Vidwan

D. Balakrishna
Bornc. 1955-1956
Awards
Musical career
GenresCarnatic music
Instrument(s)Veena
Years active1975-present

D. Balakrishna is a Carnatic musician who plays veena in the Mysore tradition.[1]

Born c. 1955-1956,[2] he is the son of noted veena player, Doraiswamy Iyengar and grandson of Venkatesh Iyengar, a student of Veena Venkatagiriyappa. Contemporary musicians Titte Krishna Iyengar, N. Ramani, T.R. Mahalingam and T. Chowdiah frequently visited his father and sparked his interest in Carnatic music.[3] In his childhood, he was sent to mridangam classes under Ayyamani Iyer. Later his father started teaching him veena.[4]

His first stage performance was in 1975, when he accompanied his father in a Ram navami concert in Bengaluru.[5] By 1979, his concerts were being broadcast in All India Radio,[6] where he is now listed as a "top grade" artist.[7] He has given multiple[8] Madras Music Season concerts[9] over the years, starting in 1984.[10]

His "Veena Doreswamy Iyengar Memorial Trust"[11] has organized various concerts in Bengaluru.[12] He has an M.Sc. in statistics[2] and has worked in the Reserve Bank of India.[3]

In 1997, Karnataka Ganakala Parishat gave him Ganakalashree award.[13] In 2015, Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy awarded him Karnataka Kalashri - Award of Honour.[14] and the Central Government awarded him the 2023 Sangeet Natak Akademi award, only the 19th veena player in the 71 year operating history of the award.

References

  1. ^ Subramanya, Mysore V (23 May 2016). "Kalabushana award conferred on Vainika Balakrishna". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b B, Ranjitha (February 1994). "The Second String". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 December 2021 – via sites.google.com/site/vidvanbalakrishna. 38-year-old artiste is an M.Sc. in Statistics
  3. ^ a b Govind, Ranjani (30 May 2008). "At veena's vantage point". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  4. ^ Venkataraman, Rajagopalan (13 July 2011). "'Bhakti is essential for mastery over music'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  5. ^ Narasimhachar, Saragrahi TB (29 August 1984). "Talent Search". Evening Herald. Retrieved 18 December 2021 – via sites.google.com/site/vidvanbalakrishna.
  6. ^ AKASHVANI: Vol. XLIV, No. 19 ( 13 MAY, 1979 ). All India Radio (AIR),New Delhi. 13 May 1979. p. 41. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  7. ^ "ANNUAL LIST OF CASUAL / STAFF ARTIST (MUSIC) OF AIR , BENGALURU AS ON 1.4.2020" (PDF). prasarbharati.gov.in. All India Radio. p. 11. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  8. ^ Krishnamurthi, P.S. (24 December 2008). "Music Academy - Solemn, profound, pleasant". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Annual Conference Schedule 2018 - Madras Music Academy". Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Annual Conference and Concerts 1980 – 1990". musicacademymadras.in. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Lord of the magical strings". The New Indian Express. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Festival honours veena maestro". Deccan Herald. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Karnataka Ganakala Parishat - Awardees". www.kgkp.org. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  14. ^ Govind, Ranjani (27 August 2014). "36 chosen for Kalashree awards for two years". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
Categories