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Sundaram Balachander (January 18, 1927 – April 15, 1990), born in Madras was an Indian self-taught veena player. His ancestors were from the Tanjore area, which is acclaimed as the seat of culture and fine arts in South India. From the age of five he showed an interest in classical music and his first musical attempt was with the kanjeera, which is a small, circular percussion instrument. Within a year he was accompanying his brother and other musicians on the kanjeera during regular concert engagement, in Sabhas, in temple festivals, in devotional congregations, etc. From age six on his career achieved steady growth.
On the sitar, Balachander was a fully fledged solo concert artist by age twelve and it is interesting to note that he performed South Indian Carnatic music on that instrument. From age fifteen to eighteen he served as an artist on the staff of "All India Radio", Madras, playing many instruments during the almost daily broadcasts, while also performing in solo recitals, participating in orchestral ensembles, accompanying other artists and composing and conducting pieces of his own.
A hectic period of playing and working for All India Radio playing came almost simultaneously to an end with the entry of the veena into his life. Falling in love with the instrument. From the beginning he felt that it deserved his undivided attention and every skill. Without a tutor or master to guide him, within two years he was an established concert veena player. He felt that "by the grace of god" was he able to bring credit to himself as for his achievement of having evolved a new trend, a new style and a new school of veena-playing.[1]
Balachander also possessed a substantial knowledge of North Indian Hindustani classical music, and a keen appreciation of Western classical music.
He is also known for his work in cinema, his writing and his polemics. Balachander was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1982.[2]
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Recordings
- The Music Of Southern India: S. Balachander - Veena, Sivaraman - Mridangam. Nonsuch Explorer Series LP 7/2003, 1960s.
- Veena Virtuoso: S. Balachander. Columia Records Japan, 2006.
- Veena Chakravarthy S.Balachander In Concert - RAGAM - THANAM - PALLAVI in Ragam SRI. Swathi's Sanskriti Series CD.
- Veena Vidwan S.Balachander In Concert - Dhyname. Swathi's Sanskriti Series CD.
- La Vina De S.Balachander (Krishnamurthy: mridangam) / LP 1978 Sonodisc ESP 165510
Cinema
In addition to composing film music, from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s Balachander directed a number of films. His movies include Andha Naal, a movie with no songs, "Nadu Iravil" and "Bommai". Andha Naal has a very superior cinematography and classic in B&W. It has developed a large cult following in the recent times.
Feud with Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer
In Balachander's last years, he feuded with vocalist Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. Semmangudi had written a book on Maharaja Swathi Thirunal of Travancore (1813–1846), a famous composer. Balachander claimed that Semmangudi was trying to ascribe his own compositions to a king, and to argue this he suggested the maharaja did not compose a note and tried to prove the king had never existed. Balachander loved to stress how this was a much greater outrage than the Bofors corruption scandal in India. He argued the point in The Indian Express on March 26, 1990.
References
- ^ Liner notes. Nonsuch Explorer Series LP, 7/2003 "The Music Of South India", 1960s.
- ^ "Padma Awards". Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India). http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php?start=0&award_year=&state=&field=3&p_name=Balachander&award=All. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
External links
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