G. N. Balasubramaniam Biography 
G. N. Balasubramaniam, popularly known as G.N.B was one of the greatest vocalists of Carnatic music. He innovated Carnatic music through the emphasis on laya control and reducing the gamakas thus popularizing it in the present form. M. L. Vasanthakumari, Radha Jayalakshmi, Thanjavur S. Kalyanaraman and Trichur V. Ramachandran were the disciples of this great vocalist. His music is often regarded as fast pace and rich with swara prastharas. He made most of his compositions in strictly in the second kala so that lyrical beauty is not destroyed completely.
Balasubramanian was born in Gudalur, Thanjavur Tamil Nadu on 6 January 1910 as the son of G. V. Narayanaswamy Iyer. From his early childhood, he used to observe Carnatic music and its techniques. He made Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar as his manasa guru and had no formal training in music. He took degree in English Literature at the prestigious Christian College, Chennai and did a short music course at Annamalai University under the guidance of Sri T.S. Sabesa Iyer. But he couldn’t complete the course. Later he joined the diploma course in music under Madras University and started doing music concerts after the completion of diploma.
The great Carnatic vocalist M.S. Subbulakshmi has revealed through her book that she had blindly followed his singing style during her earliest years in singing. In the movie "Sakunthalai", he appeared as Dushyantha opposite Subbulakshmi. He has also appeared in movies like Bhama Vijayam, but later returned to music. He was one among those pioneers who regarded both Hindustani and Carnatic derivatives of Indian music as a singing one.
His compositions were mainly done in Telugu and Sanskrit languages. His varnam compositions include - Amboruha Padame and Nee Daya Raadaa. A few of his Krithis include - Amboruha Padame, Enn Manathamarai, Karimugha Varadha, Madhurapuri Kalyani, Maruvane Ninnu, Paritaapamu Ieka and Shankara Mahadeva.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 20, 2014
