Niladri Kumar – a name to beckon, a musician to be devoured! One of the world’s leading sitar players, considered to be an innovator of music, has pioneered latest trend of fusion music.
A performer true to his art, his every performance has been an epoch making remembrance for his audiences. He makes every moment nostalgic – purely by exquisite music, magical fingers that profusely move over the strings to create musical waves as subtle as ripples on a pond, every song crafted as a masterpiece that enriches with greatness with every note he strums – and this majestic fusion of greatness is all due to his stout devotion to the instrument – his sitar. He strikes a conversation with the instrument and the musical contrivance responds politely. He is engrossed and enthralled in the music as much as his audience with every soul at the zenith of musical amalgamation.
Listen to his song “Priority” that he composed and improvised for over 5 years and you will know about his clairvoyance; the song is as beautiful and mystifying as the city it describes – Mumbai! Recently Niladri Kumar performed at the 73rd birthday of the great composer Hridaynath Mangeshkar. Undoubtedly he cast his musical-magical spell there as well. “What a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday,” Mangeshkar must have rejoiced in his thoughts and smiles.
Sivamani, A. R. Rahman, Louis Banks, may have enticed you with their respective skills, Niladri Kumar is no different; he resonates through his instrument. His live performances stir your soul into a rich blend of melody and tranquility that mellifluously promulgates the ‘kalakaar’ inside him.
A performer true to his art, his every performance has been an epoch making remembrance for his audiences. He makes every moment nostalgic – purely by exquisite music, magical fingers that profusely move over the strings to create musical waves as subtle as ripples on a pond, every song crafted as a masterpiece that enriches with greatness with every note he strums – and this majestic fusion of greatness is all due to his stout devotion to the instrument – his sitar. He strikes a conversation with the instrument and the musical contrivance responds politely. He is engrossed and enthralled in the music as much as his audience with every soul at the zenith of musical amalgamation.
Listen to his song “Priority” that he composed and improvised for over 5 years and you will know about his clairvoyance; the song is as beautiful and mystifying as the city it describes – Mumbai! Recently Niladri Kumar performed at the 73rd birthday of the great composer Hridaynath Mangeshkar. Undoubtedly he cast his musical-magical spell there as well. “What a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday,” Mangeshkar must have rejoiced in his thoughts and smiles.
Sivamani, A. R. Rahman, Louis Banks, may have enticed you with their respective skills, Niladri Kumar is no different; he resonates through his instrument. His live performances stir your soul into a rich blend of melody and tranquility that mellifluously promulgates the ‘kalakaar’ inside him.
He reminds us of one another greatest showman, a performer of unmatched parallel, Michael Jackson. He made his audience go swaying at his peppy music, fall at every tap of his feet, left his audience jaw-dropped; Niladri twangs a similar specter. Niladri grips people to his plunking, keeps them gazing at the movements of his fingers reverberating off the sitar strings.
Young and talented, Niladri Kumar is energetic in his performances, fresh in his approach and always wanting to experiment. He is a youth icon to follow and definitely among those young artists who will go on to become a legend! This again reminds us of one such charismatic person, Sachin Tendulkar – a marvel to wonder, who is defining cricket every single day for most of today’s youth! Ask any toddler about his aspirations in life and pat comes a reply, “Be Sachin Tendulkar”. Sachin and Niladri are similar in the manner they define new master strokes with each passing day. Like Sachin creating and redefining cricket, Niladri Kumar too is gradually defining fusion music.
Young and talented, Niladri Kumar is energetic in his performances, fresh in his approach and always wanting to experiment. He is a youth icon to follow and definitely among those young artists who will go on to become a legend! This again reminds us of one such charismatic person, Sachin Tendulkar – a marvel to wonder, who is defining cricket every single day for most of today’s youth! Ask any toddler about his aspirations in life and pat comes a reply, “Be Sachin Tendulkar”. Sachin and Niladri are similar in the manner they define new master strokes with each passing day. Like Sachin creating and redefining cricket, Niladri Kumar too is gradually defining fusion music.
This restless soul with his zest for music, devised an instrument called ‘Zitar’, a unique combination of guitar and sitar. Giving rock effect to the instrument, he is creating ripples in the music world! Performing at Sivamani Mahaleela, he played a segment which can certainly be defined as a ‘metal rock piece’ played on a sitar. Even Sivamani, the legendary percussionist, himself was perplexed for moments with Niladri’s illusion of music. It was better than most of the hand plucking done on guitar by modern metal bands. To compare, Niladri gives these bands a run for their money single handedly.
An obsession with ‘kala’ is a primary factor in making of a legend. Niladri Kumar possesses that. He has music running through his hands, through his fingertips and he speaks volumes through each of his pieces. He has conversation with the audience in his performances, they miss a heartbeat sometimes, at times they just let their heart dance to the rhythm he creates. And that’s how you precisely win people’s heart!
Images Courtesy: www.niladrikumar.com
An obsession with ‘kala’ is a primary factor in making of a legend. Niladri Kumar possesses that. He has music running through his hands, through his fingertips and he speaks volumes through each of his pieces. He has conversation with the audience in his performances, they miss a heartbeat sometimes, at times they just let their heart dance to the rhythm he creates. And that’s how you precisely win people’s heart!
Images Courtesy: www.niladrikumar.com
- Aniket Sawant
Categories:
Aniket Sawant,
Culture,
Music,
Sitar,
Zitar
