Kudos to Madhu Balakrishnan

[iPremZ]

This amazing singer has just turned 37 (24 June 2011). May his voice fill the waves of the Tamil film music world the coming year and beyond. His recent melodies in Tamil include: Poo vizhiyil (Manikettan Salai), Ettu kangalukum (Thoonga Nagaram) and Annamar Kathai (IR's music in Ponnar Shankar).

In Malayalam, he has recently sung fabulous pieces in Make-up Man, Manikyakallu, Japapriyan and Sahapadi 1975.

And, he continues to render mind-blowing devotional songs in Malayalam. Devotional albums released in 2011 include Bhairavi, Thrithaalam and Shankarabharanam.

In the Shankarabharanam devotional album, he has sung a stirring version of the "Mahadeva Shiva Sambho" kirtanai in Revathi raga that some viewers may have caught him singing in Jaya TV's "Manathodu Mano recently". That episode of "Manathodu Mano", where Madhu sang the songs of yesteryears by Yesudas and SPB plus some of his own songs and some Carnatic kirtanas, was awesome. His rendition of songs in Hamsanadham was simply mellifluous.And, of course, his rendition of the "Harimuraleevaram" song took away my breath. (Madhu, by the way, also has a breathtaking ability to scale through 4 octaves. Check out his theme song from the film "Thavamai Thavamirundhu"). Madhu's humility as an artiste also was evident in that talk show. Congratulations to Madhu.

Here's wishing him a happy birthday. And hoping TFM directors will exploit his talents more fully in the coming year and years ahead.

[iPremZ]

Here are some links to some of Madhu's recent Tamil songs:

Ettu Kangalukum (Thoonga Nagaram)
http://mio.to/BQm0

Poovizhiyl from "Mathikettan Salai"
http://www.raaga.com/player4/?id=295017&mode=100&rand=0.1710074167076483

Annamar Kathai (Ponnar Shankar)
http://mio.to/yiMAq

And to some older favourites of mine which showcase his immense talents:

Theme song of Thavamai Thavamirundhu (2005)
http://mio.to/hkhO

Thendral ennum thear from "Paasa killigal" (2006) - in Nasikabhooshani raga
http://mio.to/yio7

And, here's a link to episode 1 of Manathodu Mano (I lost the link to the second episode of Mathu Balakrishnan's appearance, which was even more outstanding than the first part)
http://www.tubetamil.com/view_video.php?viewkey=7b9b7c3b3f97ae6756cd&page=1&viewtype=&category=

And, of course, who can forget Madhu's rendition of "Pichai Pathiram eandhi vandhein". We need to eandhi a pichai from him for giving us more melodious songs. Or perhaps we need to beg from film producers and MDs to give this talented man the exposure he rightly deserves.

I also found www.madhubalakrishnan.net, which provides further details on the singer.

Good luck!