Sundaram Balachander

about

Sundaram Balachander (Tamil: எஸ். பாலச்சந்தர்) (January 18, 1927 – April 13, 1990), born in Madras was an Indian self-taught veena player. He was also an accomplished film maker, producer, director, music director, actor, singer, playback singer and dancer. His ancestors were from Srivaajiyam village in Tanjore area, which is acclaimed as the seat of culture and fine arts in South India. His grandfather is Rao Saheb Vaidyanatha Iyer. He was born to V. Sundaram Iyer and Parvathi alias Chellamma. His father bought a house in Mylapore in 1924, at the suggestion of Pudukkottai Dakshinamurthy Pillai he added a hall in the first floor exclusively to entertain and be entertained. Stalwarts like Ariyakudi Ramanujam Iyengar, Madurai Mani Iyer, Ambi Deekshithar, Muthaiah Bagavathar, Karaikudi Sambasivam and Papanasam Sivan have all performed in that hall. In fact, it was Sundaram Iyer who took Papanasam Sivan under his fold when Sivan relocated to Madras to earn a livelihood. His elder brother S. Rajam is a well-known singer and teacher, and a gifted artist as well. His elder sister is S. Jayalakshmi (who later acted as M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar’s pair in Sivakavi), S. Saraswathi was his younger sister, followed by the twins S. Karpagam and S. Gopalaswami. From the age of five he showed an interest in classical music and his first musical attempt was with the kanjeera, which is a small, circular percussion instrument. Within a year he was accompanying his brother and other musician

top songs

albums

Veena Maestro of India

Excavated Shellac: Strings

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Excavated Shellac: Strings- Guitar, Oud, Tar, Violin and More From the 78rpm Era

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Dhyaname - Veena Vidwan S. Balachander in Concert (Live)

The Music Of India

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The Immortal Sounds of the Veena

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Veena Chakravarthy S. Balachander: In Concert (Live)

Marvellous Melakarta Melodies

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Immortal Sounds Of The Veena

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Magic Music of India

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Indian Classical Music

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Man From Madras

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