D. Balakrishna

Vidwan
D. Balakrishna
Bornc. 1955-1956
Awards
Musical career
GenresCarnatic music
InstrumentVeena
Years active1975-present

D. Balakrishna is a Carnatic musician who plays veena in the Mysore tradition.[1]

Born c. 1955-1956,[2] he is the son of noted veena player, Doraiswamy Iyengar and grandson of Venkatesh Iyengar, a student of Veena Venkatagiriyappa. Contemporary musicians Titte Krishna Iyengar, N. Ramani, T.R. Mahalingam and T. Chowdiah frequently visited his father and sparked his interest in Carnatic music.[3] In his childhood, he was sent to mridangam classes under Ayyamani Iyer. Later his father started teaching him veena.[4]

His first stage performance was in 1975, when he accompanied his father in a Ram navami concert in Bengaluru.[5] By 1979, his concerts were being broadcast in All India Radio,[6] where he is now listed as a "top grade" artist.[7] He has given multiple[8] Madras Music Season concerts[9] over the years, starting in 1984.[10]

His "Veena Doreswamy Iyengar Memorial Trust"[11] has organized various concerts in Bengaluru.[12] He has an M.Sc. in statistics[2] and has worked in the Reserve Bank of India.[3]

In 1997, Karnataka Ganakala Parishat gave him Ganakalashree award.[13] In 2015, Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy awarded him Karnataka Kalashri - Award of Honour.[14] and the Central Government awarded him the 2023 Sangeet Natak Akademi award, only the 19th veena player in the 71 year operating history of the award.

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