Hariprasad Chaurasia

Hariprasad Chaurasia (born 1 July 1938) is an Indian music director and classical flautist, who plays the bansuri, in the Hindustani classical tradition. Chaurasia was born in Allahabad (1938) (present day Prayagraj) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. His mother died when he was six years old. He had to learn music without his father's knowledge, as his father wanted him to become a wrestler. Chaurasia did go to the Akhada and trained with his father for some time, although he also started learning music and practising at his friend's house. He has stated, I was not any good at wrestling. I went there only to please my father. But maybe because of the strength and stamina I built up then, I'm able to play the bansuri even to this day. — Hariprasad Chaurasiaa Chaurasia started learning vocal music from his neighbour, Rajaram, at the age of 15. Later, he switched to playing the flute under the tutelage of Bholanath Prasanna of Varanasi for eight years. He joined the All India Radio, Cuttack, Odisha in 1957 and worked as a composer and performer. Much later, while working for All India Radio, he received guidance from the reclusive Annapurna Devi, daughter of Baba Allaudin Khan. She only agreed to teach him if he was willing to unlearn all that he had learnt until then. Another version is that she only agreed to teach him after he took the decision to switch from right-handed to left-handed playing to show her his commitment. In any case Chaurasia plays left-handed to this day. Apart from classical music, Hariprasad has collaborated with Shivkumar Sharma, forming a group called Shiv-Hari. The pair composed music for many popular movies, including Silsila and Chandni, and created some highly popular songs. Chaurasia also collaborated with Bhubaneswar Mishra, forming the pair "Bhuban-Hari" (in line with Shiv-Hari), and the pair composed music for many Odia movies, creating numerous songs that were hugely popular in the state. These include Muje janena kaha baata (sung by Suman Kalyanpur; movie: Gapa helebi Sata); and all songs from Maa o Mamata, and many more. Chaurasia's nephew and pupil Rakesh Chaurasia is also a flautist, and has been performing with artists such as Zakir Hussain. He serves as the artistic director of the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory in the Netherlands. He was also the founder of the Vrindavan Gurukul in Mumbai (opened 2006) and Vrindavan Gurukul in Bhubaneshwar (opened 2010). Both of these institutes are schools dedicated to training students in bansuri in the Guru-shishya tradition. He has collaborated with several western musicians, including John McLaughlin, Jan Garbarek, and Ken Lauber, and has composed music for Indian films. Chaurasia also played on The Beatles' 1968 B-side "The Inner Light", which was written by George Harrison. He also played with George Harrison on his first solo release, Wonderwall Music, and with Harrison, Ravi Shankar and others on the Dark Horse Records release Shankar Family & Friends. Chaurasia has married twice, first to Kamala Devi and then Anuradha Roy. He has three sons. With first wife Kamala Devi he has two sons, Vinay and Ajay. With Anuradha, Chaurasia has a son named Rajeev. Chaurasia has five granddaughters and a grandson. His nephew Rakesh Chaurasia is also a flautist and carrying forward the family legacy. The 2013 documentary film Bansuri Guru features the life and legacy of Chaurasia and was directed by the musician's son Rajeev Chaurasia and produced by the Films Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. Sangeet Natak Academy - 1984 Konark Samman - 1992 Padma Bhushan - 1992 Yash Bharati Samman - 1994 Padma Vibhushan - 2000 Pandit Chatur Lal Excellence Award - 2015 Hafiz Ali Khan Award - 2000 Dinanath Mangeshkar Award - 2000 Pune Pandit Award - 2008, by The Art & Music Foundation, Pune, India Akshaya Samman - 2009 Honorary Doctorate, North Orissa University - 2008 Honorary Doctorate, Utkal University - 2011 National Eminence award, NADA VIDYA