Shri Murali Balachandran hails from a family of dancers and musicians. He studied mridangam under his father, Dr. C.G. Balachandran, and was introduced to Bharatanatyam by his mother, Smt. Usha. Murali is a versatile percussionist who is equally at ease playing traditional Indian percussion instruments like the mridangam, the kanjera, the tabla, the ghatam and the morsing. Murali has performed in countries including New Zealand, Canada, and Indonesia. He has performed on Broadway and at major venues like the Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Murali is based in New York City and has had the privilege of accompanying leading Indian musicians and dancers including Padma Shri Adayar Lakshman, Padma Shri Ramli Ibrahim, Padma Shri Shobana, Padma Bushan Trichur Ramachandran, Padma Bushan Kamala Laksmi Narayanan, and Padma Vibushan KJ Yesudas.