Madhu Balakrishnan

Infobox musical artist
Name = Madhu Balakrishnan


Img_capt = Madhu Balakrishnan
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Born = Birth date and age|1974|6|24 flagicon|India
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Instrument = Vocalist
Genre = playback singing, carnatic music, bhajan
Occupation = Singer
Years_active = 1999–present
URL = [http://www.madhubalakrishnan.com madhubalakrishnan.com]

Madhu Balakrishnan (June 24, 1974) is an Indian playback singer, who sings in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada languages. He is the brother-in-law of Indian Test cricket and One day cricket Player Sreesanth.

Biography

Madhu Balakrishnan is from Tripunithura, Cochin, Kerala in India. A Graded artist in All India Radio and Doordarshan, he has also given musical performances out of India in countries like UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. He has also performed with all major playback singers in Kerala like K.J. Yesudas, Jayachandran, M. G. Sreekumar, K. S. Chitra, Sujatha Mohan, Madhuri and P. Susheela. He is a life member of the MACTA (Malayalam Cine Technicians Association).

He performs regularly in the "Swaralaya Dance & Music Festival" held at Palakkad and "Chembai Sangeethootsavam" at Guruvayur and also appears in popular T.V programs on the south Indian Television channels like Doordarshan, Kairali TV, Asianet and Amrita TV frequently.

Education and Training

Madhu Balakrishnan holds a degree in music from the "Academy of Indian Music and Arts", Chennai. He started training in carnatic music from his childhood under Sreedevi, Chandramana Narayanan Namboothiri, and later had the able guidance of stalwarts like T.V Gopalakrishnan, Manikrishna Swami and Vedavalli of Chennai.

inging career

He shot into fame with the song "Amme Amme" from the film "Vaalkannadi" in 2002 which got him a Kerala Government State Award. After that he has not turned back, and has sung around 88 Malayalam film songs, 63 Kannada film songs, 45 Telugu film songs, & 65 Tamil film songs. He has rendered almost 10,000 songsFact|date=August 2008 for albums including devotionals.Some of his hits include "Kuttanadan Kaayalile" from "Kazhcha" in Malayalam , "Konchaneram Konchaneram" a duet with Asha Bhosle from "Chandramukhi" the Rajnikanth starrer, "Kanakandenadi" from "Parthiban kanavu" in Tamil. He has also lent his voice for the much acclaimed Ilayaraja album, Thiruvasagam.

Recently he has sung the title song for the Malayalam Serial "Swamy Ayyappan", which has become a great hit in almost all hindu house holds. The song "Sabarimaamala vazhum Ayyappa" is one of the best devotional songs on Lord Ayyappa released recently.

Online Music Retailing

Madhu along with M Jayachandran, M G Sreekumar recorded songs for the Acethetik intiative. His contribution includes light music and Hindu devotional songs for the website.

Awards

* 2000 - Soma Award for Best Male Play back singer
* 2001 - Drisya Award for Best Male Play back singer (Television)
* 2002 - Kerala State Film Award for the song "Amme Amme" from the film "Vaalkannadi" [K. C. Gopakumar. [http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/06/stories/2005110602160200.htm Rendering notes of success] . The Hindu. November 6, 2005.]
* 2002 - Mahatma Gandhi Educational Foundation Award
* 2002 - Solar Award
* 2002 - Junior Chamber Award
* 2003 - Kerala Film Critics Award
* 2004 - Kerala Film Critics Award
* 2004 - LPR Award
* 2004 - Best Melody Singer(Virtuosa Award–Tamil Films)
* 2007 - Kalaimamani award for excellence in music, dance, cinema and art conferred by the Tamil Nadu state government. [ [http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEX20070626210902&Title=Kochi&rLink=0 Madhur sangeetkar - Madhu Balakrishnan] . New India Press. June 27 2007.]
* 2007 - Best Singer (Asianet Film Awards 2008)

ee also

* Playback singer

References

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1819742/ IMDB entry]
* [http://narthaki.com/info/fevents3.html Madhu to perform at Swaralaya Dance & Music Festival-2006]
* [http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/06/stories/2005110602160200.htm The Hindu Interview]