The Hindu : Karnataka News : A memorable day in my life, says Balamuralikrishna

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A memorable day in my life, says Balamuralikrishna

Staff Correspondent

Carnatic vocalist conferred Mansur Samman

Honour: Chairman of the Legislative Council Veeranna Mattikatti presenting the Dr. Mallikarjun Mansur Samman to M. Balamuralikrishna in Dharwad on Friday.

DHARWAD: “I might have received awards from governments. But receiving an award instituted in a musician’s name is a great achievement. I have accepted this award as not an award but as a blessing from a musician. It is a memorable day in my life.”

These were the words of Carnatic vocalist M. Balamuralikrishna after the Dr. Mallikarjun Mansur Samman was conferred on him here on Friday.

Dr. Balamuralikrishna, who called himself an “old boy”, who first sang in Karnataka in the year 1952, said he owed a lot to Karnataka and Kannada. “I have achieved a lot because of the people of Karnataka,” he said.

The Carnatic vocalist called himself a “darling singer” of Karnataka went on to explain how the love of Kannada people had got him many laurels.

Dr. Balamuralikrishna said there was nothing like south Indian or north Indian music and that music was same. He said many youngsters had started learning music which was a good sign. He appreciated the changes that were happening in the field of music.

Dr. Balamuralikrishna said he usually did not perform after being conferred an award as the happiness over receiving an award usually hampered the performance. “I would only be singing few songs this time. It’s not a performance,” he said. However, he concluded by saying he would come again to Dharwad to perform and on a lighter note requested the people not to honour him on that occasion.

Earlier, Chairman of the Legislative Council Veeranna Mattikatti presented the award to Dr. Balamuralikrishna and felicitated him. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Mattikatti recalled the contribution of Dharwad to the field of music and literature and hoped that the younger generation would continue the musical tradition of Dharwad.

Chandrakanth Bellad, MLA, presided over the function.

On the occasion, the reprint of the book “Nanna Rasayaatre” written by Mallikarjun Mansur was released by poet Channaveera Kanavi.

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