After over two decades of shaping young musical talents in the UAE, ‘Anil Mash’ steps down from official teaching to fully focus on his musical journey.
SHARJAH, July 1: Prominent singer, composer, and Head of the Music Department at Sharjah Indian School (Juwaiza), Anil P. Balan, has announced his retirement from official teaching after 21 years of dedicated service. Popularly known as ‘Anil Mash’, he was the first music teacher appointed at the institution and has been instrumental in shaping the school’s music curriculum and mentoring generations of young talents.
Sharjah Indian School’s pioneering music educator, Anil P. Balan, is stepping down from his official role after over two decades of exemplary service. As the first-ever music teacher of the institution and its Head of Department for the last 21 years, Anil Mash leaves behind a rich legacy of musical education in the United Arab Emirates.
An alumnus of the prestigious Chembai Memorial Government Music College in Palakkad, Kerala, Anil Balan further honed his skills in Hindustani music under the tutelage of the legendary maestro Pandit Ramesh Narayan. He initially began his professional musical journey in Muscat, Oman, before relocating to the UAE to take up the historic mantle of establishing the music department at Sharjah Indian School.
Reflecting on his tenure, Anil Balan noted that when music was initially introduced as a formal subject in the school, there was no pre-existing syllabus or blueprint to follow. He developed a simplified, experiential learning framework based on his own expertise, which has today evolved into a comprehensive and robust curriculum adopted by the institution. Under his guidance, numerous students have transitioned into successful careers within Carnatic and playback singing industries.
Beyond his contributions as an educator, Anil Balan remains a highly respected figure across major cultural stages in the UAE. He has composed and lent his voice to several acclaimed music albums. Notably, his hit album ‘Sukham Sangeetham’ featured legendary playback singers including P. Jayachandran, Madhu Balakrishnan, and Manjari.
Though retiring from academic life, Anil Balan emphasizes that his musical journey is far from over. He plans to dedicate his time fully to pure and popular music compositions, adapting to contemporary trends while preserving classical authenticity. He is supported in his lifelong musical pursuit by his wife, Preethi Anil, who is also a music educator, and his daughter, Dhanasree, an upcoming singer.
