Golden Throne of the Veena Series: S. Balachander: Part-1

This is a clip of Veena S. Balachander taken from the documentary produced by Doordarshan.

Despite the clip being very short, one is awed by the dexterity, immense creativity and the singularly magnificent playing of Veena S. Balachander. In him, we find the rare combination of genius of various kinds - musical, mathematical (for his explorations in symmetries is remarkable) and the innovator. Often these days, the Vainikas lament about the lack of popular interest in the Veena. Are we meeting the golden standards set forth by the yesterday masters - should the reason for dwindling interest in the Veena solely be carried on the shoulders of the listeners? Can we - the Vainikas - still learn from the mastery and magnificence of these stalwarts.

The Golden Throne Series is wholly dedicated to S. Balachander - as, in my opnion, there is none to even come close to his mastery of the instrument or the grandeur of his music on the Veena. We, as Vainikas, have a responsibility we have to shoulder - however daunting and painful - we should push the capabilities, horizons and the limits beyond where these stalwarts left behind.

SB's videos are very rare. But, what little I have gathered from the Doordarshan documentary, I will showcase in this Golden Throne of the Veena series. If anyone has more videos of SB, please share with me and I would be delighted to extend this series for the benefit of musical posterity.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• veena
• Veenai
• Carnatic
• Karnatic
• S.
• Balachander
• genius
• Golden
• Throne
• series

[agnividhyut]

this yamuna kalyani is truely magical! I really admire Shri S Balachander for his pulling prowess, his oceanic kalpana shakti and his dedication to sangeetham. All these facets of his personality are clearly evident in this short yet sweet recording

[umeshx]

owing to its constructional features, nobel laureate sir cv raman has observed, the veena alone of all musical instruments in the world, can generate infinite harmonics. but with the veena, tamed under the great balachandar's fingers, we are searching for a number greater than physicists can fathom :)

[virgoram123]

Veena means Balachander and Balachander means veena. This clipping is a proof.

[govindarajanns]

Very many attempted to catch up with the speed of that mastero SB but to no avail.There was one who is no more now, that was MrR.K.Suriyanarayana. where as when RKS paid his attention more on the side of Ranchaka,, heart-rending plus speed, SB was for music absolute.He would not permit any one around disturb his mood.For him the nuances of music are more important but for RKS the most important aspect of music is, that ranchaka Ranchaka.This is all my humble opinion.

[outdoorsolidus]

well no one equals to sb in the kali yugam,ravana is supposed to be the most skilled mortal on a veena...

[srinivasrgvn]

Oh! How soothing! Indeed, there is nobody equal to SB sir in the past, present and future!! Thanks Mr.Gopal for sharing this priceless gem!!

[srinivasrgvn]

Oh! How soothing! Indeed, there is nobody equal to SB sir in the past, present and future!! Thanks Mr.Gopal for sharing this priceless gem!!

[maheranju]

just amazing!! no words..

[KillinDaWelfareMCs]

this is great no debate.

[madvishnu]

just amazing!

Do you know who the mridangam artiste is? The subtle use of the thoppi is excellent!