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In an interview published in Indian Express in 1971, Bala said, “When I was beginning, they said ‘she is too young.’ In my teens I was too thin. Later, too fat and now they say I am too old. Why can’t they try to appreciate what it all means?” (Exhibition on Bala by Museum of Performing Arts (MOPA) Foundation at Music Academy, Chennai, Jan 2019)

On one occasion, Ponnaiyya Pillai, father of Kittappa Pillai, offered Kandappa Pillai a challenge to test his laya expertise. He asked Kandappa Pillai if the latter could choreograph his composition, a sankeerna nadai jatiswaram in Poorvikalyani in a month and have it performed by Bala. Kandappa not only accepted the challenge, he trained Bala and got her to perform it within a week during her very next recital. This jatiswaram is now a treasured part of Bala’s repertoire. (Exhibition on Bala by Museum of Performing Arts (MOPA) Foundation at Music Academy, Chennai, Jan 2019)

Snippets - Monthwise listing

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