G.N.Balasubramaniam
Background information
Born	January 6, 1910(1910-01-06)
Origin	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Genres	Carnatic music - Indian Classical Music
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1920 - 1965

G. N. Balasubramaniam (Tamil: ஜி.என்.பாலசுப்பிரமணியம், January 6, 1910 - 1 May 1965), popularly known as GNB, was a vocalist in the Carnatic tradition. He became the first superstar of Carnatic music, innovating the art through emphasis on laya control & reducing the gamakas which eventually made Carnatic music appeal to the lay and the learned alike.

Contents 1 Early life and background 2 Career 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Early life and background

Balasubramanian was born in Chennai, India. He was the son of G V Narayanaswamy Iyer, who was a keen student of music. Throughout his younger years, he observed with utmost attention the techniques of the musicians of his day. Ariyakudi Ramanjua Iyengar became his manasika guru and inspiration. While his father dreamed of living in a villa at Luz Church road through GNB becoming a successful lawyer. The young musician in G.N.B made way for greater goals in life. He completed his B.A English Literature at the prestigious Presidency College with honours and took up a short music course at Annamalai University under the guidance of Tiger Varadachariar & within 2 years, he was ready for concert performances. With his debut in 1928, his climb to the dizzying heights of Carnatic music was almost meteoric.

[edit] Career

Often criticized for producing producing extremely fast gamakam laden sangathis with strength and weight and with wide imagination, a voice as his, running at so fast a speed through the effects of Brighas, twists and turns would come in quick succession that he became an instant hit with both the lay audience as well as those initiated to the arts and science of carnatic music.

In the first half of the 20th century, nobody could sing ragas like GNB, for he was the first concert musician to approach the concept of raga alapana in a step-by-step approach. His approach soon inspired the great masters of the day including his arch rival Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer to approach music with a intellectual aptitude.

He also composed several krithis and was famous for his fast brikhas and gamakams. He acted in films, including Bhama Vijayam and Sakunthala. In the latter, he appeared as Dushyantha, alongside the vocalist M.S. Subbulakshmi.

Balasubramanian also composed kritis and invented new ragas. He taught a number of students during his active years. Most famous among them are M. L. Vasanthakumari, Radha Jayalakshmi, S. Kalyanaraman and Trichur V. Ramachandran.

Balasubramaniam worked as principal of Sree Swathi Thirunal College of Music, Thiruvananthapuram of the state of Kerala.

He died on 1 May 1965.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• G. N. Balasubramaniam

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