of the boundless power of art to transcend boundaries and bring joy to millions.