The two accessible biographies of them are "The Sixth String of Vilayat Khan" by Namita Devidayal & "Voice of the Veena - S. Balachander" by Vikram Sampath. They shared many common views. Both liked cars & perfumes, "Brut" being the Veena maestro's favourite. Both disliked Pandit Ravi Shankar (or his popularity!). Vilayat Khan refused all Padma awards. Balachander was never awarded the "Sangeeta Kalanidhi", the highest honour of the Music Academy, though he was awarded & accepted "Padma Bhushan" from the Central Government.
Balachander was a polymath, being a film director, chess player, good in Billiards & Snooker also. He was a self-taught genius, unlike Vilayat Khan who traced his musical ancestry to six generations. Both made many innovations in their respective instruments, the Veena & the Sitar. Surprisingly, Balachander first learnt the Sitar on his own & gave a radio recital of Carnatic music played on it. Later he switched over to the Veena.
Though Vilayat Khan's legacy is being continued by numerous sitarists of his gharana, Vikram Sampath writes that Balachander's legacy is being forgotten, except by his last disciple Vidushi Jayanti Kumaresh.
No comments:
Post a Comment