Pandit Sri S. Ballesh is a disciple of world renowed Shehnai playerBharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan Saheb and he is known as the South Indian film music Shehnai Chakravarthy. He is also referred to asDakshin Bharat Bismillah Khan. Born on 1st April in MK Hubli (Belgaum district), Karnataka, Pandit Ballesh hails from the illustrious family of Shehnai players for the last 350 years. His father Pandit Sanna Bharamanna Ji was also an accomplished Shehnai player and he was Pandit Ballesh's first guru. Later he continued learning under his uncle Shehnai Vidwan Sri Dhodda Bharamana Ji and started his career at a very early age of 9 years. He learnt Hindustani Vocal in Kirana gharana under Dr. DP Hiremath and started playing gayaki ang in Shehnai. He gave his first public performance at the age of 15 in 1973 at Sri Sadguru Balayogi Swamiji Thourgad Math (Hubli). He learnt Patiala Gharana from Hyderabad court Nizam's aasthan Vidwan Maharashtra Maha Pandt Sri Kodhand Saluke Maharaj who trained himm very much and brought all the gayaki ang bhrukas into Shehnai. Pandit Ballesh is an A grade artist in All India Radio Kendra.
Pandit S. Ballesh set his heart on being the best Shehnai player and sought to be the disciple of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan Saheb. He learnt the Banarasi Gharana shehnai Ang style. He had the good fortune of getting the guidance of the maestro which enabled him to refine his style and mastery over the instrument. He learnt the Banaras Gharana Khayal Gayaki Ang, Thumri Ang, Dhum And Kajri Ang. In Gadag, during the Gana Gandharv Ganayogi Panchakshara Sangeet Utsav, he gave a Shehnai performance and played Raag Yaman Kalyan and mesmerised the listeners with his Gayaki ang style. The legendary Pandit Puttaraj Gawai Buwa ji praised his style while addressing the audience. Pandit S. Ballesh also received the heartfelt blessings and an opportunity to learn from the great Pandit Puttaraj Gawai Buwa Ji. After the performance in Gadag, Rajoskar Puraskar awardee Pandit Sri Veereswar Madri ji made him to step into South Indian Film Music.
Pandit S. Ballesh has a long music career of over 30 years. He has given many performances in several sangeeth sammelans, sabha concerts etc. He has also given many jugalbandhi concerts with Hindustani musicians like Santoor - Sri Vishveshwaran Ji, Sitar - Shahid Prevez Khan, Ustad Shaffiq Khan, Sri Vishweshwara Rao, Violin - Sri Veereswar Madri Ji and also Carnatic musicians like Violin - Lalgudi Sri GJR Krishnan, Veena - Smt Revathy Krishna etc. He has performed in many cultural events in India and abroad. He has given concerts all over India in places like Karnataka (Banglore, Gadag, Raichur, Kittur, Dharwad, Hubli), Maharashtra (Miraj, Mumbai, Nasik), Uttar Pradesh (Banaras, Agra, Lucknow, Allahabad) and in other major cities like Delhi, Chennai, Trivandrum, Kozhikode, Kasarkode, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Bhopal, Kolkatta, Guwahathi, Patna, Jaipur Ahamedabad, Panaji and in many foreign countries like Dubai, Newyork, France, Singapore, Malaysia, Srilanka, Australia, Italy, London and major parts of the UK.
He is the leading and only Shehnai artist of South India and has spanned over 30 years of unbatting popularity. He has worked with leading North Indian composers like Oscar Winner AR Rahman, Jatin-Lalith, Anu Malik, RD Burman, Lakshmikanth-Pyarellal, Nadeem-Sravan, Sandeepsen-Sameersen and
South Indian composers like KV Mahadevan, MS Viswanathan, Isaignani Ilayaraja, GK Venkatesh, Sathyam, MM Keeravani, Rajan-Nagendra, Upendra Kumar, Hamsalekha, Ravindran, SA Rajkumar, Vidyasagar, Devraj Master, Rajkoti and many budding music directors of the South and the North. He has sung many songs, tracks, devotional songs and rendered his voice for music albums as well. He has played many live concerts in India and abroad with leading music composers.
