Niladri Kumar

Niladri Kumar is an Indian sitar player and music composer. The invention of the zitar was done by him. He is known to be one of the most popular musicians of his generation, as stated by fellow sitar maestro Purbayan Chatterjee. Kumar has collaborated with many top musicians, such as Zakir Hussain, Arjit Singh, and John McLaughlin.

Early life He was born to sitar player Kartick Kumar, a disciple of Ravi Shankar. He began learning the sitar under his father's guidance at the age of four. Kumar gave his first public performance at the age of six at Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry.

Career He was a part of the Masters of the Percussion tour alongside Zakir Hussain. Kumar has also worked with Jonas Hellborg and V. Selvaganesh on their album Kali's Son and with John McLaughlin on album Floating Point. Kumar has also worked with various music directors in Hindi cinema, including A.R. Rahman, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy and Pritam. Niladri has also won MTV Immies award for the Best Classical/Fusion Instrumental for his album If. The concept initiated from a travelling sitar, which was modified by Kumar to create rock guitar sound out of it. Kumar reduced the number of strings on the instrument from 20 to five. He also added an electric pick-up inside the instrument so that it would sound more like a guitar. Kumar wrote the first track for the album Priority in 2003. Over the next five years he improved the track and subsequent track by gauging audience reaction during live performances. He improvised the tracks adding components from various genres such as rock, electronic and lounge.

Discography

Albums 2001: Together 2002: Revelation 2003: Dharohar 2003: Saanjh Sur 2003: If: Magical Sounds of Sitar 2005: Sitar Gaze 2005: Yoga Lounge (With Chinmaya Dunster) 2006: Forever 2006: De-Stress Revive (With Rupak Kulkarni) 2007: Chillout Forever 2007: Faith 2008: Zitar 2009: Priority 2011: Together (With Talvin Singh) 2013: Plucked 2014: Sur Yajna

Films Bunty Aur Babli - Chup Chup Ke (Sitar) Gangster - Na Jaane Koi (Zitar) Omkara - Naina thag lenge (Sitar) Life in a... Metro - Alvida (Zitar) Life in a... Metro - In DIno (Zitar) Dhoom 2 - Crazy Kiya Re (Zitar) Dabangg 2 - Tore naina bade dagabaaz re (Sitar) Maazii - Mora Jiya (Zitar) Desi Boyz - Make Some Noise (Zitar) Paheli - Dheere Jalna (Sitar) 7 Khoon Maaf - Aawara (Sitar) My Name Is Khan - Tere Naina (Sitar) Kalank- Ghar More Pardesiya (Sitar) Baahubali: The Beginning - Manohari (Sitar) Aashiqui 2 – Sunn Raha Hai (Sitar) Laila Majnu Kalank - Ghar more pardesiya Dr. Arora - Mehram (Song Composer) Dr. Arora - Khaalipan (Song Composer)

Music direction Shorgul (Tere Bina) - Hindi Movie (2016) Niruttara - (All songs) Kannada Movie (2016) Laila Majnu - (Ahista Ahista, Tum, Hafiz Hafiz, Sarfiri, Tum Version 2) Hindi Movie (2018)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work ResultRef 2018Mirchi Music AwardsUpcoming Music Composer of The Year Aahista-Laila Majnu 2019 64th Filmfare Awards Rd Burman Award For Upcoming Talent In Film MusicLaila Majnu