Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia

Internationally renowned flutist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia is the most well-known flutist in the country today. Born in Allahabad on July 1, 1938, Chaurasia had a dfficult childhood as his mother passed away when he was just four. His father was a wrestler who wanted Haipprasad to become a wrestler too. Hariprasad was fascinated by music and started learning it in secret, though he underwent training on the wrestling arena too to please his father. He started learning vocal music under the tutelage of his neighbour Pt. Rajaram. He shifted to playing the flute under Pt. Bholanath of Varanasi.

Hariprasad Chaurasia has performed across India and in various corners of the globe. He teamed up with another famous classical musician Pt. Shivkumar Sharma to form a group called Shiv-Hari and has given the music for several Hindi movies. He has performed in collaboration with several prominent musicians around the world including the likes of John McLaughlin and Jan Gabarek.

Among the many awards he has won, mention may be made of the Sangeet Natak Academy award in 1984, the Konarak Samman in 1992, the Padma Bhushan in 1992, the Yash Bharati Sanman in 1994 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2000. Some of the major albums released by Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia include the Krishnadhwani 60, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - Flute, Morning to Midnight Ragas, Call of the Valley, Venu, Live in Ahmedabad '89 , Immortal Series, Megh Malhar , Night Ragas, Live in Amsterdam '92 , All time Favorites , Live from Sawai Gandharva Music Festival etc.