Garimella Balakrishna Prasad

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]

Garimella Balakrishna Prasad
Background information
Born	(1948-11-09) 9 November 1948 (age 76) 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)

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.

Performing career

New raagas by Garimella Balakrishna Prasad in his own handwriting

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]

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]

Awards

Garimella Balakrishna Prasad Sangeet Natak Adademi

Discography

Annamacharya Sankeerthanas, T.T.D Recordings

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)

MS Subbalakshmi releasing Sri Balakrishna Prasad's Anjaneya Kritimani maala

About Garimella Balakrishna Prasad's contribution to music

[6]

References

1. A. D. Rangarajan. "Singing divinity". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
2. "Spirituality and culture inseparable, says scholar". The Hindu. 30 October 2004. Archived from the original on 22 November 2004. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
3. "Andhra music festival in city". Express India. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
4. "Rendering Annamacharya kritis with devotional fervour". The Hindu. 20 July 2007. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
5. 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.
6. Amukthamalyada Sushama. "Garimella Balakrisha Prasad - a lyricist, composer and musician".

External links

• Carnatic India
• The Hindu, 24 October 2008