Akshay Anantapadmanabhan is an carnatic

mridangam The ''mridangam'' is an ancient percussion instrument originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Carnatic music ensemble. In Dhrupad, a modified version, the pakhawaj, is the primary percussion in ...

artist, composer and multi-percussionist.

Musical career

In unique demonstrations of South Indian percussion, he has collaborated with rock, Latin jazz, American jazz, Hindustani, and jazz performers. He is an A-Grade artist of

All India Radio All India Radio (AIR), also known as Akashvani (), is India's state-owned public broadcasting, public radio broadcaster. Founded in 1936, it operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broa ...

, Chennai and a key component of the popular Indian Classical fusion groups "Carnatic 2.0 Reloaded" and "The Thayir Sadam Project." In his most recent solo project, "Re-imagining Indian Rhythms," Akshay explores the frontiers of Indian rhythms by fusing digital loopers and interactive graphics with traditional instruments like the mridangam,

kanjira The kanjira, khanjira, khanjiri or ganjira, a South Indian frame drum, is an instrument of the tambourine family. As a folk and bhajan instrument, it has been used in the Indian subcontinent for many centuries. The Kanjira's emergence in Sout ...

konnakol Konnakol (also spelled Konokol, Konakkol, Konnakkol) ( koṉṉakkōl) () is the art of performing percussion syllables vocally in South Indian Carnatic music. Konnakol is the spoken component of solkattu, which refers to a combination of konnako ...

, and

bharathanatyam ''Bharatanatyam'' is a Indian classical dance form that came from Tamil Nadu, India. It is a classical dance form recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas of Hinduism and Jainism. ...

. He has given master lectures at NYUAD (Abu Dhabi), NYU, and CUNY (New York) on an introduction to Konnakol and Indian rhythm.

Discography

*"Mylapore-Rap" In 2010, Akshay created a contemporary music video using ‘Konnakol’ (Indian vocal percussion) and re-contextualizing it as a hip-hop/rap genre. *"Konnakol Playhouse" He worked with over 1000 kids across Bangalore, India to create a contemporary music video in 2010. *"His Father's Voice" He performed mridangam in several tracks, including a solo track ‘Weapons of Love,’ for this feature film premiered in Hollywood in 2019. *"Re-Imagining Indian Rhythms" In this avant-garde solo production, He focuses on the ideas of Indian rhythm that can be connected to ideas of Indian culture.

Awards

Ustad Bismillah khan yuva puraskar Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar is an annual Indian award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi to outstanding artists under 40 who have demonstrated talent in the fields of music, dance and drama. The award is intended to provide national rec ...

2023 from the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anantapadmanabhan, Akshay Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Mridangam players Indian musicians