Balabhaskar

Balabhaskar
Background information
Birth name	Balabhaskar Chandran
Born	(1978-07-10)10 July 1978
Origin	Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Died	(2018-10-02)2 October 2018
Genres	Fusion, carnatic, world
Occupation(s)	Singer, composer, violinist, record producer
Years active	1995–2018
Spouse	Lakshmi ​ (m. 2000)​
Website	balabhaskar.in

Balabhaskar Chandran (10 July 1978 – 2 October 2018) was an Indian violinist, composer and record producer. He is best known for promoting fusion music in South India. 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. Balabhaskar passed away after suffering from a massive cardiac arrest on October 2nd, 2018. He breathed his last at the Ananthapuri Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, where he was admitted along with his wife, Lakshmi, following a car accident on September 25.

The 40-year-old singer-musician and his family met with an accident at Pallipuram, near his hometown of Thiruvananthapuram. The couple and their two-year-old daughter, Tejasvini were on their way back from a temple trip in Thrissur when the car crashed into a tree.

While the couple was rushed to a nearby hospital, Tejasvini, unfortunately, could not be saved. According to reports, Lakshmi has still not regained consciousness.

Balabhaskar had severe head and spine injuries followed by an accident. Even after multiple surgeries, he had sustained multiple organ failure and was on ventilator. Lakshmi too had sustained multiple fractures in different parts of the body and was on ventilator, but was recovering.

Their driver, Arjun, too was reported to have sustained minor injuries. As per the Mangalapuram police, it was suspected that the driver may have dozed off while driving, causing him to ram into the tree.

Balabhaskar was a noted musician who began his career at the age of 12. He had composed the soundtrack for the Malayalam film Mangalya Pallak, and was the youngest music composer to have worked in the industry. He was known for his unique south Indian fusion music.

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. 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. His compositions for the albums Ninakaai and Aadyamai are still among the most-sought-after romantic song collections. He was exceptionally versed in Carnatic music and hence is an exponent of the same. His flair of connecting with his audience has made him one of the hot favorites for major stage shows and classical concerts.

Balabhaskar has performed with many noted musicians and instrumentalists in India and abroad, including Ustad Zakhir Hussain, Sivamani, Louis Banks, Vikku Vinayakram, Hariharan, Mattannoor Sankarankutty, Ranjit Barot, Fazal Qureshi, and so on. He also performs with his guru and uncle Shri B. Sasikumar, as violin duo in Carnatic concerts.

Latest works

Balabhaskar's debut instrumental fusion album was let it B in 2011. It features renowned musicians including Sivamani, Louiz Banks, Fazal Qureshi, Gino Banks and Sheldon D'Silva. let it B has flavors of rock, jazz, hip-hop and techo 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 Keertanas colored in his style, lending it an international flavor. The project is called Bhajati and is marketed by Audio Tracs.

Personal life

Balabhaskar was born to C.K.Unni & Santhakumari on 10 July 1978. He married his longtime girlfriend Lakshmi on 16 December 2000. Their only daughter, Thejaswini Bala, born on 14 May 2016, died on 25 September 2018, when the family met with an accident in Pallipuram, near Thiruvananthapuram

Death

Balabhaskar sustained multiple injuries due to a car accident on 25 September 2018 at Pallipuram in Thiruvananthapuram, following which two surgeries were done. The car rammed a tree on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram around 4.30 am, the police said. The couple's daughter was declared dead in hospital. The driver is believed to have dozed off and lost control of the vehicle. His condition was improving while on life support. He died on October 2 2018, due to cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.

Awards

Balabhaskar was the recipient of the Bismillah Khan Yuva Sangeetkaar Puraskaar in 2008 by Kendra Sangeet Natak Academy for Instrumental Music(Violin).

Filmography

Apart from his concerts and stage shows, Balabhaskar has given music to ad films, movies, tele-serial titles and albums in Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Sanskrit languages.

Name	Year	Genre
Ambulance	2015	Short film
Zahir	2013	Malayalam movie
Bhajati	2011	Carnatic fusion
let it B	2011	World fusion album
Pattinde Palazhi	2010	Malayalam movie
Kannadikkadavathu	2000	Malayalam movie
Mangalya Pallakku	1998	Malayalam movie
Moksham	-	Malayalam movie
Ninakkayi	-	Malayalam Album
Adyamai	-	Malayalam album

External links

• Official website
• Raga of love: Article from The Hindu
• Balabhaskar got Bismillah Khan Yuva Sangeetkar award
• Balabhaskar on a high
• Sound Waves
• Fiddler in the Rain
• New Universe Music Festival USA - Review