Niladri Kumar Unplugged!

By Ananya Mukherjee
Singapore

“Listen to Niladri under a starry night sky and you’ll become a part of a celestial trance. His sitar sings,” someone had suggested a few years back. 

Son and disciple of maestro Pandit Kartick Kumar, maverick sitar exponent Niladri Kumar needs no further introduction.  A phenomenal mix of traditional Indian Classical with a modern bent that embraces creativity, innovation and continuous improvisation, his musical repertoire is as unique as it could be. With his magical strokes on an instrument he chooses to call Zitar, Niladri evokes interest out of the most musically challenged audience and indulges the music lover in a soulful communion with the aesthetic and the divine.

Ladies and gentlemen, here’s Niladri Kumar for us...

MLM:  How has the entire journey as a stalwart sitarist been so far?

Niladri : I feel the journey has just begun. In music, everyday is a starting point, a learning point and I see only ahead, don't look back to ponder most of the times.

 MLM: How do you think you have matured as a performer along the way? Where were the key learning points?

Niladri: Performing  in itself is a learning process. Different countries, different people, different likes, dislikes and tastes..you also have to do what you like not always what others want. Every performance takes you closer to maturity.

MLM: How difficult is it to popularise Indian classical music in a generation of rock and pop? What can be done to ensure that the young generation develops a habit of listening to Indian Classical?

Niladri: It is a real work to popularise Indian classical music in today’s time of fast changing lives of the present generation. There could be many different ways to do it but one thing is certain, you cannot force someone to like something. It has to be to his or her taste, aptitude or interest. Only then will they want to find out more and more about it. It has to be interesting enough to generate interest in the art form. Many people start listening then fall away from it and many who never listen suddenly discover the rich art form and become
hooked for life.

MLM: When is your next album due for release?

Niladri: 2010 hopefully !!!

MLM: What's special about it?

Niladri: For me every album is special, but hope the listeners find something special again!!!

MLM: Where do you see yourself after 5 years?

Niladri: I hope I am playing the music I want to all over the world and can be a drop in the ocean of music, musicians and sound.

Did you know Niladri....

Loves:     HONEST ATTITUDE
Hates:     FAKENESS
Draws his inspiration from:   ACHIEVERS
Fears:      BEING ALONE
Sustains on:   RESULTS
Dreams:   TO REACH THE PINNACLE!

 In March 2007, Niladri won the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi's “Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar” for Instrumental Hindustani Music. “The Sanskriti Award”, “The Jadubhatta Puraskar” and “The MTV IMMIES for the Best Classical/Fusion Instrumental Album” for his album 'IF', are some of the other awards he has won besides having valued titles like “Shanmukha Shree” & “Surmani” to his credit. My Little Magazine is lucky to have him share some of his thoughts with us. We wish him all success for an illustrious musical journey ahead!