The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the passing away of Carnatic Musician, Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna.

In a condolence message to his wife, Smt. Annapurna, the President has said, "I am sad to learn about the passing away of the doyen of Carnatic Music, Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna.

Dr. Balamuralikrishna, a child prodigy, enthralled music lovers in the country and abroad with his unparalleled talent and marvellous compositions in various languages like Telugu, Sanskrit, Kannada and Tamil for around seven decades. He was known for his non-conformism, spirit of experimentation and abundant creativity. He innovated the tala system and the Carnatic music system without disturbing its rich tradition. He was also involved in extensive research into music therapy.

He was honoured by a grateful nation with numerous awards including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.In his death, the nation has lost a genius, who left an indelible mark in the world of Indian music.

Please accept my heartfelt condolences and convey them to the members of your family.I pray to the Almighty to give you and your family the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss”.

This release issued at 1130 hrs.