Garimella Balakrishna Prasad

Garimella Balakrishna Prasad
Garimella Balakrishna Prasad
	Vocal, mridangam
Years active	1970–present
Awards	Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2020)

Garimella Balakrishna Prasad (born 9 November 1948) is an Indian classical devotional singer, composer, Sangeet Natak Akademi for year 2020, T.T.D Asthana Vidwaan and Ahobhilamatam Asthana Vidwaan.^[1]^[2] He served Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam's Annamacharya Project as Special Grade Vocal Artiste from 1978 to 2006.^[3]

He is regarded as a pioneer in composing and rendering Annamacharya Sankeerthanas in various Indian musical genres like classical, semi-classical, light and folk styles. He composed tunes for the lyrics of nearly 1400 songs composed by various poets. Of these nearly 1000 of them were Annamacharya sankirtanas. To mention a few most popular sankeerthanas set to tune by Sri Prasad are Vinaro Bhagyamu Vishnukatha, Jagadapu Chanavula, Vachenu Alamelumanga, Tiruveedhula Merasi, Choodaramma Satulaala, Jayalakhmi Varalakshmi, Aadimoolame maaku angaraksha, Mangambudhi Hamumantha, Antayu neeve, Yemani pogadudume, Annimantramulu and Pidikita Thalambrala.

Early life

Balakrishna Prasad was born in

Vaggeyakara

. He holds a Diploma in Carnatic Music. He is an 'A' grade vocal artist of the All India Radio (AIR).

He specialised in Annamacharya compositions under the tutelage of Sangita Kalanidhi, Lt . Sri Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, who initiated him into the nuances of classical music. He was closely associated with Nedunuri Krishnamurthy in not only learning music, but also in composing music to Annamacharya Sankeerthanas, publishing books with musical notation and audio CD recordings.

Prof. D. Pasupathi also taught Annamacharya songs as well as classical kritis during two-year scholarship course offered by

Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna

.

Performing career

He joined the Annamacharya Project after completing his diploma in Carnatic classical vocal music, in 1978 as a vocal artist. The project established to promote Annamacharya's music and literature, soon became the medium through which he was able to bring forth his musical prowess. From the inception till his retirement in 2006, he remained the principal exponent of Annamacharya Project.^[4] He rendered remarkable services at various levels to raise it into a top cultural organisation.

His Nadopasana spans over four decades. Absolute faith, total commitment and the zeal for perfection are hallmarks of his music. He consistently endeavours to improve his art and continues to grow as an artist.

He performed in more than five thousand vocal concerts, set tune to more than six hundred Annamacharya songs, gave audio recordings for TTD, published books with musical notations and conducted classes, teaching Annamacharya songs to make them more popular.

Unique contributions and records

He is the inventor of "Sankeerthana Yagnam", a stage where a large number of songs are sung by a singer on a single stage, which spans for more than a day. Sankeerthana Yagnam's performed by Garimella Balakrishna Prasad: Visakhapatnam in the year 1997, Vijayawada in the year 1999 with more than 200 songs, Tirupati in the year 2001 with a record number of more than 300 songs, Hyderabad in the year 2003 and 2007 with more than 200 songs. Some of these were telecast by TV channels such as MAA TV, Bhakthi TV etc.
He crossed the one hundred mark of teaching Annamacharya sankeerthans through "Hari Sankeerthanam", a program telecast on BHAKTHI TV (a sister concern of NTv), that targets teaching music to the common man. It is mentionable that his second son Sri GVN Anila Kumar has participated as student in this feature and thousands of music lovers are benefited by learning directly from Sri Balakrishna Prasad.
"LAKSHA GALAARCHANA" is an extraordinary feature wherein Sri Balakrishna Prasad has led more than one lakh sixty thousand singers all across India on a single day, 10 May 2009, at Parade grounds, Secunderabad. This feature is conducted by "SILICON ANDHRA" (a US based organisation) in co-ordination with Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) State Government and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (T.T.D). This feature is telecast in live simultaneously by many TV Channels in India and abroad.
More than 5000 concerts by a singer with Annamacharya sankeerthanas.
More than 700 songs set to tune by a music composer for a lyricist.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has honoured Sri Balakrishna Prasad with a certificate of appreciation in the year 2006 for his extra ordinary service
Being a Vaggeyakara he has penned sankeerthanas on lord Anjaneya "ANJANEYA KRITI MANI MALA" (21 kritis), on lord Ganesha (50 kritis), Navagrahas, Light music songs and on other lords. His own compositions are more than 1000 in number. Some of them are published as books with musical notations.

