Ghatam maestro Thetakudi Harihara Vinayakram, populary known as Vikku Vinayakaram, recalls BMK — as he fondly calls his friend Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna — as someone who values freedom, and respects others’ right to it. ”Bold and whale-like BMK always encouraged young budding artists who are new to the field.”
Vinayakaram, who has accompanied Balamurali in many concerts, spoke to The New Indian Express from Bengaluru, said how tough it was to not be present at his beloved friend’s funeral. “I was shocked to hear the news. It was heartbreaking,” says a sad Vinayakaram.
From the camaraderie they shared to the professional partnership, the 74-year-old spoke at length. Speaking about Balamurali’s performances, Vinayakaram reminisces about how tough it was to match the maven as an accompanist at the kutcheris. “It’s difficult to play as an accompanist for his songs and compositions. I used to practise for one month at his house before the scheduled date, to get the songs right,” he says.
He recalls that at his last concert with BMK two years ago in Hyderabad, BMK performed Vinayakaram’s favourite. “I personally love it when he plays the kuntalavarali ragam and does the alapana,” he says of the performance.
When asked where Vinayakaram places ‘Bala’ after the ‘Sangeetha Mummoorthigal’— Thyagaraja- Dikshitar- Shyama Shastri, he answers flatly, “For me, he was number 1.”
He remembers BMK as a master of jugalbandi (impromptu face-offs between artistes) and someone who is an extremely jolly, easy-going person.
For the ghatam exponent, the demise of an artiste like Balamurlikrishna has been personal. “He gave importance to the ghatam and was one singer who made it one of the main instruments, rather than just an accompaniment,” he concluded.
Balamuralikrishna passed away on November 22 at the age of 86. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1975 and the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour in 1991. One of the well-known voices and faces behind the famous 'Mile Sur mera tumhara' (the government of India’s song released in the interest of national integration two decades ago), he has been an important name in not just Carnatic music circles but a part of the film industry too.