- S. Balesh Bhajantri is a popular Indian classical Hindustani shehnai player.
- He is a disciple of shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, he is a shehnai player of the Banaras Gharana and a Hindustani singer, ghazal singer, Indian playback singer and composer of the Patiala Gharana Balesh is credited with popularizing the shehnai, a reeded woodwind instrument.
- He is also an artist of Prasar Bharati’s All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan.
S. Balesh Biography In English
Birth Details –
Place– Belgaum, Karnataka
Nationality -Indian
Family –
Mother – Yellamma
Father- Sana Bharmanna
Teacher – Dodda Bharamanna, D.P. Hiremath, Pt. Puttaraj Gawai, Bismillah Khan
Early Life And Education
- Balesh was born in MK Hubli, Kittur in Belgaum district of Karnataka to Sana Bharamanna, a clarinet player, and Yellamma.
- He started learning shehnai from his father, and later his (uncle) father’s elder brothers Dodda Bharamanna and D.P. Learned from Hiremath and Pt. Puttaraj Gawai.
- He was also a disciple of Bismillah Khan, Bismillah Khan once remarked that Balesh would be an “assurance for the future of shehnai in Indian classical music”.
Music Career
Shehnai
- Ballesh plays different styles of shehnai: aalapi and aakar like khayal singing, jhala like sitar and sarod, tatkar like kathak dancers, sarangi and violin like meend and harkutt, and continuo vocals like flute.
- He has also done jugalbandis with sitar maestro Ustad Shahid Parvez, Mohan Veena maestro Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.
Film Music
• Balesh Has Been A Composer For Many Music Directors In Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Rajasthani, Konkani And Bhojpuri Cinema.
• He Has Sung And Played Shehnai For Background Scores Of Over 9,000 Films And 45,000 Film Songs In Several Languages.
• Over 50,000 Devotional Songs For Many Religions And Languages, He Has Sung Hindustani Music Alaps For Films, And Also Collaborated On Shehnai With International Musicians And Composers In Recordings.
• He J. Yesudas, S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Ilaiyaraaja, M. M. Keeravani And A. R. Has Sung Many Songs With Singers Like Rahman.
Music Education
- Balesh founded the Tansen Sangeet Academy, a school of Hindustani classical music, in which his musical work was continued by his three sons, Prakash, Krishna and Sivananda Balesh.
Awards –
- 2019 – Karnataka Kalashri
- 2020 – Kalaimamani (Joint Award)
- 2021 – Ustad Bismillah Khan Kala Ratna Samman
- 2022 – Padma Shri
Other Awards
- 2022 – World Art Prize
- 2022 – Kittur Chennamma Memorial Award 2022
- 2022 – Belawadi Mallamma Memorial
- 2019 – Zee Tamil TV Excellence in Music Award
- 2017 – Bhimsen Samman International Award
- 2016 – Mirchi Music Awards
- 2016 – Sanadi Appanna Kalashri Award
- 2011 – Professional Award
- 2009 – Mirchi Music Awards
Question Related to S. Balesh
S. What is the birth place of Balesh?
S. Balesh was born in Belgaum, Karnataka.
S. What was the name of Balesh’s father and mother?
S. Balesh’s father’s name was Sana Bharamanna and mother’s name was Yellamma.
S. What was the name of Balesh’s teacher?
S. Balesh’s teacher’s name was Dodda Bharamanna, D.P. Hiremath, Pt. Puttaraj Gawai, was Bismillah Khan.
