T.S.BALAKRISHNA SASTRIGAL - HARIKATHA(MUSICAL DISCOURSE).............(b.18 August 1918) Scholarship, ability for attractive presentation and knowledge of epics were inherited from Sambamurti Ganapatigal of Thiruvidaimarudur near Kumbakonam. Versatility in languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kanarese and Sankrit was acquired while young and developed further. Musical training was with Tiger Varadachariar and Mudicondan Sabhapathi Ayyar.
The professors of colleges liked him and, in fact, notwithstanding the acquisition of all the above, the young man entered the service of the then Imperial Bank of India with the help of Mc Nichol, his professor in the Madras Christian College. The immense acquisition of knowledge in ancient lore, languages and the background of story-telling were not lost in spite of time bound, routine of work in the bank . Harikatha or musical discourse was taken up in spare time but it grew into a mighty exercise as years rolled on.
The devout anxious to hear the epics, the young and old to hear stories, ancedotes and songs flocked to hear him. His brother, T.S.Vallisan, who had undergone musical training and is a vocalist, gave him support as 'second' in his discourses. The added attraction established the artiste as one of the few top musical discourse artistes of the day for the last several decades after the departure of the earlier batch comprising Mangudi Chidambara Bhagavathar, etc.He has given discourses in English in the USA in 1983.
Honours :
' 'Sat Kathamrita Kalanidhi & Bharat Kesari - Sri Sankaracharya of Kanchipuram
"'Bala Vyasa' - Sri Sankaracharya of Sringeri
'Harikatha Ratnakara - Sri Sankaracharya of Kanchi & Sringeri
Kalaimamani - Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram
'Sangita Kala Sikhamani' - Indian Fine Arts Society
'Gayaka Sikhamani' - Sabhas of Bombay
'Madhura Kala Praveena - Sadguru Sangita Samajam
'Nadakanal' - Nadakanal
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