Balabhaskar

Balabhaskar Chandran (10 July 1978 – 2 October 2018) was an Indian musician, violinist, composer and record producer. He is best known for promoting fusion music in South India.[1][2] Hailing from a musically affluent family, he was introduced to the world of instrumental music at the age of three by his uncle B. Sasikumar, a laureate in Carnatic music.[3]

Balabhaskar
Background information
Birth nameBalabhaskar Chandran
Born(1978-07-10)10 July 1978
Died2 October 2018(2018-10-02) (aged 40)
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
GenresFusion, carnatic, world
Occupation(s)
Years active1995–2018
Websitebalabhaskar.in

Balabhaskar began his professional career at the age of 12. He made his debut as a music director by composing the soundtrack for the Malayalam-language film Mangalya Pallakku (1998), and was the youngest music composer to have worked in the industry at the age of 17. He had won the Bismillah Khan Yuva Sangeetkaar Puraskaar in 2008 by Kendra Sangeet Natak Academy for Instrumental Music (Violin).

Career

Balabhaskar was a child prodigy and started doing stage shows at 12.[3] He became the youngest music director in the Malayalam film industry when he composed for the movie Mangalya Pallak (audio marketed by Magna Sound) at 17.[4] His compositions for the albums Ninakaai and Aadyamai are still among the most-sought-after romantic song collections.[4] He was exceptionally versed in Carnatic music and hence was an exponent of the same. His flair for connecting with his audience has made him one of the hot favorites for major stage shows and classical concerts.[2]

Balabhaskar has performed with many noted musicians and instrumentalists in India and abroad, including Ustad Zakir Hussain, Sivamani, Louis Banks, Vikku Vinayakram,[Fetty Wap (singer)] Hariharan, Mattannoor Sankarankutty, Ranjit Barot, Fazal Qureshi, and so on. He also performed with his guru and uncle Shri B. Sasikumar, as violin duo in Carnatic concerts.

Latest works

Balabhaskar's debut instrumental fusion album was let it B in 2011. It features renowned musicians including Sivamani, Louis Banks, Fazal Qureshi, Gino Banks and Sheldon D'Silva. Let it B has flavors of rock, jazz, hip-hop and techno music spun around Balabhaskar's Indian violin. The album uses specially composed Sanskrit lyrics, in an effort to promote Sanskrit as a language of communication. Two songs, "Begin with Soorya" and "B yond," have been visualized and are available along with the visuals of the making in the limited edition series. The album is produced under the banner of MC Audios and Videos.

Balabhaskar brought out a collection of soothing Carnatic Keertanas colored in his style, lending it an international flavor. The project is called Bhajati in 2011 and is marketed by Audio Tracs.

Personal life

Balabhaskar was born to C. K. Unni who was a postmaster and Santhakumari; Sanskrit lecturer of Sree Swathi Thirunal College of Music on 10 July 1978. He was married to his longtime girlfriend Lakshmi on 20 December 2000. Their only daughter, Thejaswini Bala, born on 21 April 2017, died on 25 September 2018, when the family met with an accident in Pallipuram, near Thiruvananthapuram. Singer Madhu Balakrishnan is his first cousin.[5]

Death

Balabhaskar sustained multiple injuries due to a car accident which occurred at Pallippuram on the NH-66 in the early hours of 25 September 2018, which also injured his wife and killed their daughter, and was admitted to the Ananthapuri Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, following which two surgeries were done. His condition was improving while continuing on life support, but he died suddenly of cardiac arrest on 2 October 2018[6][7][8][9]

Almost 22 months after his death, the Central Bureau of Investigation took up the probe, for which an FIR has now been lodged by the agency.[10]

Awards

Balabhaskar was the recipient of the Bismillah Khan Yuva Sangeetkaar Puraskaar[11] in 2008 by Kendra Sangeet Natak Academy for Instrumental Music (Violin).[12]

Discography

Apart from his concerts and stage shows, Balabhaskar gave music to ad films, movies, tele-serial titles and albums in Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Sanskrit languages.

Name Year Genre
Khwabon Ke Parinde 2016 Hindi Musical Album - The Big Band
Ambulance 2015 Short film
Zahir 2013 Malayalam Movie
Bhajati 2011 Carnatic Fusion
Let it B 2011 World Instrumental Fusion album - Sanskrit
Pattinde Palazhi 2010 Malayalam movie
Moksham 2005 Malayalam Movie
Heart Beats 2005 Malayalam Musical Album
Mazhayilaro 2005 Malayalam Musical Album
Panchajanyam 2004 Malayalam Movie
Vasantha Geethangal 2002 Malayalam Musical Album
Korappan the great 2001 Malayalam Movie
Kannadikkadavathu 2000 Malayalam Movie
Thakadhimitha 2000 Malayalam Musical Album
Adyamai 1999 Malayalam Musical Album
No Tension Pleeze 1999 Malayalam Musical Album - Confusion Band
Balyasmruthikalay Onam 1998 Malayalam Musical Album
Ninakkayi 1998 Malayalam Musical Album
Neeyariyan 1998 Malayalam Musical Album - Confusion Band
Mangalya Pallakku 1997 Malayalam movie


References

[13]

  1. "MusicIndiaOnline: Get drenched with the new form of love". Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  2. Fusion Music
  3. The Hindu: Big, bold and universal[Usurped!]
  4. Hindu Metro Plus: On a high note Key notes
  5. "Madhu recalls Balu". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  6. "Musician Balabhaskar Passes Away Week After Car Crash That Killed His Daughter". Headlines Today. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  7. "Violinist Balabhaskar passes away". Indian Express. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  8. "Thiruvananthapuram: Conflicting versions about Balabhaskar death surface". 8 June 2019.
  9. "Balabhaskar's car was speeding at 100kmph on the day of accident | Balabhaskar". Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  10. "CBI takes over probe into Kerala musician's death". NetIndian. IANS. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020. Almost 22 months after the death of hugely popular young musician Balabhaskar in a road accident near here, the CBI has taken up the probe, for which an FIR has now been lodged by the agency and concluded that rash and negligent driving had caused the accident . https:www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/cbi-court-rules-out-further-probe-in-balabhaskars-death/article65698931.ece/amp/
  11. About Bismillah Khan Yuva Sangeetkaar Puraskaar[Usurped!]
  12. "Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2008". Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  13. https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2005/01/29/stories/2005012903070100.htm
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