G. N. Balasubramaniam

Common card · No. 263846

Gudalur Narayanaswamy Balasubramaniam (6 January 1910 – 1 May 1965), popularly known as GNB, was an Indian Carnatic singer. He innovated the art through emphasis on laya control and reducing the gamakas which eventually made Carnatic music appeal to the lay person and the learned alike. He was also a Tamil film actor. Ariyakudi Iyengar inspired him. He was born in Gudalur, a small village in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu (then called the Madras Presidency), which is close to Mayavaram. He was the son of G V Narayanaswamy Iyer, who was a music student. Throughout his younger years, he closely observed the techniques of the musicians of his day. Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar became his manasika guru and inspiration. While his father hoped that GNB would become a successful lawyer, he was intent on pursuing his musical ambitions. He completed his BA (Hons) in English Literature at the Christian College, Chennai, and took up a short music course at Annamalai University. under the guidance...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Screen shot from 1940 Tamil Film shakuntala produced by Royal Talkies, Public domain