Garimella Balakrishna Prasad, Carnatic singer who set over 1,000 Annamacharya compositions to music, dies at 76
Carnatic vocalist and composer Garimella Balakrishna Prasad, former Asthana Vidwan of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams known for setting more than 1,000 Annamacharya sankeertanas to music, died at his home in Tirupati on 9 March 2025, aged 76.
Summary
Garimella Balakrishna Prasad, a Carnatic vocalist and composer, died of a heart attack at his home in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, on 9 March 2025. He was 76. He served Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) from 1978 to 2006 through its Annamacharya project and was honoured as its Asthana Vidwan (court musician). He composed tunes for more than 1,000 sankeertanas of the 15th-century Telugu saint-poet Tallapaka Annamacharya, whose works had survived only as lyrics, bringing them to wide audiences. He was a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. PM Narendra Modi condoled his death on 10 March, and the Andhra Pradesh government accorded him a funeral with state honours on 11 March.
Key facts
- Died
- 9 March 2025, Tirupati, aged 76
- Known for
- Tuning 1,000+ Annamacharya sankeertanas
- TTD
- Served 1978–2006; Asthana Vidwan
- Honour
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
- Funeral
- State honours, 11 March 2025
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Garimella Balakrishna Prasad, who died on 9 March 2025, was best known for setting to music the compositions of which saint-poet?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Tallapaka Annamacharya
He composed tunes for more than 1,000 sankeertanas of the 15th-century Telugu saint-poet Tallapaka Annamacharya.
Garimella Balakrishna Prasad served as Asthana Vidwan of which temple body?
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Correct answer: B — Sri Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala (TTD)
He served Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams from 1978 to 2006 and was its Asthana Vidwan (court musician).
Tallapaka Annamacharya, whose sankeertanas Garimella Balakrishna Prasad set to music, was a saint-poet of which century?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 15th century
Annamacharya was a 15th-century Telugu saint-poet, many of whose compositions survived only as lyrics.