Personal life

He is married to G.Radha and has two sons – G.S.Pavana Kumar married to Srividya, G.V.N.Anila Kumar married to Swarna. He is the nephew of playback singer S. Janaki.^[5]

Discography

Annamacharya Sankeerthanas, T.T.D Recordings

Visit https://www.tirumala.org/Annamacharya_Keertanas_Sravanam.aspx and search with name "G.BALAKRISHNA PRASAD" to listen to these songs

Annamayya Desi Kavita Ganam
Annamayya Hari Pada Makarandam
Annamayya Hari Sankirtana Mrutam
Annamayya Hari Sharanagati
Annamayya Madhra Kavitha Ganamu
Annamayya Ramanjaneya Lahari
Annamayya Sankeertana Lahari
Annamayya Tatvaneeti Saramu
Annamayya Venkatadri Vennela
Nnamayya Anantaragalu
Paluku Tene Talli- 1
Paluku Tene Talli- 2
Sri Venkateswara Geetamalika
Srinivasa Sruti Bhushanam
Venkatadri Nrusimhudu
Annamayya Gnana Yagnam
Annamayya Hari Pada Sirulu
Annamayya Mohana Murari
Annamayya Sankirtana Brindavanam
Annamayya Sankirtana Prabha
Annamayya Sankirtana Prasadam
Annamayya Sankirtana Sravani
Annamayya Sankirtana Tarakam
Annamayya Sri Alamelumanga Vilasam
Annamayya Sri Hari Kusumanjali
Annamayya Sri Nrusimha Sankirtana Vaibhavam
Chinna Tirumalacharyula Pada Vaibhavam
Nrusimha Pada Dhwani
Sri Ramanjaneyam
Sri Venkateswara Vairagyavachanamulu

Annamayya Archinchina Alamelumanga
Annamayya Govinda Ganam
Annamayya Pada Sudha
Annamayya Pada Sudharnavam
Annamayya Ramanuja Kirtanam
Annamayya Sankirtana Madhoolika
Annamayya Sankirtana Mukthavali
Annamayya Sankirtana Pushpalathika
Annamayya Sankirtana Shikhamani
Annamayya Sankirtana Sumaharam
Annamayya Sankirtana Sumamalika
Annamayya Sankirtana Sumasri
Annamayya Sankirtana Sushama
Annamayya Sankirtana Vaibhogam
Annamayya Sri Pranayamu
Annamayya Pada Kamalalu
Annamayya Pada Marakataalu
Annamayya Pada Mudrika
Annamayya Pada Parimalalu
Annamayya Pada Prasunalu
Annamayya Pada Surabhilam
Annamayya Padaaravindam
Annamayya Pataku Pattabhishekam - 96
Annamayya Sankeertana Sumagandhi
Annamayya Sankeertanaaraamam
Annamayya Sankirtana Pushpanjali
Annamayya Sankirtana Pushpavanam
Annamayya Srirama Pada Lahari
Taallapaaka Pada Prasadam

Annamacharya Sankeerthanas, Other recordings

Annamayya Paarijaatalu
Annamayya Sankeerthana Sudha
Bhavayaami
Annamayya sankeerthana chandrika
Annamayya Pada Madhuri
Annamayya Sankeerthana Pushpaalu
Annamayya Sankeerthana Pushpayaagam
Tirunivaali
Annamayya Pada Madhuri
Srihari Vaibhavam
Annamayya Sankeerthana Padanidhi
Annamayya sankeerthana manihaaram
Annamayya Vinnapaalu
Annamayya Madhuragaanam
Annamayya Venkatadri Govindudu
Annamayya Sri Krishna Padahela
Annamayya Sankeerthana Vedanaadam
Annamayya Aanjaneya Sruti Sanjeevani

Annamayya Sankeerthana Saamagaanam
Annamayya Sankeerthana Pranavam
Annamayya Pada Singaaram
Annamayya Srinidhi Sankeerthanam
Annamayya Alamelmanga Vaibhavam
Krishnaarpana
Annamayya Paatalu
Annamayya Vishnu Gaanam
Annamayya Sankeerthana Sarada
Annamayya Sankeerthana Sanjeevani
Flowers at his feet
Annamayya Sankeerthana Bharati
Sapthagiri sankeerthanalu
Hari Siripadahele
Annamayya Achyta Saranu
Annamayya Pada ratnaalu
Annmayya Nrusimha Sankeertanam

Bibliography

T.T.D. Publications

His tunes for Annamayya sankeerthana's has been published by TTD.

1993 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Swara Samputi (Telugu)
1997 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Manjari (Tamil)
1999 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Sankeerthanam (Telugu)
2000 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Saurabham (Telugu)
2001 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Ratnavali (Telugu)
2001 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Swaravali (Tamil)
2003 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Praathamiki (Telugu)
2004 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Mahati (Telugu)

Other publications

Krishna Ravali (2 Volumes) (Telugu)
Anjaneya Kriti Mani Maala (Telugu)
Annammayya Sankeerthana Sanjeevani (Telugu)

Awards, titles and felicitations

Sangeet Natak Akademi, in the field of classical music for the year 2020
Asthana vidwan Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Tirupati, awarded on 16 November 2012.
ASTHANA SANGEETHA VIDWAN of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, Title was awarded on 8 October 2010.
ANDHRA PRADESH GOVERNMENT UGADI PURASKARAM by the Department of Cultural Affairs, A.P. Government in the year 2007.
ANNAMAYYA SANKEERTHANA MAHATI, in the year 2001, by T.T.D (on the successful completion of SANKEERTHANA YAGNMAN) at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
ANNAMAYYA NAADA JYOTHI, in 1997, California, USA, by SVASA (Sri Venkateswara Annamacharya Society of America)
SRI ANNAMACHARYA VIDWANMANI, in 1997, California, USA, by SAPNA (Sri Annamacharya Project of North America)
GANAKALA VISAARADA, in 1999, by Cultural wing of State Bank of India, Labbipet, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
ANNAMAYYA NAADA SUDHA SAMRAT, in 2003, by Annamayya sankeertaamruta varshini, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
ENCHANTING SINGER, in 2001 by Delhi Telugu Academy.
MASTER M.N. AWARD, in 1998, "World Teachers Trust", an International Organization, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE, in 2000, "Academy of Fine Arts", Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
Uttama Purusha, in 2000, Andhra Samskrithika Samithi, Hosuru, Tamil Nadu.
GURU Sishya Puraskam, in 1998, by "Raaga Saptha Swara", Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
Ghantasala Laitha Sangeetha Puraskaram, in 2005, by Sri Ghantasala Sangeetha Samsmarana Kalapeetham, Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Harikeerthanacharya, 2006, by State Bank of India, Governorpet, Vijayawada.
Honoured with Kanakaabhishekam in 2007, during Sankeerthana Yagnam by State Bank of India, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
Nandaki Shrignadha Gandharva, in 2006, by Panchaasya Sudharnavam, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
Honoured with Suvarna Simha Thallatam, in 2007 by Bhuvaneswara Narayana Peetham, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
Lakshagalarchana Saarathi, in 2009, by Surya Peetham, Garividi, Andhra Pradesh.
"RAJA LAKSHMI FOUNDATION" special award
"SRI KANCHI KANCHI KAAMAKOTI PEETA" Aasthana vidwaan
"TIRUMALA TIRUPATI DEVASTANAM" Aasthana vidwaan
"BEST MUSICIAN FOR 2010 AWARD" by SANAATANA DHARMA charitable trust
"Dr. MANGALAMPALLI BALAMURALI KRISHNA SANGEETHA PRATIBHA PURASKAARAM"
"SANKEERTHANA GAANAPAYONIDHI" by R.J.MEDIA

Youtube playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCKcZt1sfIJLZ8emWG53C7McbdMgZ31Bu

External links

Interview and Felicitation links

Hari Sankeerthanam, Bhakti Tv

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYOhi4uPeLQ

Laksha Gala archana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btQLqGIu6qw&t=185s

References

^ A. D. Rangarajan. "Singing divinity". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
^ "Spirituality and culture inseparable, says scholar". The Hindu. 30 October 2004. Archived from the original on 22 November 2004. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
^ "Andhra music festival in city". Express India. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
^ "Rendering Annamacharya kritis with devotional fervour". The Hindu. 20 July 2007. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
^ J R Shridharan (4 September 2006). "Annamayya keerthanas are everything to him". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 September 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2012.

External links

[1] A. D. Rangarajan. "Singing divinity". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 February 2012.

[2] "Spirituality and culture inseparable, says scholar". The Hindu. 30 October 2004. Archived from the original on 22 November 2004. Retrieved 18 February 2012.

[3] "Andhra music festival in city". Express India. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.

[4] "Rendering Annamacharya kritis with devotional fervour". The Hindu. 20 July 2007. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.

[5] J R Shridharan (4 September 2006). "Annamayya keerthanas are everything to him". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 September 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2012.

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