BHARTI by Visakha Music and Dance Academy, Vizag - 2009 The 25 Greatest Global Living Legends In India by NDTV - 2013 Gansamradni Lata Mangeshkar Award - 2021-22 Lokmat Sur Jyotsna National Music Award 2023 Legend Award for his contribution to Indian music Official Biography 'Breath of Gold' by Sathya Saran- 2019 'Hariprasad Chaurasia: Romance of the Bamboo Reed', by Uma Vasudev - 2005 Official biography "Woodwinds of Change" by Surjit Singh - 2008 'Hariprasad Chaurasia and the Art of Improvisation', by Henri Tournier 'Bansuri Samrat : Hariprasad Chaurasia', by Surjit Singh These are major albums released by Hariprasad Chaurasia 1967 Call of the Valley with Shivkumar Sharma and Brij Bhushan Kabra 1978 Krishnadhwani 60 1981 Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - Flute 1984 Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - Flute (different set of ragas, same album name) 1987 Morning to Midnight Ragas - Morning Ragas 1988 Nothing But Wind - Composed by the renowned musician "Isaignani" Ilaiyaraaja Call of the Valley 1989 Venu Live in Ahmedabad '89 1990 Immortal Series 1991 Megh Malhar 1992 Night Ragas Live in Amsterdam '92 Morning to Midnight Ragas - Afternoon Ragas All time Favourites Live from Sawai Gandharva Music Festival - Video (VHS) Raga-s DU Nord Et Du Sud Immortal Series - Flute Fantasia 1993 Indian Classical Masters Daylight Ragas Flute - Hariprasad Chaurasia Soundscapes - Music of the Rivers - Hari Prasad Chaurasia 1994 Thumri - The Music of Love In A Mellow Mood Possession Immortal Series - Devine Drupad Classic Greats1 - Ideas on Flute 1995 In Live Concert Cascades of Hindustani Music Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 4 am to 7 am Raga Bhairava: Integration Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 7 am to 10 am Raga Gurjari Todi: Compassion Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 10 am to 1 pm Raga Vrindavani Saranga: Greater Energy Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 1 pm to 4 pm Raga Multani: Affuence Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 4 pm to 7 pm Raga Marwa: Coherence Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 7 pm to 10 pm Raga Desh: Joy Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 10 pm to 1 am Raga Abhogi: Peaceful Slumber Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 1 am to 4 am Raga Sindhu Bhairavi: Gentleness Hariprasad Chaurasia - Flute Malhar-Chandrika Music 157 - Live in London Music - Flute Great Jugalbandis Music from the world of OSHO - Above & Beyond Prem Yog Written on the Wind Romantic Themes Saptarishi - Live at Siri Fort The Mystical Flute of Hari Prasad Chaurasia Maestro's Choice Basant Bahar Chaurasia's Choice 1996 Hari Prasad Chaurasia & his Divine Flute Flute Recital Valley Recalls - In search of Peace, Love and Harmony Krishna's Flute - Master of the Bansuri Classical Encounters - A live Experience with Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia Fabulous Flute Pundit Hari Prasad Chaurasia In Concert - Vancouver, B.C Hariprasad Chaurasia - Flute The Bamboo Flautist of His Generation Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - Nada in Jerusalem 1997 Classical Encounters - A Live Experience with Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia Great Jugalbandis The Golden Collection (Classical) Immortal Essence Golden Raga Collection Bustan Abraham - Fanar (Guest appearance alongside Zakir Hussain) 1998 Samarpan-VCD Special 60th Birthday Edition The Charms Companion Morning to Midnight - Morning to Dusk Music for Reiki 1999 Jugalbandi Rasdhaara Live Inside Khajuraho Live in New Delhi - '89 Golden Raga Collection Musical Titans of India - Jugalbandhi Video (VHS) Pure Joy - Positive Energy Music 2000 Music without Boundaries Maaya - Far East Hriday - Cuba Caravan Spain Live Concert at Savai Gandharva Music Festival Gurukul - The Guru shishya Parampara 2001 Adi-Ananth Love Divine - Parables of Passion Power & Grace - Live at the Saptak Festival 2001 Discovery of Indian Classical Music Flute Duet 2003 Flute