Mumbai: Indian music icon and sitar maestro Niladri Kumar has been named among winners of Sangeet Natak Academi Puraskar for the year 2023, by the Ministry of Culture and Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar. This is the highest national recognition given to stalwarts in the field of performing arts. Niladri Kumar had earlier won Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by the Sangeet Natak Academi in 2007.

“I am very grateful to Ministry of Culture and Sangeet Natak Akademi for honouring my journey in music, and I sincerely seek blessings for the path I yet have to travel. My greatest reward is to witness my music touch the hearts of listeners from all over the world, across all these years,” said Niladri Kumar.

Born to sitar maestro, Kartick Kumar, a disciple of Ravi Shankar and Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar winner, Niladri Kumar first performed on Doordarshan at the tender age of seven. He has since been breaking barriers and setting trends in Indian music. Taking forward his father’s legacy, the maverick musician has been well recognised at national as well as global forums.

An artist, who believes in walking with the times alongside staying true to his Indian roots, Niladri Kumar has featured in jazz-guitar legend John McLaughlin’s album Floating Point. He has also toured and played with giants of world music, including tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain and jazz-rock bass virtuoso Jonas Hellborg. He has also composed music for hit Bollywood numbers such as Chup Ke from Bunty Aur Babli, Crazy Kiya Re from Dhoom 2 and Bheeegi Bheegi from Gangster. A great aspiration, Niladri Kumar is truly India’s pride.