Pandit Ballesh can play on his Shehnai in various styles like the aalapi style of khayal singing, Jhala of Sitar and Sarod, Tatkar like the Kathak dancers, Harquatts like Sarangi and violin, continuity of tone like been and also adds the sweetness of Bansuri to this
MAJOR PERFORMANCES
· Ustad Bismillah Khan Sangeet Utsav
· Spirit of unity concert, Thirupathi (Andhra Pradesh)
· Sringeri Ashram Sangeet Utsav (Karnataka)
· Mudhara Sangeet Utsav, Chennai
· Pandit Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Sammelan (Kundalgol)
· Pandit Basavaraj Rajguru Sangeet Sammelan
· Pandit Kumar Gandharva Sangeet Sammelan (Belgaum)
· Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur Sangeet Utsav (Dharwad)
· Sangeeth Utsav (Youth Festival hall, Chennai)
· Ganayogi Panchakshari Sangeet Sammelan (Gadag)
· Viswa Kala Sangam Music Festival
· Mewathi Gharana Sangeet Sammelan (Kerala)
· Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan (Mumbai)
· Smt Krishna Hanagal Memorial Festival (Hubli)
· Bharat Kalachar Sangeet Festival (Chennai)
· Tansen Sangeet Sammelan (Chennai)
· Ganga Mahotsav (Varanasi)
· Navarathri Music Festival (Chennai)
· Ustad Ahmed Hussain Khan Music Circle
· Ustad Rahaman Khan Music Festival (Chennai)
· Kalarasana Music Festival
· Hampi Utsav (Karnataka)
· Ganayogi Panchakshari Sangeet Utsav (Balglore)
· Pandit Krishna Anand Sangeet Utsav
· Chennai Thiruvaiyaru Music Festival
· Tirupathi tirumala Devasthaanam Sangeet Utsav (Tirupathi)
· Swami Ramana Maharishi Birthday Utsav (Thiruvannaamalai)
· Raag Rangi Raat Sangeet Sammelan (Ernakulam)
· Swarna Jayanthi Hindu Dharma Foundation
AWARDS:
· Shehnai Naad Brahm - by Chennai SGSGPPY Foundation
· South Indian Shehnai King - by South Indian Cine Musicians Association
· Sur Ki Shehnai - by Adi Shankaracharya Hindu Dharma Foundation
Pandit S. Ballesh set his heart on being the best Shehnai player and sought to be the disciple of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan Saheb. He learnt the Banarasi Gharana shehnai Ang style. He had the good fortune of getting the guidance of the maestro which enabled him to refine his style and mastery over the instrument. He learnt the Banaras Gharana Khayal Gayaki Ang, Thumri Ang, Dhum And Kajri Ang. In Gadag, during the Gana Gandharv Ganayogi Panchakshara Sangeet Utsav, he gave a Shehnai performance and played Raag Yaman Kalyan and mesmerised the listeners with his Gayaki ang style. The legendary Pandit Puttaraj Gawai Buwa ji praised his style while addressing the audience. Pandit S. Ballesh also received the heartfelt blessings and an opportunity to learn from the great Pandit Puttaraj Gawai Buwa Ji. After the performance in Gadag, Rajoskar Puraskar awardee Pandit Sri Veereswar Madri ji made him to step into South Indian Film Music.
Pandit S. Ballesh has a long music career of over 30 years. He has given many performances in several sangeeth sammelans, sabha concerts etc. He has also given many jugalbandhi concerts with Hindustani musicians like Santoor - Sri Vishveshwaran Ji, Sitar - Shahid Prevez Khan, Ustad Shaffiq Khan, Sri Vishweshwara Rao, Violin - Sri Veereswar Madri Ji and also Carnatic musicians like Violin - Lalgudi Sri GJR Krishnan, Veena - Smt Revathy Krishna etc. He has performed in many cultural events in India and abroad. He has given concerts all over India in places like Karnataka (Banglore, Gadag, Raichur, Kittur, Dharwad, Hubli), Maharashtra (Miraj, Mumbai, Nasik), Uttar Pradesh (Banaras, Agra, Lucknow, Allahabad) and in other major cities like Delhi, Chennai, Trivandrum, Kozhikode, Kasarkode, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Bhopal, Kolkatta, Guwahathi, Patna, Jaipur Ahamedabad, Panaji and in many foreign countries like Dubai, Newyork, France, Singapore, Malaysia, Srilanka, Australia, Italy, London and major parts of the UK.
He is the leading and only Shehnai artist of South India and has spanned over 30 years of unbatting popularity. He has worked with leading North Indian composers like Oscar Winner AR Rahman, Jatin-Lalith, Anu Malik, RD Burman, Lakshmikanth-Pyarellal, Nadeem-Sravan, Sandeepsen-Sameersen and
South Indian composers like KV Mahadevan, MS Viswanathan, Isaignani Ilayaraja, GK Venkatesh, Sathyam, MM Keeravani, Rajan-Nagendra, Upendra Kumar, Hamsalekha, Ravindran, SA Rajkumar, Vidyasagar, Devraj Master, Rajkoti and many budding music directors of the South and the North. He has sung many songs, tracks, devotional songs and rendered his voice for music albums as well. He has played many live concerts in India and abroad with leading music composers.
Pandit Ballesh can play on his Shehnai in various styles like the aalapi style of khayal singing, Jhala of Sitar and Sarod, Tatkar like the Kathak dancers, Harquatts like Sarangi and violin, continuity of tone like been and also adds the sweetness of Bansuri to this
MAJOR PERFORMANCES
· Ustad Bismillah Khan Sangeet Utsav
· Spirit of unity concert, Thirupathi (Andhra Pradesh)
· Sringeri Ashram Sangeet Utsav (Karnataka)
· Mudhara Sangeet Utsav, Chennai
· Pandit Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Sammelan (Kundalgol)
· Pandit Basavaraj Rajguru Sangeet Sammelan
· Pandit Kumar Gandharva Sangeet Sammelan (Belgaum)
· Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur Sangeet Utsav (Dharwad)
· Sangeeth Utsav (Youth Festival hall, Chennai)
· Ganayogi Panchakshari Sangeet Sammelan (Gadag)
· Viswa Kala Sangam Music Festival
· Mewathi Gharana Sangeet Sammelan (Kerala)
· Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan (Mumbai)
· Smt Krishna Hanagal Memorial Festival (Hubli)
· Bharat Kalachar Sangeet Festival (Chennai)
· Tansen Sangeet Sammelan (Chennai)
· Ganga Mahotsav (Varanasi)
· Navarathri Music Festival (Chennai)
· Ustad Ahmed Hussain Khan Music Circle
· Ustad Rahaman Khan Music Festival (Chennai)
· Kalarasana Music Festival
· Hampi Utsav (Karnataka)
· Ganayogi Panchakshari Sangeet Utsav (Balglore)
· Pandit Krishna Anand Sangeet Utsav
· Chennai Thiruvaiyaru Music Festival
· Tirupathi tirumala Devasthaanam Sangeet Utsav (Tirupathi)
· Swami Ramana Maharishi Birthday Utsav (Thiruvannaamalai)
· Raag Rangi Raat Sangeet Sammelan (Ernakulam)
· Swarna Jayanthi Hindu Dharma Foundation
AWARDS:
· Shehnai Naad Brahm - by Chennai SGSGPPY Foundation
· South Indian Shehnai King - by South Indian Cine Musicians Association
· Sur Ki Shehnai - by Adi Shankaracharya Hindu Dharma Foundation