Niladri Kumar is considered the maverick classical musician of India. He is a celebrated ambassador and an Indian Music icon. A fifth generation Sitarist, he is hailed as the most enigmatic and trailblazing musician in India across generations. His contribution to the world of Sitar, Indian Music, Classical and Contemporary is regarded by past and present legends as not just innovative, but deeply rooted in the traditional elements known of Music. Under the guidance and numerous years of training from the age of 4, under his Father and Guru Pandit Kartick Kumar, Niladri has gained an in-depth understanding, technique and unmatchable mastery over the Sitar and developed his own distinct style. His Music is greatly admired and he has earned a large following of ardent listeners across countries.
Being ‘sympathetic to pick up’ new trends, Niladri decided to push the boundaries and go beyond his comfort zone to invent his own instrument – an electric sitar that he coined as the ‘Zitar’.
Hailed as one of the serious exponents of Indian classical music on one hand and reinventing the contemporary modern space on the other, the Zitar culturally redefined the way audiences viewed Indian classical music.
Sound has waves, but his Zitar created ripples. Each endeavor he undertook was molded towards infusing interest and respect for the traditional art forms in the hearts and minds of the younger generation. The Zitar allowed him to express to a much more widespread audience, bridging the ‘age un-gap’ as he calls it – where individuals from all walks of life can tune in and find a place in his music, that they can call their own.
By amalgamating an equipoise between essence & trance sense, going beyond just the string, and striking the right chords of harmony between the golden scientific tradition & ever changing modern music, Niladri emerged as one of the finest and undisputed Sitar & Zitar Masters.
Headlining this music metamorphosis and igniting a new route in the musical scene, he gained admiration for being able to stay true to his roots along with being able to create awareness and make his Indian heritage connect with many at a global scale.