Born in 1955 in Hale Agrahara, Mysore, D. Balakrishna grew up in a household where music belonged naturally to everyday life. His grandfather, Venkatesha Iyengar, and his father, V. Doreswamy Iyengar, served as Asthāna Vidwāns during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar.

In such surroundings, tradition was absorbed early — not through instruction alone, but through presence, routine, and example. Discipline arrived quietly; refinement followed without haste.

This grounding shaped his artistry. Trained rigorously in the Mysore bāṇi, his veena playing reflects clarity of swara, repose in phrasing, and a firm raga sense shaped by bhāva rather than display.

Beginning in 1973, he accompanied his father closely for many years, presenting numerous concerts across India and abroad. In listening to his veena, the listener often encounters a gentle stilling — where sound settles the mind and leaves behind a lingering calm.