Celebrated singer Balamurli passes away

M Balamuralikrishna, celebrated singer and composer, died here on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He was 86.

The stalwart of south Indian classical music was known for his unconventional style and his willingness to experiment with practitioners of other genres.Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna had been ailing for some weeks, and was brought home from hospital recently. He breathed his last with his family by his side.“He died in his sleep,” a relative said. The funeral will take



place on Wednesday.

In recent years, Balamurali, as he was popularly known, had not been active on stage. However, he generously gave musical advice to the many visitors who came to look him up.

Balamurali’s body has been kept at his Cathedral Road house in Chennai for music lovers to pay their last respects. The death saddened musicians and artistes in the film fraternity, who expressed shock.