Balappa Hukkeri Biography 
Balappa Hukkeri was a singer from Karnataka, who specialised in Kannada folk songs and Bhavageetes. He was a foremost folk singer of the 20th century, who used only Tabla and Harmonium for accompaniment. He was a recipient of numerous honours including Sangeet Natak Academy award and Karnataka Sangeeta Nataka Academy Award. He was a Sugama Sangeetha who played a magnificent role in popularizing this song genre in North Karnataka in the 1970s. He was also a recipient of the prestigious Tulsi Samman, given by the government of Madhya Pradesh. He lived during the period, 1911-1992, and was also active in freedom struggle movement.
Balappa Hukkeri was born in Murgod, a small village in Belagavi district of present-day Karnataka in the year 1911. Many of his family members were musicians and artists. He was named after his uncle, who was a musician. Hukkeri got drawn towards theatre at a younger age. He also participated in local plays, and appeared as a stage actor as well as singer. He started training in Hindustani music by Shivalingiah Gavai. But later he got inclined towards light genres of music, and he concentrated on Bhavageetes and folk music. He also sang theater songs, Marathi abhangs, vachanas etc.
In the 1930s, he was involved with freedom struggle movement along with his theatre career. He used to go from village to other and sang patriotic songs to inspire people to join freedom struggle movement. Once he was arrested and jailed for six months. He gave family’s precious gold and silver belongings to National security fund during 1962 war. He was a field worker in the Department of Agriculture, and carried his musical journey along with it, making it a part of his field visits.
Published: October 16, 2018
Updated: October 16, 2018
