Balabhaskar


Balabhaskar Chandran was an Indian musician, 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 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, 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.

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 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 for 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 performed 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, 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 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.

Death

Balabhaskar sustained multiple injuries due to a car accident on 25 September 2018, following which two surgeries were done. His condition was improving while on life support. He died on 2 October 2018, due to cardiac arrest at Ananthapuri, a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.

Almost 22 months after his death, the Central Bureau of Investigation has taken up the probe, for which an FIR has now been lodged by the agency.

Awards

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

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.
NameYearGenre
Khwabon Ke Parinde2016Hindi Musical Album - The Big Band
Ambulance2015Short film
Zahir2013Malayalam Movie
Bhajati2011Carnatic Fusion
Let it B2011World Instrumental Fusion album - Sanskrit
Pattinde Palazhi2010Malayalam movie
Moksham2005Malayalam Movie
Heart Beats2005Malayalam Musical Album
Mazhayilaro2005Malayalam Musical Album
Panchajanyam2004Malayalam Movie
Vasantha Geethangal2002Malayalam Musical Album
Korappan the great2001Malayalam Movie
Kannadikkadavathu2000Malayalam Movie
Thakadhimitha2000Malayalam Musical Album
Adyamai1999Malayalam Musical Album
No Tension Pleeze1999Malayalam Musical Album - Confusion Band
Balyasmruthikalay Onam1998Malayalam Musical Album
Ninakkayi1998Malayalam Musical Album
Neeyariyan1998Malayalam Musical Album - Confusion Band
Mangalya Pallakku1997Malayalam movie