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" PADMASHRI " Pandit Dr. S. BALLESH BHAJANTRI - Founder

" International Repute Shehnai Player " 

" Hindustani Classical Vocalist, Playback - Ghazal Singer "

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._Ballesh

An Internationally celebrated Shehnai Artist and Vocalist  (Patiala Gharana), Playback singer-musician, Ghazal singer, “Akhila Bharatha Shehnai Chakravarthy”,  "Padmashri Awardee" Pandit Dr. S. BALLESH BHAJANTRI, hails from MK Hubli town, Belgaum district) Karnataka. Founder of Tansen Academy of Music, (R) (Taan).

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He was awarded India's fourth-highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri, in 2022, in the field of Art, conferred by the President of India Shri. Ramnath Kovind, on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day, became the second classical musician of India after Ustad Bismillah Khan to receive the award.

 

State & National Awards - Ballesh is honored by 4 States :

  • Tamil Nadu Government honored him and his son Dr. Krishna Ballesh with Tamil Nadu State’s Highest Civilian Award, Kalaimamani (Joint Award) in 2020,

  • Karnataka State Government honored him with the Karnataka Kalashri in 2019 (State Akademi Award), 

  • Andhra Pradesh Government honored him with the Srikalahasti Asthana Vidwan Award (Joint Award along with his son) in 2006 

  • Uttar Pradesh, India Tourism Varanasi, Government of India conferred Ustad Bismillah Khan Kala Ratna Samman 2021 Award (Joint Award with his son) and by Ustad Bismillah Khan family members in association with the Deepika Cultural Society of India, Varanasi.

BALLESH VOCAL (11).jpg
Padmashri Pandit Dr. S. Ballesh performing in
Ras Barse Utsav 2016 in Music Academy, Chennai

Honorary Doctorate Award :

  • Karnataka State Governor & Chancellor Shri. Thawar Chand Gehlot has conferred "The Honorary Doctorate" D.Litt., Award (Honoris Cause) in 2022 on Pt Ballesh from Bangalore North University, Kolar. 

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World Record :

  • Pandit Ballesh has " NOBLE WORLD RECORDS by WORLD'S MAXIMUM FILM SONGS PLAYING IN SHEHNAI ".

  • In 2022, He was conferred with the " INTERNATIONAL REPUTED SHEHNAI PLAYER AWARD " by the International Award Forum (NOBLE WORLD RECORDS) ".

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     The Government of India, Ministry of Culture, invited Pandit Dr. S.Ballesh and his son Dr. Krishna Ballesh for Sangeet Sangam International Music Festival in 2021 (Senior Musicians) organized by Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi. 

Pandit Ballesh and Krishna Ballesh duo played Shehnai in the Hollywood film (International English Movies) “The Hundred-Foot Journey - 2014” for the track “India Calling”.​

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Pandit Ballesh breaks many records in India by receiving “PADMA AWARDS”:

  • Ballesh is the 2nd Shehnai player in India to receive the Padma award after Ustad Bismillah Khan,

  • Ballesh is the 1st Hindustani Musician to receive the Padma award in Tamil Nadu,

  • Ballesh is the 1st Shehnai player to receive Padma awards in Dakshina Bharat,

  • Ballesh is the 1st Shehnai-playing Playback Musician to receive Padma awards from All India film music industry,

  • Ballesh is the only Shehnai player to receive Padma Awards in Ustad Bismillah Khan Sishya Parampara,

  • Ballesh is the 1st person in the KORAMA community to receive the Padma award in the past 73yrs, Republic of India,

  • Ballesh is the 2nd Musician to receive Padma Award from Veerashwar Punyashram (Gadag).

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     A performing career of 45 years. Played Shehnai since the age of 11, accompanying his Uncle and grandfather, and later  Ustad Bismillah Khan. Has played in recordings for many Music Composers of India, across 16 languages, from 1978 to 2020. 

 

Pandit Balleshji is a disciple of the world-renowned Shehnai maestro Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan. Initiated into music by his father Pandit Sanna Bharamanna, he continued to learn under the guidance of his uncle Pandit Dodda Bharamanna. He further trained under Guru Dr. DP Hiremath, Kirana Gharana, and Patiala Gharana from Pandit Kodanda Singh Salunke Maharaj. 

 

     Pandit Balleshji was blessed to train under the guidance of Padmabhushan Pandit Dr.Puttaraja Gawai (Gadag) Gwalior Gharana - Kirana Gharana. His training was complete with his induction into the Banaras Gharana under Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan Saheb. As his foremost disciple, he also accompanied him for several years.  

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     Pandit Balleshji is also a renowned Hindustani classical vocalist and Ghazal singer and has been the preferred musician for many music Directors in Bollywood, Tollywood, Mollywood, Kollywood, and all languages across India (such as maestro Naushad Ali, Maestro M.S. Viswanathan, Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, Oscar winner A.R Rahman and M.M.Keeravani).

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     Pandit Ballesh played Shehnai for More than 55yearsfrom the age of 11 years, accompanying his uncle and father, and later Ustad Bismillah Khan, He has played for many recordings for leading Music Composers of India, He has sung and played shehnai for more than 10,000 movies background score's and 65,000 film songs in all languages and more than 1,00,000 devotional songs in all religions, and he has also sung Hindustani music Alaaps for films and had also collaborated Shehnai with International musicians and composers in recordings. He had also sung several songs along with noted singers like K.J. Yesudas, S.Janaki, S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, Ilaiyaraaja, M.M. Keeravani, and A.R. Rahman.

 

As a performing musician - he has played in many prestigious Music Festivals and collaborated with senior musicians for  Jugalbandi's - both Carnatic and Hindustani notably, Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan (sitar), Pt Atul Kumar Upadhaya (violin), Ustad Shafique Khan (sitar), Vidwan G J R Krishnan (violin).  He has also performed in India as well as in many other countries.

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He has received many awards including the Radio Mirchi Jury award, Sangit Samrat, Shehnai Samrat, Shehnai Ratna, Sangeet Ratna, KIMA Film Awards, and Sanaadi Apanna Kala Puraskar. Furthermore, he is the only Shehnai player who represents Shehnai from South India.

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