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One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

February 1st, 2009 Leave a comment Go to comments

G N BalasubramaniamRandom thoughts on a maestro’s centenary…
Carnatic Music’s princely hero – he of the golden voice and the killer good looks, he who danced with the raga devatas and entranced the rasikas – the one and only GNB would be 100 years old this year! ‘GNB’ to you and me, ‘GN’ or ‘GN Sir’ to his colleagues and students, Balasubramaniam was arguably one of Carnatic Music’s very few self-made geniuses.

Several years back when I first started listening to Carnatic Music, I was hooked by three regal styles. I was fortunate enough to experience two of those in person – the languorous bass gait of MDR and the sprightly energy of Semmangudi – at close quarters in the Navaratri Mandapam at Trivandrum. The third was always an enigma that gripped me when listening to a programme titled “Sangeetha Sudha” that was aired at 8.45 pm daily on Vividh Bharati’s local segment. They had a tendency to repeat a given set of albums at regular intervals and I remember looking forward to the next repeat broadcast of the lovely cadences of “Thamadamen Swami”.  I used to relish the unique rocking movements of that booming voice as it explored the highs and lows of Todi. That was my introduction to the genius of GNB. Not having seen any pictures of the master, that Todi somehow formed a mental image in me of a king of music seated on a throne and singing full-throated to a spellbound darbar! Much later when I first saw a photo of GNB, I was struck by the similarity between my mental image and the actual visage. My mental picture became much clearer the other day when I met GB Bhuvaneswaran, the master’s son. The tall, silver-haired Bhuvaneswaran bore a striking resemblance to the face in the old B&W photographs, complete with the vermilion dot and an aristocratic bearing! One could visualize the majestic voice toying with the notes and an imaginative mind conjuring effortless brighas to give the rasikas a thrilling roller-coaster ride. The audiences of yore were said to sway in a mesmerized trance to the music of the handsome god on the dais!

The difference in GNB’s approach to ragas is perhaps exemplified by his handling of Yadukulakambhoji. Yadukulakambhoji to me was long synonymous with that other singular genius, MDR. Slow, tranquil, soothing – these are some of the adjectives that sprang to one’s mind when this lovely raga was mentioned. Addicted to MDR’s approach, I was blown away when I first heard GNB sing Ninnu Sevinchina or Etavuna Nerchitivo… the tranquil river suddenly became a bubbly stream, the mature adult suddenly became a playful toddler who darted hither and thither. There were incredible highs and lows but the speed thrills did not rob the raga of its beauty thanks to the driver’s splendid handling. The lively cadence still retained a magic soothing effect. Savor it here:

[audio:01-Ninu Sevinchinane-lowbit.mp3]

The genius shed his mortal coils at an impossibly young age in 1965, while at the peak of his musical prowess, robbing us of several more decades’ worth of musical gold. The Carnatic fraternity is now gearing up to celebrate the centenary of the master who took its placid world by storm, ushering in not a whiff of fresh air but a gale force wind of innovation.  Let us savor those marathon 4-hr recordings complete with monumental RTPs and remind ourselves that innovation did not mean jettisoning traditions. With several memorial events lined up, albums waiting to be released and memories waiting to be relived, let us bow once again to the original “brigand” – he who re-wrote the rules and ruled the roost; the prince who would be emperor if alive today – GeNius Balasubramaniam!

– Ramanathan N. Iyer

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  • MIRLE KARTHIK

    Himagiri Tanaye, Shivakameshvariyim, Mama Kuleshwaram—. when I hear these songs, yes, my mother’s words come surging. Of a tall, handsome personage, with that periodical characteristic brush of the hand against the nostrils, tossing out birkas like tidal waves. Not fortunate enough to have heard GNB in
    person, whatever little I have heard is enough to tell me that he was a trendsetter in the true sense of the word, with his dashing speed, stately poise, crisp kalpana swaras, at times beguilingly treacherous . And oh, yes, how can I forget that Andholika? Ragasudharasa, Sevika Vendumayya—! Anandabhairavi-Shivakama Sundari, Pallavi-Tillai Isanai Kana Yenna Punniyam Shaideno, Hindolam-Sama Gana Lole etc etc tumble out of memory. The GNB Bani has inspired many, with T.R.Subramaniam reminding me of the master. But somehow V. Ramachandran strikes me as a clone, but without that essential ingredient of originality.Is Gene Balasubramaniam lurking somewhere in the family tree, waiting to spring a surprise?

  • S Sivaramakrishnan

    That was one of the best tributes to the Evergreen Hero and the Super Star of carnaic music – GNB noted for his ‘Grand Nascent Briga-s’!
    The editor has exactly ‘relived’ my experience with the Navaratri Mandapam and Sangeetha Sudha of Trivandrum!

  • M.Ramanathan

    I am an addict of G.N.B’s music.In 1964 I met him at Tanjore railway Retiring room and accompanied along with Lalgudi Jayaraman in the car to the sabha where he performed with none other tha the legend Palghat Mani iyer.What a concert. The collector of Tanjore Sri.vedanarayananandSri. K.S.Gopalaswamy Iyer of Ananda Lodge were present on that day to listen to the great Master.

