Biography
Vidwan Mysore A Chandan Kumar
Chandan Kumar started his musical journey from his childhood with music in his genes. Contrary to everyone’s expectation he showed a natural inclination and fascination with Flute while appreciating the resonance of violin. With his impeccable technique, soul-stirring melodies, and deep understanding of the nuances of Carnatic music, Chandan has been enthralling the audiences ranging from novice to music aficionados alike.
Besides music Chandan Kumar also holds master’s degree in commerce (MCom) from the University of Mysore.
Early years
Chandan was mesmerized by the wind instrument when he heard his father’s friend playing the flute during a visit. He developed a fervor to the flute and was drawn to its melodious and enchanting sounds. Encouraged and supported by his father Shri Anand Kumar he began his rendezvous with Flute and musical voyage.
Gurus
Chandan started his initial learning from Smt. Padma Ramachandra. Later he started his formal lessons under Guru Sri M Gopalakrishna of Mysore. Starting with the basics, his mentor took him through the paces in a manner that gave the budding musician full freedom to think, explore and assert his creativity. Till date Chandan pursues his tutelage under Shri Gopalakrishnan.
Chandan also underwent training under Music Maestro and the Inimitable Guru Padma Bhushan Dr. T V Gopalakrishnan and continues to seek his guidance.
Chandan’s musical journey began with rigorous training under the guidance of Padma Bhushan Sri P.S. Narayanaswamy of Chennai. For nearly 16 he honed his flute playing under this “Dronacharya” and imbibed the intricacies of the Carnatic music tradition and developed a distinctive Gayaki style that imitates singing. His fine-tuning under the illustrious Guru P S Narayanaswamy, proclaims his stature as a frontrunner among contemporary Carnatic flautists.
The main characteristics of Chandan’s style incorporates powerful blow, soul-stirring melody and refreshing creativity all resting on rigour. Chandan is also known for his extensive repertoire, profound musicality and commendable grip over the rhythmical aspect. His soulful renditions and the ability to bring out the depth of raga through his poignant playing captivates the audience.
Musical Journey
Chandan Kumar is a top-ranking artiste of All India Radio and Doordarshan. His innovative mind is in constant quest for new horizons and newer expositions. Each of his concerts has been aptly earned him the epithet as “a singing flutist”. When he develops any musical composition(vaggeyakriti) a discerning listener can ‘hear’ the text syllable by syllable -a true gayaki style.
What makes his rendering versatile is his technical skill to knit himself in Jugalbandhi concerts with prominent Hindustani artistes as well as leading in prestigious percussion ensembles.
Performances
Chandan has performed in many esteemed forums and platforms both in India as well as overseas. Prominent among them include:
- BBC Radio Broadcast – “Darbar” festival concert, London (2006)
- Radio Munich, Germany (2009)
- Radio Lithuania (2014)
- Chandan was invited by several American Universities for performing and interactions during his US tour (2024) which included:
- Mary Washington University (Virginia), Lock Haven University (Pennsylvania), Johns Hopkins University (Maryland), University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia), and the University of Ohio (Ohio)
- Carnegie Hall, New York City. (2023)-A fund raiser for Covid 19 & September 11 warriors curated by Sri Ganapathy Sachidananda Swamiji. He had the privilege to accompany Sri Swamiji alongside Violin Maestro Padma Vibhushan Sri L Subramaniam.
- A special concert “Music for Meditation & Healing” alongside of Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachidananda Swamiji at world renowned The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee.
- Also performed at the spectacular Guru Purnima concert at the “Arena Stadium” to a jampacked crowd and received overwhelming appreciation.
- South Indian Music Academy (Los Angeles)
- Nadabrahma (Germany, Switzerland and Luxemburg)
- The Civic Centre of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
Media Channels
Among the prominent and popular TV Channels of south India including Doordarshan which have broadcast Chandan’s concerts include- DD Podhigai, Jaya TV, Kalaignar TV, Asianet, Amrutha TV, Bhakthi Channel, MAA TV, Zee Kannada, SVBC-TTD Channel, ETV, TV9, Kairali and others.
As an empaneled artiste of SPIC MACAY, regularly performs at the premier Institutions and Indian Universities to educate and popularize Indian classical music exclusively among Youth. He has performed in several IITs as part of SPIC MACAY: IIT Kanpur, IIT Roorkee, IIT Patna, IIT Hyderabad and IIT Madaras.
