With ever growing opportunities and exposure for young singers, the musical tradition would flourish and the sabhas would witness an exponential growth, Carnatic vocalist M. Balamuralikrishna said here on Sunday.
In his acceptance speech after being conferred the ‘Yagnaraman Life-time Achievement Award,' instituted by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, he said when his innovations in music came in for criticism, the Sabha gave him a platform to experiment his ideas. “Innovations and creativity are now being accepted. I am glad to witness the growth of today's music,” he said.
Balamuralikrishna was given the award, comprising a gold medal and Rs.1 lakh, “in recognition of his monumental and incomparable service to the field of music.”
Former judge of Supreme Court S. Mohan, who presented the award, said Yagnaraman was an exemplary figure for his peers and contributed immensely for the growth of the Sabha. “He had a discerning eye to choose the right artist for every occasion,” he said. On the recipient's achievements, he said Mr. Balamuralikrishna has brought harmony through his mellifluous music.
The Sabha secretary Y. Prabhu observed that the singer was a child prodigy and composed songs in 72 melakarthas when he was as young as 16 years. Mr. Balamuralikrishna has nearly 600 compositions to his credit, which includes an extensive range of varnams, krithis, jawalis, devotional songs and thillanas. He was regarded as the best exponent in the south Indian classical music for over six decades. “His magnetic voice drew people from across the world. He has also done numerous performances with Hindustani artists,” Mr. Prabhu said.
Musicologist B.M. Sundaram, Prince of Travancore Samasthanam Rama Varma and Sruti Executive Editor S. Janaki extolled the singer's contribution in the field of Carnatic music and his style of experimenting with ragas with ease. Carnatic singer Sikkil C. Gurucharan and Bharathanatyam dancer Sheejith Krishna were presented the ‘Yagnaraman Award of Excellence.' President of the Sabha, Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, spoke.
