Garimella Balakrishna Prasad

Garimella Balakrishna Prasad (born 9 November 1948) is an Indian classical devotional singer, composer, Sangeet Natak Akademi for year 2020, T.T.D Asthana Vidwaan and Ahobhilamatam Asthana Vidwaan. He served Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam's Annamacharya Project as Special Grade Vocal Artiste from 1978 to 2006.

He is regarded as a pioneer in composing and rendering Annamacharya Sankeerthanas in various Indian musical genres like classical, semi-classical, light and folk styles. He composed tunes for the lyrics of nearly 1400 songs composed by various poets. Of these nearly 1000 of them were Annamacharya sankirtanas. To mention a few most popular sankeerthanas set to tune by Sri Prasad are Vinaro Bhagyamu Vishnukatha, Jagadapu Chanavula, Vachenu Alamelumanga, Tiruveedhula Merasi, Choodaramma Satulaala, Jayalakhmi Varalakshmi, Aadimoolame maaku angaraksha, Mangambudhi Hamumantha, Antayu neeve, Yemani pogadudume, Annimantramulu and Pidikita Thalambrala.

Early life
Balakrishna Prasad was born in Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh to Krishnaveni and Narasimha Rao, a music teacher and a Vaggeyakara. He holds a Diploma in Carnatic Music. He is an 'A' grade vocal artist of the All India Radio (AIR).

He specialised in Annamacharya compositions under the tutelage of Sangita Kalanidhi, Lt. Sri Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, who initiated him into the nuances of classical music. He was closely associated with Nedunuri Krishnamurthy in not only learning music, but also in composing music to Annamacharya Sankeerthanas, publishing books with musical notation and audio CD recordings.

Prof. D. Pasupathi also taught Annamacharya songs as well as classical kritis during two-year scholarship course offered by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. Dr. Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna's music, mellifluous voice and unique rendering inspired Balakrishna Prasad to learn classical music.

Performing career
He joined the Annamacharya Project after completing his diploma in Carnatic classical vocal music, in 1978 as a vocal artist. The project established to promote Annamacharya's music and literature, soon became the medium through which he was able to bring forth his musical prowess. From the inception till his retirement in 2006, he remained the principal exponent of Annamacharya Project. He rendered remarkable services at various levels to raise it into a top cultural organisation.

His Nadopasana spans over four decades. Absolute faith, total commitment and the zeal for perfection are hallmarks of his music. He consistently endeavours to improve his art and continues to grow as an artist.

He performed in more than five thousand vocal concerts, set tune to more than six hundred Annamacharya songs, gave audio recordings for TTD, published books with musical notations and conducted classes, teaching Annamacharya songs to make them more popular.



Personal life
He is married to G.Radha and has two sons – G.S.Pavana Kumar, married to Srividya and G.V.N.Anila Kumar, married to Swarna. He is the nephew of playback singer S. Janaki.

Annamacharya Sankeerthanas, T.T.D Recordings
Visit https://www.tirumala.org/Annamacharya_Keertanas_Sravanam.aspx and search with name "G.BALAKRISHNA PRASAD" to listen to these songs


 * Annamayya Desi Kavita Ganam
 * Annamayya Hari Pada Makarandam
 * Annamayya Hari Sankirtana Mrutam
 * Annamayya Hari Sharanagati
 * Annamayya Madhra Kavitha Ganamu
 * Annamayya Ramanjaneya Lahari
 * Annamayya Sankeertana Lahari
 * Annamayya Tatvaneeti Saramu
 * Annamayya Venkatadri Vennela
 * Nnamayya Anantaragalu
 * Paluku Tene Talli- 1
 * Paluku Tene Talli- 2
 * Sri Venkateswara Geetamalika
 * Srinivasa Sruti Bhushanam
 * Venkatadri Nrusimhudu
 * Annamayya Gnana Yagnam
 * Annamayya Hari Pada Sirulu
 * Annamayya Mohana Murari
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Brindavanam
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Prabha
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Prasadam
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Sravani
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Tarakam
 * Annamayya Sri Alamelumanga Vilasam
 * Annamayya Sri Hari Kusumanjali
 * Annamayya Sri Nrusimha Sankirtana Vaibhavam
 * Chinna Tirumalacharyula Pada Vaibhavam
 * Nrusimha Pada Dhwani
 * Sri Ramanjaneyam
 * Sri Venkateswara Vairagyavachanamulu


