Quick Facts
Biography
Niladri Kumar (born April) is an Indian classical and fusion musician.
Early life
He was born to sitar player Kartick Kumar, a disciple of Ravi Shankar. He started learning sitar under his father 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 was conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi's Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, awarded to young musicians, in March 2007. Niladri has also won MTV Immies award for the Best Classical/Fusion Instrumental for his album If.
Kumar has created an instrument, the "zitar", which is a combination of sitar and guitar. The concept initiated from a traveling 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 pickup inside the instrument so that it would sound more like a guitar. His first full album composed using the instrument, titled Zitar, was released in 2008. 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. He also won the MN Mathur Award in the 51st Maharana Kumbha Sangeet Samaroh for his contribution to Indian classical music in March, 2013.
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)
- 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)
Music Direction
Tere Bina - Hindi Movie (2016)
Niruttara - Kannada Movie (2016)