Garimella Balakrishna Prasad

Garimella Balakrishna Prasad

Background information
Born	(1948-11-09) 9 November 1948 (age 75) Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh, India
Genres	Carnatic music
Occupation(s)	Classical singer and composer
Instrument(s)	Vocal, mridangam
Years active	1970–present


Awards	Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2020)

Musical artist

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 Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh to Krishnaveni and Narasimha Rao, a music teacher and a 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 Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. Dr. Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna's music, mellifluous voice and unique rendering inspired Balakrishna Prasad to learn classical music.

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.

Personal life

He is married to G.Radha and has two sons – G.S.Pavana Kumar, married to Srividya and 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

Sangeet Natak Akademi, in the field of classical music for the year 2020^{[citation needed]}

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.