Veteran Carnatic Musician M Balamuralikrishna Passes Away

Known in popular culture as one of the singers of ‘Mile Sur Mera Tumhara’, he started his career at the age of 6.

Carnatic musician M Balamuralikrishna. (Photo: Twitter/@Ragunanthen)

Celebrated Carnatic Musician M Balamuralikrishna passed away on Tuesday, 22 November, at his Chennai residence.

The recipient of numerous National awards and honours including Padma Vibhushan and Padma Shri, the 86-year-old doyen of Carnatic music is also a Chevalier of the French Government.

His name is cemented in popular culture as one of the singers of the iconic national integration song Mile Sur Mera Tumhara. The singer, composer and child prodigy started his musical career at the age of six.

When he was eight, he gave a full concert at the Thyagaraja Festival in Vijayawada, which is where he received the prefix 'Bala' (child) to his name 'Muralikrishna', which stuck for life.

He has given over 25,000 concerts spread across the world, including 'Jugalbandis' with eminent Hindustani musicians such as Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Kishori Amonkar, and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. An extremely fluid performer, he has also shared the stage with Western musicians.

He was known for his spirit of innovation and non-conformism. Some of the ragas he has created have only four, or even three notes.

His contribution to music in cinema also has been phenomenal. He debuted in Sati Savitri as a playback singer in 1957, and as actor and singer in the 1967 classic Bhakta Prahlada. He has sung and composed in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Punjabi and French.

The last few years have seen fewer concerts and public appearances from him, partly due to his interest in Music Therapy.

Condolences Pour in on Twitter

Here is what eminent personalities said about the legend.

The heart saddens to see the legend pass away, but his music and memories will live forever.