  • Dr K Parameswaran

    The Vividh Bharathi program Sangeetha Sudha is a fond memory for me too! It followed the main listener’s request programme in the vening and I remember waiting with bated breath to take over the single transister at home from my sister who was a regular film song addict!

  • http://maxworth M. Srinivas Dixit

    Your uploading song of GNB is yedukula kamboji is very good. I do have some collections.

  • (GN)B.MURALI

    It is very interesting to go through the synopsis about the Great Legend GNB. In Tamil, there is a saying “Oppaarum Mikkaarum Illai”. In my opinion, this aptly matches GNB. Such was his generous performance. Since GNB passed away much before the impact of media , his performance could be felt only by the yester-year generation. GNB is a multi-faceted personality, an academic (BA Hons.), Vaaggeyakaarar, actor, teacher, and above all, a scintillating vocalist.

  • MANIAN

    I HV HEARD GNB QUITE A LONG TIME.
    HE IS A GREAT BOON FOR THE MUSIC WORLD.
    HE IS A “VARAPRASAADHAM” FOR THE SOUTH INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC

  • M.K.Ramasubramnaina

    As an unrepentant sycophant of GN Sir and a lucky person to have heard him over two decades and having been closely associated with him thro my father the late K.S.Mahadevan-Music Critic of Indian Express CHENNAI, and moved with him in close quarters,I can say undoubyedly that his arrival was a breath of fresh air with his unique ‘Bani’. He was one of the most self-effacing artiste that I have ever met and had an uncanny sense of humor. He always referred to himself as a “Good for Nothing Bhagavathar(GNB) in a self deprecating tone. In 1964,a year before he died I attended a concert of him at the wedding of the Late Alathur Bros(Sivasubramania Iyer’s daughte in Trichy.Needless to say the concert was aphenomenal one. At the end of the concert like so many eager fans buzzing around him,I rushed and told him that it was one of the best concerts I had heard from him to which he promptly replied in Tamil.:Nan Ennikkum Padara Madiri than Padinen. Unnudaya Gnanam vena improve ahirukko ennavo( I have been singing the same way-perhaps your Gnanam may have improved!!I have many more anecdotes to tell if space and readers’ patience permit!!!

  • V.VENKATESAN

    Astonishing,astounding,amazing and the one and only GNB–Laden with blistering voice,sweetened with fast brighas,and rich and fertile imagination,vivid delineation of ragas-Andolika-Raga Sudharasa;Kalyani-Shivakakameswarim;ragamalikas-Vande Mataram,a master piece and kalambodhara to name a few; I am an avid listener knowing nothing about carnatic but mesmerised and enchanted by GNB sir–My one and only wish to Lord–Should there be another life, I want to do Gurukulavasam for the master GNB and capture the glimpses of the uniquely gifted Genius in the annals of carnatic music.I understand how gifted are his shisyas like Ramachandransir,MLVamma,S.kalyanaraman Sir,and TS Balasubramaniam sir–I have some rich collections of him and other stalwarts.
    Venkat

  • Somu Sankaran

    No doubt GNB was a genius.

  • PRAKASH IYENGAR

    I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HIS – SRIRAMA JAYARAMA SRINGARARAMA YANI CHINTINCHARAADEY OOH MANASA – SONG. WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO ANYONE WHO GIVES THE DETAILS
    THANKS

  • G.K.SHANKAR

    GNB Concerts are never ending and like to listen all through nights and days. We are unfortunate that we never saw him.

  • B S Sekhar

    No words to explain GNB’s music. Even after a century, people would get wonderstuck when they hear GNB – especially on a Andolika, AmritaVarshini or shifting from a Kanada to Subali in a Virutham without a pause…… etc… etc…… Some great musician told me after listening to his Karaharapriya, Rishabapriya, Ranjini & Sindubhairavi ( in VandeMatharam slokam) …” Paadina Ippudi Paadanam’ ….. meaning ” Sing like this if want to sing”.
    Could anyone get the recording of Raga GOWDAMALHAR ( kriti – Saarasamukhi Sakhalabhagyathe)?

  • M. Srinivas Dixit

    I can Give GNB Live concerts. Contact me. my mail id
    maxworthconsumer@yahoo.com

  • Sairaman Keerthy

    Way back, Once GNB was contacted by a group of rasikas of a temple in one of the villages in Kanyakumari district for a carnatic concert. At that time, he was in Trivandrum so the place of concert was easilly accessible by him though the temple situated on the northern interior near hillside. GNB came on time on the scheduled day and performed with his accompanists. After the concert, the organisers asked him as to how much consideration he needed for this performance and GNB, rightfully and reasonably, requested only Rs.1000 in all for transport,food and for the accopanists. The organisers pounced on him saying that was too much and they were arguing among themselves and finally they unanimously decided to pay him Rs.1000 and they stretched a thaambulam plate with the agreed sum. GNB received the money humbly and put it in the hundy of the temple and walked majestically , thanking the organisers. This was witnessed by my grand father who used to attend all concerts of GNB without fail. What a great soul of CM !!!!