S. Balachander
S. Balachander ( Sundaram Balachander ; Tamil சுந்தரம் பாலச்சந்தர், Cuntaram Pālaccantar; born January 18, 1927 in Madras ; † April 13, 1990 in Bhilai , also as Veena S. Balachander and Veenai S. Balachander ) was an Indian film actor , director , - Producer and composer of soundtracks in Tamil film and an important vina virtuoso of the twentieth century.
Early musical career
Balachander was born to the lawyer V. Sundaram. As a child he played various Indian percussion instruments and performed in concerts with his older brother S. Rajam , who was a well-known vocalist . He learned a number of other instruments, including the sitar , on which he gave solo concerts between the ages of twelve and sixteen. It is noteworthy that he played the South Indian Carnatic music on this main instrument of North Indian Hindustan music . From the age of fifteen he played regularly, almost every day, on various instruments for All India Radio in Madras.
Film career
In 1933 Balachander made his acting debut in the mythological film Seetha Kalyanam , where he played a musician. By 1942 he appeared as a child actor in five other Tamil films. He wrote his first score for the film Ithu Nijama (1948) and played a double role as a twin in it. After his first directorial work, the melodrama En Kanavar (1948) and the thriller Kaidhi (1951), he was particularly successful in 1954 with the war espionage drama Andha Naal , which was probably inspired by Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon . Unusually for Tamil films, the film managed without songs. His film Avan Amaran (1958), made for the left-wing political production company Peoples' Film, was cut by the censor by 1,034 ft because of its political statements . In 1960 S. Balachander founded his own film production company SB Creations, under whose banner he among others Avana Evan (1962), an adaptation of George Stevens ' A Place in the Sun , and the thriller Nadu Iravil (1970) - his last film - based on Agatha Christie's Ten Little Niggers turned. Balachander wrote the score for all films he directed. This was influenced by jazz, Latin American music as well as Indian and Western classical music. He quit radio and film activities to devote himself entirely to music.
Vina player
In 1966 he began to learn the game of Sarasvati vina . He taught himself to play the instrument and did not belong to any of the musical schools that traditionally pass on musical knowledge in South India. Instead, he began developing his own style (known as the Balachander Bani ) and gathering his own musical following. His virtuoso and lively style, his energetic attack also earned him the rejection of more traditionally minded critics.
Balachander was one of the pioneers in the change in carnatic performance practice from aristocratic chamber music with a small audience to music that is performed in the concert hall via a microphone in front of a large audience by connoisseurs ( rasika ).
Balachander has recorded a large number of records. He toured all over the world and also gave courses in the West. He was friends with Ravi Shankar and Yehudi Menuhin . In 1982 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan .
Filmography
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Recordings (selection)
- The Music Of Southern India : S. Balachander - Veena, Sivaraman - Mridangam. Nonsuch Explorer Series LP 7/2003, 1960s.
- Veena Virtuoso : S. Balachander. Columbia Records Japan, 2006.
- Veena Chakravarthy S. Balachander In Concert - RAGAM - THANAM - PALLAVI in Ragam SRI . Swathi's Sanskriti Series.
- Veena Vidwan S. Balachander In Concert - Dhyname . Swathi's Sanskriti Series.
- La Vina De S. Balachander (Krishnamurthy: mridangam) / LP 1978 Sonodisc ESP 165510
literature
- Reginald Massey and Jamila Massey: The Music of India . Abhinav Publications, New Delhi 1996, ISBN 978-81-7017-332-8 (English).
- Ashish Rajadhyaksha, Paul Willemen: Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema . Oxford University Press, New Delhi 1999, ISBN 0-85170-669-X (English).
- Vikram Sampath: Voice of the Veena . Rupa & Co., Kolkata 2012, ISBN 978-81-291-1936-0 (English).
Web links
- S. Balachander at Allmusic (English)
- S. Balachander in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Dr. S. Balachander - A Profile
- Appreciation
- Balachander plays Vina (YouTube)
Individual evidence
- ^ S Rajam passes away in The Times of India of January 30, 2010
- ^ Ashish Rajadhyaksha, Paul Willemen: Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema , p. 353
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Balachander, S. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Balachander, Sundaram (full name); Balachander, Veena S .; Balachander, Veenai S .; Pālaccantar, Cuntaram (Tamil) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Indian actor, film director and musician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 18, 1927 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Madras |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 13, 1990 |
| Place of death | Bhilai |