News - Views - Reviews
DR. M BALAMURALIKRISHNA - THE INIMITABLE MASTER, PART 2
-
As a boy, what was your practice schedule like? Did it change over the years? How do you keep your voice in such good shape today?
I never practised. I have a good voice. I don’t do anything for it.
-
It is said that adolescence is the toughest time in a male vocalist's life. In your case, you must have also been performing then. How did you manage those years of your career?
It has changed for me also. My voice is only God’s blessings. Even now if people say that I don’t have a good voice or I don’t sing well, I don’t care or get affected by it. For boys between the ages of 13 and 18 years the voice changes, and this is natural. Their sruti also changes as the voice changes. Whether it is good or not, a male vocalist has to go through these changes.
-
You are famed for being almost the only Carnatic male vocalist with good voice culture. You are also reputed to be the best user of the microphone.
Mikes are not necessary for me. One who hears me has to say so.
-
Do you think a good voice is God's gift? Or can it be cultivated over the years? If it can be cultivated, to what extent can it be cultivated?
My voice is God’s blessings.
-
In today's world, do you think good voice voice culture also includes a good mike sense? Or do you think they are two separate things? If yes, can one make up for the other? How much should a vocalist/instrumentalist depend on the mike?
People say so. I know nothing.
-
Your concert career includes several very memorable Jugalbandi concerts. You also have the reputation of being almost the only vocalist who shines in them and does Carnatic music proud. What is (a) Your opinion about such Jugalbandis? Do you think they serve any purpose? (b) Your attitude towards such concerts? Do you plan for them in advance?
(a) I sing Jugalbandis because rasikas want it.
(b) No, I don’t plan in advance. I sing what comes to my mind on the stage.
-
There are several recordings of yours where you have sung and also played different instruments like the Viola and Khanjira. So what are all the instruments that you can play? Did you learn the techniques formally under some guru?
No, I learnt to play the Viola and Khanjira on my own.
-
Your compositions are extremely popular. When did you start composing? How many compositions do you have to your credit so far? And what are the different types of compositions that you have attempted - Varnams, Kritis etc?
I have composed 10-12 Varnams, 10-12 Tillanas and several Kritis.
-
Several new ragas have been attributed to you. Would you say that you invented them or discovered them? Have you found some / any of them listed in older musical treatises?
They just occurred to me on their own.
Await Part 3 of this interview! Coming next week!
Posted on September 12, 2002