Among other Institutions where he has performed:
- IIM Bangalore for its Golden Jubilee Celebrations
- CSIR-IHBT Institute of Himalayan Bio Resources Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh
- Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) Mohali
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc)- Bangalore
- Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belgaum, Karnataka
Major location where he has performed within India:
- The Music Academy (Madras)
- Sangeet Natak Academy (New Delhi)
- The Darbar Hall (Mysore Palace)
- Kerala Kalamandalam
- Sruthilaya Centre (Hyderabad)
- Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan (Kolkata),
- Sri Krishna Gana Sabha (Chennai),
- Rasika Ranjani Sabha (Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu)
- Sri Thyagarajaswamy Samadhi (Tiruvaiyyaru, Tamil Nadu)
- The Department of Culture (Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad)
- Bhaktha Rasika Ranjani Sabha (Mumbai),
- Shanmukhananda Sabha (Mumbai),
- Nadabrahmam-The India Habitat Centre (New Delhi),
- Sri Swathi Tirunal Sangeetha Sabha (Trivandrum, Kerala)
- The Bangalore Gayana Samaj
- Karnataka Ganakala Parishat (Bangalore),
- Udupi Sri Krishna Temple for Krishna Janmastami,
- 333rd Aradhana of Sri Raghavendra Swamigalu, Mantralayam
- Sri Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple Festival
- Chembai Sangeetholsavam, Guruvayur
- 60th Birthday Celebrations of His Holiness Sri Sri Bharathi Theerta Swamiji at Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetam
- Bani Chakra Musical Extravaganza, Kolkata
- Sri Chidambaram Nataraja Temple for Shivarathri
- Sri Lakshminaraya Global Festival conducted by Padma Vibhushan Sri L. Subramaniam
- Aravindan Film Festival, Trivandrum, Kerala
- Sangeet Natak Academy Concert at Madurai marking the celebrations Smt. M S Subbalakshmi’s Birth Centenary Celebrations
- Performed at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 @Prayagraj
Travel Overseas
Chandan has toured the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, the UAE, Mexico, Malaysia, Central Europe including Germany, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Poland, Lithuania and others. His Malaysia tour along with Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji focused on a thematic concert “Music for Healing and Meditation” held at the prestigious Civic Centre of Kuala Lumpur (2001).
Chandan had the unique honor of being the first Carnatic musician to perform conventional Carnatic concert at the Darbar South Asian Arts Festival held at London in 2006 along with stalwarts like Begum Parveen Sultana and Sri Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.
Associations
Chandan Kumar is an empanelled artiste of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), and Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Arts Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY), New Delhi. He had the privilege of being invited by the ICCR to perform at the 39thCervantino International Arts Festival held at the prominent venues in Mexico
Knowledge Sharing
Apart from his hectic concert and performance schedules, Chandan has also dedicated himself to impart his musical repertoire to numerous young aspirants. Many of his disciples are into are full-fledged concert players and a few are in the making. Some of his disciples are in turn imparting their learning to the next generation.
Discography
Chandan’s Flute Albums have been released by many Companies. To mention a few:
- CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2005: A live concert recording on the auspicious day of Sri Krishma Janmashtami, released by Sri Krishna Temple, Udupi. 2 sets of audio and video DVDs
- NADASANGAMITHRA: A unique combination of Flute-Sitar-Mridangam and Ghatam featuring Sri Chandan, Pandit Rahul Chatterji, Vidwan Calcutta V Sekhar and Vidwan Chennai V. Suresh respectively. This Jugalbandhi album was released by Cosmic India Private Limited.
- HERITAGE: A Solo Flute album featuring Sri. Chandan was released as a tribute to Chandan’s Spiritual inspiration Violin Virtuoso Sri Piteelu Chowdaiah.
- SIMA: The South Indian Music Academy of Los Angeles has released an entire live concert recording of Sri Chandan Kumar in 3 sets (2009).
Awards & Accolades
- KANCHI KAMAKOTI ASTHANA VIDWAN AWARD-2013
- USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN YUVA PURASKAR-2009
- Conferred by the Central Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi Chandan Kumar was the first Flautist to receive this prestigious national award.
- “GANAKALASHREE” – 2018
- By Karnataka Gana Kala Parishad, awarded to the President of the Young Musicians’ Conference
- YUVA KALA BHARATHI-2003
- By Bharat Kalachar, Chennai
- ANANYA YUVA PURASKAR-2005
- Given by GML Ananya Trust, Bangalore
- SARTHAKA SEVA BHUSHANA
- Conferred by Bharathiya Samskara Vedike- 2014
- PRAPANCHA AWARD
- Bestowed by veteran flautist Vid Sri B Shankara Rao
- MAHALINGAM PADMANABHAN AWARD-2009
- By Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai during its annual December Music-Dance and Drama Festival
Media
India’s leading publications including newspapers and magazines have all featured Vid Chandan Kumar’s interactions and concert reviews positively