UpdateBot at 16:01, 28 March 2022

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{{Short description|Indian musician}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Balabhaskar
| image = Balabhaskar Erudite Conclave Medical College Trivandrum.JPG
| caption =
| birth_name = Balabhaskar Chandran
| birth_place =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1978|7|10|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|10|02|1978|7|10|df=yes}}
| origin = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], India
| genre = [[Fusion (music)|Fusion]], [[Carnatic music|carnatic]], [[World music|world]]
| occupation = Singer, [[composer]], [[violin]]ist, [[record producer]], Musician
| years_active = 1995–2018
| website = {{URL|balabhaskar.in}}
}}

'''Balabhaskar Chandran''' (10 July 1978 – 2 October 2018) was an Indian musician, [[violin]]ist, [[composer]] and [[record producer]]. He is best known for promoting fusion music in [[South India]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.musicindiaonline.com/n/i/top_stories/1227/ |title=MusicIndiaOnline: Get drenched with the new form of love |access-date=13 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211133354/http://www.musicindiaonline.com/n/i/top_stories/1227/ |archive-date=11 February 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=FusionMusic>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070204054655/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/02/02/stories/2007020200870300.htm Fusion Music]</ref> Hailing from a musically affluent family, he was introduced to the world of instrumental music at the age of three by his uncle [[B. Sasikumar]], a laureate in [[Carnatic music]].<ref name=Balabhaskar>{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20071216164013/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/09/23/stories/2006092301130300.htm The Hindu: Big, bold and universal]}}</ref> Balabhaskar began his professional career at the age of 12. He made his debut as a music director by composing the soundtrack for the [[Malayalam film]] ''[[Mangalya Pallakku]]'' (1998), and was the youngest music composer to have worked in the industry at the age of 17. He had won the Bismillah Khan Yuva Sangeetkaar Puraskaar in 2008 by Kendra Sangeet Natak Academy for Instrumental Music (Violin).

==Career==
Balabhaskar was a child prodigy and started doing stage shows at 12.<ref name=Balabhaskar /> He became the youngest music director in the Malayalam film industry when he composed for the movie ''Mangalya Pallak'' (audio marketed by Magna Sound) at 17.<ref name=Balabhaskar2>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110604103033/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/08/18/stories/2008081850410300.htm Hindu Metro Plus: On a high note Key notes]</ref> His compositions for the albums ''Ninakaai'' and ''Aadyamai'' are still among the most-sought-after romantic song collections.<ref name=Balabhaskar2 /> He was exceptionally versed in [[Carnatic music]] and hence was an exponent of the same. His flair for connecting with his audience has made him one of the hot favorites for major stage shows and classical concerts.<ref name=FusionMusic />

Balabhaskar has performed with many noted musicians and instrumentalists in India and abroad, including [[Zakir Hussain (musician)|Ustad Zakir Hussain]], [[Sivamani]], [[Louis Banks]], [[Vikku Vinayakram]],[Fetty Wap (singer)] [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]], [[Mattannoor Sankarankutty]], [[Ranjit Barot]], Fazal Qureshi, and so on. He also performed with his guru and uncle Shri [[B. Sasikumar]], as violin duo in [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]] concerts.

==Latest works==
Balabhaskar's debut instrumental fusion album was '''''let it B''''' in 2011. It features renowned musicians including Sivamani, Louis Banks, Fazal Qureshi, Gino Banks and Sheldon D'Silva. ''Let it B'' has flavors of rock, jazz, hip-hop and techno music spun around Balabhaskar's Indian violin. The album uses specially composed Sanskrit lyrics, in an effort to promote Sanskrit as a language of communication. Two songs, "Begin with Soorya" and "B yond," have been visualized and are available along with the visuals of the making in the limited edition series. The album is produced under the banner of MC Audios and Videos.

Balabhaskar brought out a collection of soothing Carnatic [[Glossary of Carnatic music#Keerthanam|Keertanas]] colored in his style, lending it an international flavor. The project is called '''Bhajati''' in 2011 and is marketed by Audio Tracs.

==Personal life==

Balabhaskar was born to C. K. Unni who was a postmaster and Santhakumari; Sanskrit lecturer of Sree Swathi Thirunal College of Music on 10 July 1978. He was married to his longtime girlfriend Lakshmi on 20 December 2000. Their only daughter, Thejaswini Bala, born on 21 April 2017, died on 25 September 2018, when the family met with an accident in Pallipuram, near Thiruvananthapuram. Singer [[Madhu Balakrishnan]] is his first cousin.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Madhu recalls Balu|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/specials/balabhaskar/balabhaskar-violin-thejaswini-bala-daughter-wife-lakshmi-madhubalakrishnan-singer-remembering-balu-1.3200954|access-date=2020-08-04|website=Mathrubhumi}}</ref>

==Death==
Balabhaskar sustained multiple injuries due to a car accident which occurred at [[Pallippuram, Thiruvananthapuram|Pallippuram]] on the [[NH-66 (India)|NH-66]] in the early hours of 25 September 2018, which also injured his wife and killed their daughter, and was admitted to the Ananthapuri Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, following which two surgeries were done. His condition was improving while continuing on life support, but he died suddenly of cardiac arrest on 2 October 2018<ref>{{cite news|title=Musician Balabhaskar Passes Away Week After Car Crash That Killed His Daughter|url=https://headlinestoday.org/entertainment/3331/musician-balabhaskar-passes-away-week-after-car-crash-that-killed-his-daughter/|accessdate=2 October 2018|agency=Headlines Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002202036/https://headlinestoday.org/entertainment/3331/musician-balabhaskar-passes-away-week-after-car-crash-that-killed-his-daughter/|archive-date=2 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Violinist Balabhaskar passes away |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/balabhaskar-malayali-musician-violinist-dead-car-incident-child-wife-5381916/ |accessdate=2 October 2018 |agency=Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/080619/thiruvananthapuram-conflicting-versions-about-balabhaskar-death-surfa.html|title = Thiruvananthapuram: Conflicting versions about Balabhaskar death surface|date = 8 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/balabhaskar-s-car-was-speeding-at-100kmph-on-the-day-of-accident-1.3853063 |title=Archived copy |access-date=9 June 2019 |archive-date=9 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609041108/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/balabhaskar-s-car-was-speeding-at-100kmph-on-the-day-of-accident-1.3853063 |url-status=dead }}</ref> <br /> at the age of 40.

Almost 22 months after his death, the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] took up the probe, for which an FIR has now been lodged by the agency.<ref>{{cite news |title=CBI takes over probe into Kerala musician's death |url=https://www.netindian.in/news/national/cbi-takes-over-probe-into-kerala-musicians-death |accessdate=1 August 2020 |work=NetIndian |agency=IANS |date=30 July 2020 |quote=Almost 22 months after the death of hugely popular young musician Balabhaskar in a road accident near here, the CBI has taken up the probe, for which an FIR has now been lodged by the agency.}}</ref>

==Awards==
Balabhaskar was the recipient of the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi#Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puruskar|Bismillah Khan Yuva Sangeetkaar Puraskaar]]<ref>{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110606101644/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2009/06/04/stories/2009060456312200.htm About Bismillah Khan Yuva Sangeetkaar Puraskaar]}}</ref> in 2008 by [[Kendra Sangeet Natak Academy]] for Instrumental Music (Violin).<ref name=Awards>{{Cite web |url=http://sangeetnatak.org/sna/yuva2008.htm |title=Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2008 |access-date=13 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727234042/http://sangeetnatak.org/sna/yuva2008.htm |archive-date=27 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Filmography==
Apart from his concerts and stage shows, Balabhaskar gave music to ad films, movies, tele-serial titles and albums in [[Malayalam]], Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Sanskrit languages.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Year
! Genre
|-
| Khwabon Ke Parinde
| 2016
| Hindi Musical Album - The Big Band
|-
| [[Ambulance(short film)|Ambulance]]
| 2015
| Short film
|-
|Zahir
|2013
|Malayalam Movie
|-
| Bhajati
| 2011
| Carnatic Fusion
|-
| Let it B
| 2011
| World Instrumental Fusion album - Sanskrit
|-
| [[Pattinte Palazhi|Pattinde Palazhi]]
| 2010
| [[Malayalam movie]]
|-
| Moksham
| 2005
| Malayalam Movie
|-
| Heart Beats
| 2005
| Malayalam Musical Album
|-
| Mazhayilaro
| 2005
| Malayalam Musical Album
|-
| Panchajanyam
| 2004
| Malayalam Movie
|-
| Vasantha Geethangal
| 2002
| Malayalam Musical Album
|-
| Korappan the great
| 2001
| Malayalam Movie
|-
| Kannadikkadavathu
| 2000
| Malayalam Movie
|-
| Thakadhimitha
| 2000
| Malayalam Musical Album
|-
| Adyamai
| 1999
| Malayalam Musical Album
|-
| No Tension Pleeze
| 1999
| Malayalam Musical Album - Confusion Band
|-
| Balyasmruthikalay Onam
| 1998
| Malayalam Musical Album
|-
| Ninakkayi
| 1998
| Malayalam Musical Album
|-
| Neeyariyan
| 1998
| Malayalam Musical Album - Confusion Band
|-
| [[Mangalya Pallakku (film)|Mangalya Pallakku]]
| 1997
| [[Malayalam movie]]
|-
|}

==References==
<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2005/01/29/stories/2005012903070100.htm {{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Balabhaskar}}
* [http://www.balabhaskar.in/ Official website]
* {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20050421152951/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/01/29/stories/2005012903070100.htm Raga of love: Article from The Hindu]}}
* [https://archive.today/20130218073407/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2009/balabhaskar-bismillah-khan-award-030609.html Balabhaskar got Bismillah Khan Yuva Sangeetkar award]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/balabhaskar-on-a-high/article497491.ece Balabhaskar on a high]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120609053706/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/08/16/stories/2008081652800900.htm Sound Waves]
* [https://archive.today/20130908171833/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/08/30/stories/2007083050500100.htm Fiddler in the Rain]
* [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=38160&pg=2 New Universe Music Festival USA - Review]
{{Music of Kerala}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Balabhaskar}}
[[Category:Composers for violin]]
[[Category:Indian violinists]]
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:Musicians from Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in India]]

Balabhaskar - Revision history

UpdateBot at 16:01, 28 March 2022