Pandit S. Ballesh (पंडित डॉ।° एस। बालेश भजन्त्री) (ಪಂಡಿತ್ ಡಾ|| ಎಸ್. ಬಾಲೇಶ್ ಭಜಂತ್ರಿ) (பண்டிட் டாக்டர் எஸ்.பாலேஷ் பஜாந்த்ரி) (born Ballappa Sanna Bharamappa Bhajantri on 1 April 1958) is an Indian shehnai player.
He is also a Patiala gharana Hindustani vocalist and expert in Benares gharana shehnai playing and ghazal singer.
Pandit Dr. S. Ballesh and his son Dr. Krishna Ballesh both were jointly awarded Tamil Nadu state’s highest civilian honour, the Kalaimamani (Joint) award, in 2020 conferred by chief minister, Ballesh was conferred with Karnataka Kalashri (Karnataka State Sangeeta Nataka Akademi award) from Government of Karnataka for his contribution to Indian classical music by Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy, in 2019. Ballesh and his son Krishna Ballesh were conferred with Ustad Bismillah Khan Kala Ratna Samman (Joint Award) by India Tourism Varanasi, Government of India and by Ustad Bismillah Khans family members, in 2021.
Ballesh trained under the shehnai virtuoso Ustad Bismillah Khan. He is a member of the Panchakshara Gavai brotherhood. He has performed in classical concerts, in jugalbandis (duets), and in film music.
Early life
Ballesh was born to Shehnai Samrat Pandit Sanna Bharamanna and Smt. Yellamma in M.K.Hubli, Belgaum district, Karnataka. His all fore-generation family members were shehnai players in the district and Ballesh has traced his lineage to court musicians for advanced training.
Music Training
He started learning from his father and strengthened his musical roots, later he continued from his (uncle) father’s elder brother Pandit Dodda Bharamanna and with stalwarts such as Dr. D.P. Hiremath (Kirana gharana), Pt. Puttaraj Gawai (Gwalior gharana) and Kodhanda Singh Salunke and Prakash Singh Salunke (Patiala gharana), besides the Ustad Bismillah Khan shehnai in (Benares gharana). He is playing often for AIR Dharwar and Doordarshan.
Career
S. Ballesh and son in concert
In 2006 Ballesh and his son Krishna Ballesh played a musical tribute to Krishna Hangal, daughter of Gangubai Hangal, at the presentation award ceremony for the first Krishna Hangal Memorial Award of the Hangal Music Foundation at the Sawai Gandharva Hall in Hubli.
In 2013 he was in the touring orchestra of the film music composer Ilaiyaraaja, and performed in Toronto, Canada.
Singing career
Ballesh singing style is inspired from Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and Ustad Nazakat Ali Khan, Inspired by the ideals of his Guru Ustad Bismillah Khan and Pandit Puttaraja Gawai, Ballesh and his son Krishna Ballesh founded Tansen Academy of Music, a school of music, legacy continued by his three sons by Prakash, Krishna and Shivanand Ballesh.
Shehnai journey
Ballesh and his son Krishna were accompanied by Ustad Nazim Hussain, the younger son of Ustad Bismillah Khan, in various concerts with his tabla. He has also performed jugalbandis, along with sitarist Ustad Shahid Parvez, mohan veena player Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and accompanied by tablist Yogesh Samsi, Subhankar Banerjee
Film music
Ballesh played shehnai for the Hindi movie Raanjhanaa, with music by Oscar winner A.R. Rahman. He also played shehnai for the song “The Dichotomy of Fame” in Imtiaz Ali’s 2011 Hindi film Rockstar, with music by A.R. Rahman.
Awards and Recognitions
Awards
- “ Ustad Bismillah Khan Kala Ratna Samman ” Joint Award with Krishna Ballesh by India Tourism Varanasi, Government of India and by Ustad Bismillah Khans family members in association Deepika Cultural Society of India in 2021.
- “ Kalaimamani ” Joint Award with Krishna Ballesh by Tamil Nadu State Government Award for his contribution to Indian classical music by his shehnai by Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Manram, in 2020.
- “ Karnataka Kalashri ” Karnataka State Government Award for his contribution to Indian classical music by Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy under Department of Kannada and Culture Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy- 2019
- In 2011 he was honoured by Dr. M.G.R. University, Maduravoyal, during the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the birth of Rabindranath Tagore.
- Radio Mirchi Jury award
- Surmani award in 1970
- Shehnai Samrat
- Shehnai Ratna
- Sangeet Ratna
- Sanaadi Appanna Kalashree Puraskar
- Shehnai Chakravarthy
- “ Bhimsen Samman International Award “, Gadag 2017 Joint Award with Krishna Ballesh
- Kannada Rajyotsava award 2018, Kannada Sangha, Chennai
- Excellence in Music Award, Zee Tamil in 2019,
Recognitions
Ballesh had honorary doctorates from
- The International Tamil University United States, Maryland, 2017
Shehnai playing style
Ballesh can play various style’s in his shehnai, aalaapi and aakaar like khayal singing, jhala like sitar and sarod, tatkar like kathak-dancers, meend & harquatts like sarangi and violin, continuity of tone like been and also he adds sweetness of bansuri to all this.
Performances
In 2015, Ballesh performed at the 140th Baba Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan that commenced at Shri Devi Talab Mandir, Jalandhar.
In 2016, Ballesh and his son Krishna were invited by Executive President of the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal Pt Shrinivas Joshi to perform for the 100th birthday anniversary of their guru Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan in prestigious music festival the 64th “Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav” in pune founded by Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi .