Our Judges of Honor

His intricate rhythmic patterns, sense of proportion, sharp anticipation, short & carefully thought out phases of silence, and the ability to give the Mridangam the much-needed soft touch sets Trichur C. Narendran stand out. Shri. Narendran has also accompanied more than five generations of musicians. Narendran inherits a legacy of performing art. Manakulam Late Valiya Kunhunni Raja "Kakkad Karanavarppad", the progenitor of the Temple of performing Art of Kerala – "Kerala Kalamandalam" was his maternal grandfather. He grew up with his elder brother (violinist Thrissur C. Rajendran) and sister (vocalist Prema Balachandran) in an ambience of Music and Art. Narendran had the rarest privileges to be one of the early disciples of Palghat R Raghu from 1973. It was the scholarship awarded by the Government of India that provided the fecundity for him to learn the finer and the most intricate techniques of mridangam playing from Mridangam Maestro Padmashri Palghat R. Raghu.

Shri. Kongampattu A. V. Murugaian, is one of the senior most vidwans in the field of Music. He is closely associated with Thiruvaiyyaru Govt Nadaswaram thavil college and teaches Thavil to students. During his 10th– 13th years, he received Central government scholarship and had a great opportunity to learn under Sangeetha Kalanidhi Padma Shri. Valayapatti A. R. Subramanian. He has played Thavil alongside Shri. Valayapatti Subramanian for nearly 8 years. He has participated in various Music festivals like Festival of India – France & Germany. He had performed many musical concerts in USA and Worldwide. He is an All India Radio “A TOP GRADE ARTIST”. He received the most privileged “Kalaimamani” award in 2004. He has served for 23 yrs at Villuppuram Govt Music School as Thavil teacher and Guru and has trained more than 500 students in the art. To his privilege, he has had the opportunity to play Thavil at the Rashtrapati Bhawan to our lovable then President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam and has been blessed by him for his special performance.

With an Aesthetic mind and an Artistic vision, Dr. S.Karthick is an icon in Indian Percussion. With Optimum Grace & Finesse in his performing art, Dr. Karthick is a shining celebrity on his captivating clay pot instrument – the GHATAM. His creative originality, distinct stage-presence, vibrant virtuosity, nimble fingers and a nimbler mind have all made him a most sensational performer, a much sought after artiste, an acknowledged virtuoso musician, compDr. ‘Ghatam’ KARTHICK, is a shining star Ghatam artiste, has performed with almost all top ranked Classical artists, all over the world. Karthick is a proud torch-bearer of the legacy of his Gurus - Ghatam Maestros Sri.T.H.Vikku Vinayakram and Sri. T.H.Subash Chandran. Karthick has extensively performed with Indian film Industry and collaborated with many International Artistes.

Karthick has a PhD in Sanskrit under the guidance of Dr.S.Ramaratnam, and a Masters in Music. Karthick leads the Heartbeat Ensemble and is a prolific composer of many Tillanas, Kritis, Varnams and Fusion Pieces. Karthick is always known for intelligent innovations and creative ventures. All these facets have earned him a very special endearing status in the hearts, minds and thoughts of many musical enthusiasts, admirers and scholars all over the World. As a Creative Composer, Dr. Karthick has composed in various genres consisting of many Tillanas, Kritis (both in Sanskrit and Tamil in rare ragas), a Pada Varnam, a Daru Varnam, Swarakshara Kriti, Ragamalika, Instrumental Orchestrations, Devotional songs, Hymns, Romantic songs, Folk songs etc. Karthick has conceived, conceptualized, composed and presented his creations as various albums along with many of his eminent colleagues.

Shri. P. Unnikrishnan is a Playback Singer, Carnatic Vocalist & Judge of Airtel Super Singer. He has learnt Carnatic music from his many Gurus including Dr. Shri. S. Ramanathan, Smt Brindha, Shri. P.S. Narayanasamy, Shri. S.R. Janakiraman. He has participated and won numerous accolades for his performance in film songs right from his school days.

During his student days at Vivekananda College, his most unforgettable event happened during an Inter college Music Competition that was conducted at REC, Trichy. With Shri. R.K.Shriram Kumar playing violin, Shri. Vijay Shiva accompanying Mrudangam and Unnikrishnan for the Voice, the college competition eventually turned into a mini concert for the audiences and the trio won the First prize in this mega show. He started singing at a professional level from his age of 20.

He was also a very good Cricket player and played numerous matches at various divisional levels in Tamil Nadu.He has to his credits and recognitions, numerous prestigious awards at various levels. Some include:

• 1995 Kalaimamani, Iyal Isai Nataga Mandram, Government of Tamil Nadu.
• 1994 Ennavale adi Ennavale – National Award.
• 1994 Uyirum neeye – National Award.

A person known for his compassion and kindness, he accepted to support Balalayam’s genuine initiatives by being a Guest of Honor instantly and has also agreed to interact with the Winners and Finalists.

Kalaimamani Shri. Valayapatti S. Malarvannan is the son of Padmashri Sangeetha Kalanidhi Shri. Valayapatti A.R. Subramaniam. He started playing “Thavil” at the age of 9 years and had been a disciple of Kalaimamani Shri. Mannargudi Rajagopal Pillai. His early school life was from his Gurus home in Mannargudi and he was in a continuous learning mode from his Guru. He was an excellent Cricket player and was captaining his school in Madurai, also has played at 1st division levels in Madurai.

