Balappa Hukkeri

Balappa Hukkeri (Kannada: ಬಾಳಪ್ಪ ಹುಕ್ಕೇರಿ) (1911–1992) was a singer of folk songs and Bhavageetes in Kannada language and a freedom fighter in his early years. He is mainly credited for popularizing Sugama Sangeetha in North Karnataka, just like P. Kalinga Rao who popularized the art form in South Karnataka.[1] Several prestigious awards have been conferred to him including Sangeet Natak Academy award and Karnataka Sangeeta Nataka Academy Award.

Balappa Hukkeri ಬಾಳಪ್ಪ ಹುಕ್ಕೇರಿ
Background information
Born1911
OriginGokak taluk, Belagavi district, Karnataka
Died1992
GenresBhavageete, Sugama Sangeetha
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter

Biography

Early life

Balappa was born in Murgod, a small village in savadatti of Belagavi district. He was named after his musician uncle. Balappa was drawn to theater at an early age due to family influence and started participating in local drama companies as an actor-singer. Even though he started training in Hindustani music by Shivalingiah Gavai, his interests were inclined towards lighter form of the music such as theater songs, Marathi abhangs, vachanas and folk songs.[1]

Singing career

In his thirties, Balappa participated in Indian freedom movement. He was going from village to village singing patriotic songs for which he was arrested and jailed for six months. He gave away family's gold and silver to the National security fund during India's war with China. He also worked as a field worker in the Department of Agriculture, travelling from village to village, singing songs on farming methods and family planning.[1] During this time Balappa was drawn towards the writing of Navodaya writers in Kannada such as D.R. Bendre, Betageri Krishna Sharma and Anandakanda and started singing Bhavageetes based on their poems.

Balappa's singing style was unique mainly because of the way he wove both the elements of classical and folk traditions into it. He used to travel to remote villages in Karnataka and Maharashtra to collect folk songs. He never wrote down folk songs and knew hundreds of them by rote. During his singing career Balappa never used anything but a Tabla and Harmonium for accompaniment.[1]

Awards and honours
  • Sangeet Natak Academy award – 1980[2]
  • Karnataka Sangeeta Nataka academy award
  • Tulsi Samman

Further reading
  • Balappa Hukkeri by Veeranna Dande.
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References
  1. "An early bridge builder". Online webpage of The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
  2. "Other forms of music, dance and theatre". Official website of Sangeet Natak Akademi. National academy of Dance, music and drama. Archived from the original on 14 May 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2007.


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