 * Annamayya Archinchina Alamelumanga
 * Annamayya Govinda Ganam
 * Annamayya Pada Sudha
 * Annamayya Pada Sudharnavam
 * Annamayya Ramanuja Kirtanam
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Madhoolika
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Mukthavali
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Pushpalathika
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Shikhamani
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Sumaharam
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Sumamalika
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Sumasri
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Sushama
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Vaibhogam
 * Annamayya Sri Pranayamu
 * Annamayya Pada Kamalalu
 * Annamayya Pada Marakataalu
 * Annamayya Pada Mudrika
 * Annamayya Pada Parimalalu
 * Annamayya Pada Prasunalu
 * Annamayya Pada Surabhilam
 * Annamayya Padaaravindam
 * Annamayya Pataku Pattabhishekam - 96
 * Annamayya Sankeertana Sumagandhi
 * Annamayya Sankeertanaaraamam
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Pushpanjali
 * Annamayya Sankirtana Pushpavanam
 * Annamayya Srirama Pada Lahari
 * Taallapaaka Pada Prasadam

Annamacharya Sankeerthanas, Other recordings

 * Annamayya Paarijaatalu
 * Annamayya Sankeerthana Sudha
 * Bhavayaami
 * Annamayya sankeerthana chandrika
 * Annamayya Pada Madhuri
 * Annamayya Sankeerthana Pushpaalu
 * Annamayya Sankeerthana Pushpayaagam
 * Tirunivaali
 * Annamayya Pada Madhuri
 * Srihari Vaibhavam
 * Annamayya Sankeerthana Padanidhi
 * Annamayya sankeerthana manihaaram
 * Annamayya Vinnapaalu
 * Annamayya Madhuragaanam
 * Annamayya Venkatadri Govindudu
 * Annamayya Sri Krishna Padahela
 * Annamayya Sankeerthana Vedanaadam
 * Annamayya Aanjaneya Sruti Sanjeevani


 * Annamayya Sankeerthana Saamagaanam
 * Annamayya Sankeerthana Pranavam
 * Annamayya Pada Singaaram
 * Annamayya Srinidhi Sankeerthanam
 * Annamayya Alamelmanga Vaibhavam
 * Krishnaarpana
 * Annamayya Paatalu
 * Annamayya Vishnu Gaanam
 * Annamayya Sankeerthana Sarada
 * Annamayya Sankeerthana Sanjeevani
 * Flowers at his feet
 * Annamayya Sankeerthana Bharati
 * Sapthagiri sankeerthanalu
 * Hari Siripadahele
 * Annamayya Achyta Saranu
 * Annamayya Pada ratnaalu
 * Annmayya Nrusimha Sankeertanam

T.T.D. Publications
His tunes for Annamayya sankeerthana's has been published by TTD.
 * 1993 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Swara Samputi (Telugu)
 * 1997 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Manjari (Tamil)
 * 1999 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Sankeerthanam (Telugu)
 * 2000 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Saurabham (Telugu)
 * 2001 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Ratnavali (Telugu)
 * 2001 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Swaravali (Tamil)
 * 2003 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Praathamiki (Telugu)
 * 2004 – Annamacharya Sankeerthana Mahati (Telugu)

Other publications

 * Krishna Ravali (2 Volumes) (Telugu)
 * Anjaneya Kriti Mani Maala (Telugu)
 * Annammayya Sankeerthana Sanjeevani (Telugu)



Awards





 * Sangeet Natak Akademi, in the field of classical music for the year 2020