Sundaram Balachander

Veena player, film maker and writer, most often credited as S. Balachander. Born in Madras, India on January 18, 1927, died on April 13, 1990 in Bhilai, India. From [r5434675]: Born in Madras in 1927, Balachander was something of a prodigy at an early age by reason of his astonishing aptitude for and proficiency in playing on several musical instruments ranging from the percussion to the stringed variety before he reached manhood. Between the age of 12 and 15 he was a full-fledged solo concert artiste playing on the Sitar another indigenous string instrument. There- after followed a hectic period of playing on all kinds of instruments whilst he was a staff artiste with All India Radio, Madras, till the "Veena" entered his life and claimed his undivided attention to the exclusion of everything else. Within a short period of two years Balachander was an established concert Veena player and the credit for securing recognition for the "Veena" as a concert instrument goes to him. It is also a measure of his accomplishment that he learnt the art of "Veena" playing without the help of a teacher and in fact went on to evolve a new style and a new trend entirely through his own striving The distinctive features of Balachander's art are the virility and clarity of his fast rendering and the calm and quiet dignity of the slow passages combined with his command over the rhythm