During 1985, when he was in his 11th standard – at the Festival of India in PARIS AND GERMANY, he had the blessing of playing Thavil along with Appa, which is an unforgettable memory for Malarvannan ji. He has performed in more than 1000 concerts with his father. For more than 30 years, he has been actively running Naadhalaya Music group, and has brought about many innovations in the fields of music.

In 1988 and 1989, he won – 1st Prize at college level National youth festival that had participants and contestants from across all prestigious colleges in India in the percussion instrumental category. He was invited as a Judge and Guest of Honor for the same event later in 1991. One of the main objectives of Naadhalaya since its inception was to encourage an open gate policy, unlike any other music festival during the various seasons. The festival of fine arts would always have free admission. So rather than speak of value for money, it is only “Value all the way” for Naadhalaya.

Shri. Valayapatti S. Malarvannan won the prestigious Kalaimamani award from the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2001. He is called a person with a big heart in the music industry, and he accepted to support Balalayam’s genuine initiatives by being a Guest of Honor instantly and has also agreed to interact with the Winners and Finalists.

Shri C.S. Sajeev:

Shri C.S. Sajeev is a Carnatic vocalist with over 32 years of excellence in music, he is the youngest son of Shri Chandramana S. Sreekumaran Namboodiri and Shrimati G. Gouri Antherjanam. Shri Sajeev had eminent gurus like Shri. C.S. Jayaraman, Smt. Lalitha, Smt. Geetha and Shri. Irinjalakuda Vijay Kumar.

Sajeev has been awarded several prestigious recognitions. He was awarded the prestigious Semmangudi Award at Valayapatti Music festival in 2019. His other accomplishments include Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuvapuraskar-2009 from Central Sangeeth Natak Academy, New Delhi. In 2003, he was the “Chembai Award Winner” -- Govt. of Kerala. In 1993, he was the “Gold Medal” Winner of “National University” Youth Festival in Nagpur. Sajeev won the ‘Akashvani Award’ of All India Radio in 1992.In 2004, he received the Thulaseevana Puraskaaram” from Kerala. Sajeev has performed at most of the prominent sabhas in the country, including the Madras Music Academy, Sri Sanmugananda Sabha (Main Hall), Bombay, Cleveland Music Festival, Cleveland, USA, and more.

In 1986 His Holiness Shri. Puttaparthi Sai Baba granted his divine his blessings and had a long interaction with Sajeev, after the concert. questions. He performed Thyagaraja keerthanam, for a 10000+ audience in 1986 in front of Sathya Sai Baba. Shri.C.S. Sajeev also manages Neelakanta Sivan Cultural Academy for the past 15 years, the sabha has been motivating various artists and performers, including so many youngsters from the field of music and every event has been conducted free of cost for viewers and fans of the general public.

Sajeev is known for his social service and is a kind hearted individual. He accepted and honored the cause of Balalyam’s initiatives instantly and has also agreed to interact and motivate all the participants and contestants.

Kalaimamani Embar S Kannan hails from an illustrious family of musicians. Living up to the dreams of his father Sangeetha Bhooshanam Sri Embar Sadagopan, Kannan took to the violin at the tender age of 6. He had his initial training in Carnatic music under Sri Subbanna Bhagavatar and Sri Vittal Ramamurthy and in Western classical music under music director, Diwakar master. He then continued his formal training in violin under Sangita Kalanidhi Kum. Kanyakumari.

Kannan is an A - TOP Grade artist with the All India Radio, a recognition given only to top ranking artists. Universally acclaimed as a violinist with extraordinary bowing quality and remarkably sweet playing, his style is marked by clarity, soulfulness and energy. Subbudu, the doyen amongst critics recognized Kannan as a prized jewel of Carnatic music as early as 1991. He remarked that Kannan’s music has the grace and ease of a Russian Ballerina.

As an accompanist, Kannan is acknowledged as a violinist par excellence. Kannan’s uncanny flair has made him one of the most sought-after accompanists and he enthrals audiences, the world over with his music. He has accompanied almost all the leading artists and stalwarts in the carnatic music world. He has lent a supporting hand in innumerable number of concerts across the globe. Kannan is adventurous and has explored other genres of music too. He has also collaborated with Hindustani, Sufi and Western classical musicians. His adventures include the Full Bench concert an instrumental ensemble.

Kannan’s debut to cinema music was through the movie Puli Petra Pillai by Sri. Diwakar when Kannan was just 11 years old. This marked the entry of Kannan into the cinema world. Soon he started to play for Kannada movies under the music direction of Sri Vasu Rao son of the legendary composer Sri Rajeshwara Rao. It is a blessing for Kannan to be a part of Maestro Ilayaraja’s troupe since 1991.

Besides the Maestro, Kannan has worked with other leading south Indian music directors including Karthick Raja, Yuvan Shankar Raja, M Jayachandran, Vidyasagar, MM Keeravani, Sharath, A.R. Rehman, Deva and GV Prakash. Kannan’s creative and innovative musical verve has made many numbers major hit. In short, he has played for all the leading music directors in all the four South Indian languages. Noteworthy among the films Kannan has played for are Mogha Mull, Dum Dum Dum, Kandanaal Mudalai, Ivan, Parthiban Kanavu, Shivaji, Raja Rani.

Kannan has received many a prestigious award, such as the title of Kalaimamani from the Government of Tamil Nadu for 2009, Shanmukhananda Sangeetha Shiromani for the year 2009 from Shanmukhananda Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai and the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2010 from the Sangeet Natak Akademi to name a few.