Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna - Top 10

Introduction: 

Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna (aka. M. Balamurali Krishna aka Balamurali aka. BMK) is a versatile carnatic vocalist. There are innumerable introductions about him. Some detailed and some very detailed. So, I attempted to pick “Top 10” songs but quickly realized that it is a futile attempt. He sang so many songs that any “Top 10 songs” will not do justice. So, here are “Top 10 composers/genre” he has sung and immortalized.

Top 10:
  1. Jayadeva (1170 - 1245) - Sanskrit BMK has tuned many of the songs of Geeta Govinda. He brought out the Sringara, viraha, playfulness of the lyrics. Here is a link.
  2. Annamacharya (1408 - 1503) - Telugu / Sanskrit BMK has tuned several kirtanas of Annamayya and sung them melodiously. Here is a link.
  3. Purandara dasa (1484 - 1564) - Kannada / Sanskrit Purandara dasa is considered moola purusha for modern carnatic classical. BMK has immortalized him. Here is a link.
  4. Bhadrachala Ramadasu (1621 - 1680) - Telugu BMK has popularized Ramadasu so much that it is unimaginable now, those kirtanas without BMK. Here is a link.
  5. Syama Sastri (1762 - 1827) - Telugu / Sanskrit Syama Sastri is one of the “Carnatic Trinity”. His compositions are elaborate. BMK is the best singing them soulfully. Here is a link.
  6. Thyagaraja (1767 - 1847) - Telugu / Sanskrit Thyagaraja has written so many varieties of kirtanas. BMK a direct descendant of his school, sang many of them. Here are pancharatnas, Utsava Sampradaya, Collection 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
  7. Muttuswami Dikshitar (1775 - 1835) - Sanskrit Dikshitar style of kriti’s where the composition starts of in sombre tempo and picks up at the end must be heard through BMK. Here is a link.
  8. Ravindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941) - Bengali BMK has even sung some Bengali compositions by Rabindranath Tagore. Search for “Rabindra Sangeet”. Here is a link.
  9. Tatwalu (Unknown) Unknown author. These songs are sung in a style of a haridasa going around with ek-tara. BMK is the master. Here is a link.
  10. Balamurali - Thillanas (1930 - 2016) Thillanas are a genre for dance and usually sung at the end of a carnatic concert. BMK’s Thillanas are exquisite in their own style. Here is a link.
Conclusion: 

BMK has sung many more composers and compositions. Any Top 10 is a futile attempt in case of BMK, not just Top 10 songs.

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