Pandit Manilal Nag (born 16 August 1939) is an Indian classical

sitar The sitar ( or ; ) is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical music. The instrument was invented in the 18th century, and arrived at its present form in 19th-century India. Khusrau K ...

player and an exponent of the

Bishnupur gharana The Bishnupur gharana (alternatively spelt Vishnupur gharana) is a form of singing that follows the dhrupad tradition of Hindustani music, one of the two forms of Indian classical music. History The gharana originated in Bishnupur, West Ben ...

of Bengal. He was given the

Padma Shri The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...

Award, the fourth highest civilian award in India in 2020.

Training and career

Nag was born in

Bankura Bankura () is a city and a municipality in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Bankura district. Etymology It comes from the old Austric word ráŕhá or ráŕho which means “land of red soil”.P.R. Sarkar Rarh - ...

, and learned to play sitar from his father, Gokul Nag. He made his first public appearance in the All India Music Conference of 1953, accompanied by

Samta Prasad Samta Prasad (Hindi : पण्डित सामता प्रसाद; 20 July 1921 – 31 May 1994) was an Indian classical musician and tabla player from the Benares gharana. He played tabla in many Hindi films including, ''Meri Sur ...

tabla A ''tabla'' is a pair of hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. Since the 18th century, it has been the principal percussion instrument in Hindustani classical music, where it may be played solo, as an accompaniment with other instruments a ...

. He has performed many times in the National Programme of Music and Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan since 1954. He was invited to the United States and European Countries through the I.C.C.R (Government of India) in 1973. In 1979 he was also invited to Australia by the Government Of India as a delegate for participation in the Indian Ocean Art Festival, to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Government of Australia. Nag was attached to the Instrumental Music Division of the

ITC Sangeet Research Academy ITC Sangeet Research Academy is a Hindustani classical music academy run by the corporate house, ITC Ltd. It is located in Kolkata, India. Noted musicians associated with the academy include Ulhas Kashalkar, Falguni Mitra, Ajoy Chakrabarty, ...

from 2005 to 2011. Manilal Nag's children and students include sixth-generation sitarist , who is also associated with the

Bishnupur Gharana The Bishnupur gharana (alternatively spelt Vishnupur gharana) is a form of singing that follows the dhrupad tradition of Hindustani music, one of the two forms of Indian classical music. History The gharana originated in Bishnupur, West Ben ...

Awards

He received the ''Sangeet Natak Akademy Award'' in 2001 and also the Senior Fellowship Award from India's Ministry of Culture in 2005 and an Honorary Gold Medal from the

Asiatic Society The Asiatic Society is an organisation founded during the Company rule in India to enhance and further the cause of " Oriental research" (in this case, research into India and the surrounding regions). It was founded by the philologist Will ...

, Kolkata, in 2008. The Government of West Bengal awarded him the ''Allauddin Puraskar'' in 2012 and the ''Banga Bibhushan'' in 2015, as well as the Sangeet Mahasamman Award. He has also received the ITC Sangeet Samman, Doverlane Sangeet Samman, Koser Award from Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, Sangeet Ratna Award from Mumbai, and Vitasta Award from New Delhi. He was awarded the

Award, the fourth highest civilian award in 2020.

Discography

* Ragas Jog, Bhairavi (Ray Spiegel, tabla): Raga Records 215 * Raga Lalit (Anand Gopal Bandopadhyay, tabla): Raga Records 213. * Classical Music of North India - Raga Suha Kanada (Mahapurush Misra, tabla): Koch World Music Library KICC 5111; King Records (Japan) K30Y 5101. * Classical Music of North India - Ragas Puriya Dhanashri, Rageshri (Mahapurush Misra, tabla): Koch World Music Library KICC 5112; King Records K30Y 5119. * Ragas Darbari Kanada, Mishra Kafi (Sankha Chatterjee, tabla): Dunya Records fy 8025 (Italy) * Jugalbandi, a shenai and sitar duet. Ali Ahmad Hussein Khan shenai, Subhen Chatterjee tabla. Raga Desh: Rhyme Records RCD 9805 * Sitar & Sehnai - Manilal Nag & Ali Ahmed Hussain shenai, Subhen Chatterjee tabla. Marwa, Abhogi, Anand Kalyan, Purvi dhun Biswas BIS 115 * Harmony Of Strings V G Jog violin, Anand Gopal Bhandopadhyay tabla: Raga Shyam Kalyan, Raga Basant, Raga Bihari. Vista India VIST 114770 * Raga Charukeshi ( Hom Nath Upadhyaya, tabla): Ravi Shankar Music Circle RSMC-18. * Ragas Jogkauns, Saraswati (Sabir Khan, tabla): Gramophone Co. of India STCS 02B 6189. * The Japan Concerts, 1985 - Ragas Puriya Kalyan, Misra Piloo, Khamaj (Mahapurush Misra, tabla): Raga Records 103 * Ragas Of Dawn, 2020 (Samar Saha, Tabla) - Raga Bilashkani Todi, Raga Bhairavi: Aimrec (Baltimore MD, USA)

References

External links

*http://www.kolkatatoday.com/wb-cm-confers-banga-bibhusan-and-banga-bhusan-to-bengal-greats/ *http://www.itcsra.org/aom/artist_ofthe_month.asp?id=132 {{DEFAULTSORT:Nag, Manilal Indian sitar players 1939 births Living people People from Bankura Indian classical musicians of Bengal Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts Musicians from West Bengal Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award