To anyone growing up in Kerala in the late '90s and 2000s, violinist Balabhaskar's smiling face was a familiar sight. His soulful, catchy compositions and ability to connect with people always drew appreciative crowds to his live performances. His death on Tuesday from injuries sustained in a car accident last week has plunged people in Kerala and outside into grief.
Balabhaskar first shot to fame when he composed the music for Malayalam film Mangalya Pallakku at the age of 17. Since then, his original compositions and fusion performances have regaled music lovers around the world. Here are some of his best compositions and performances: