Mumbai : Renowned Indian music icon and sitar maestro Niladri Kumar has been honoured with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar for the year 2023 by the Ministry of Culture and Sangeet Natak Akademi. This esteemed award recognises his exceptional contribution to the field of performing arts, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious career. The Honorable President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, felicitated the sitar maestro, at the Awards Ceremony held in New Delhi, on March 6.

Niladri Kumar is a fifth generation sitar player, born to sitar maestro Pandit Kartick Kumar, a disciple of Ravi Shankar and a winner of Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar, and the President’s Gold Medal by Dr Rajendra Prasad in 1958. Niladri Kumar, who first performed on Doordarshan at the tender age of seven, has been breaking barriers and setting trends in Indian music. Taking forward his father’s legacy and carving his own unique cult style, the maverick musician has been well recognised at national as well as global forums.

At his age to receive the Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is a noteworthy achievement early on in his career. Niladri Kumar’s versatility and dedication to his craft have garnered him widespread acclaim across the world.

In addition to his collaborations with renowned musicians, Niladri Kumar has also made significant contributions to Bollywood, composing music for chartbusters with Arijit Singh and Imtiaz Ali.  With a deep commitment to his Indian roots and a forward-looking approach, Niladri Kumar continues to inspire audiences around the globe, solidifying his status as a true ambassador of Indian music and culture.