Indian flautist
Hariprasad Chaurasia (born 1 July 1938) is an Indian
music director and classical flautist, who plays the
bansuri ,
[1] in the
Hindustani classical tradition .
Early life
Chaurasia was born in Allahabad (1938) (present day
Prayagraj ) in the Indian state of
Uttar Pradesh .
[2] 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.
[3]
He has stated,
I was not any good at wrestling. I went there only to please my father. But maybe because of his strength and stamina, I'm able to play the bansuri even to this day.
[4]
— Hariprasad Chaurasiaa
Hariprasad Chaurasiya in concert, accompanied by
Udai Mazumdar of Benares Gharana
Career
Hari Prasad and Rakesh Chaurasia in concert
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.
[2]
[5] 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.
[6] 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.
[7] 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 .
[8] 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 a highly accomplished flautist now, and has been performing globally with such eminent maestros as
Zakir Hussain .
He serves as the artistic director of the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory in the Netherlands[
citation needed ] . 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 .
[9]
He has collaborated with several western musicians, including
John McLaughlin ,
Jan Garbarek , and
Ken Lauber , and has composed music for Indian films.
[10] Chaurasia also played on
The Beatles ' 1968 B-side "
The Inner Light ", which was written by
George Harrison .
[11] 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 .
[12]
Personal life
Chaurasia has married twice, first to Kamala Devi
[13] and then Anuradha Roy.
[3]
[14] 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.
[15] His nephew
Rakesh Chaurasia is also a flutist and carrying forward the family legacy.
[16]
[17]
In popular culture
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.
[18]
[19]
Awards
Sangeet Natak Academy [
citation needed ] - 1984
Konark Samman - 1992
[5]
Padma Bhushan - 1992
[20]
Yash Bharati Samman - 1994
Padma Vibhushan - 2000
[20]
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
[21]
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
[22]
Books
Official Biography 'Breath of Gold' by Sathya Saran- 2019
'Hariprasad Chaurasia: Romance of the Bamboo Reed', by Uma Vasudev - 2005
[23]
Official biography "Woodwinds of Change" by Surjit Singh - 2008
'Hariprasad Chaurasia and the Art of Improvisation', by Henri Tournier
[24]
'Bansuri Samrat : Hariprasad Chaurasia', by Surjit Singh
Discography
These are major albums released by Hariprasad Chaurasia
Pandit ji Performing at Rajarani Music Fest 2015,
Bhubaneswar ,
Odisha
With Ustad
Zakir Hussain (2012)
1967
1978
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
1991
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 - 4am to 7am Raga Bhairava: Integration
[25]
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 7am to 10am Raga Gurjari Todi: Compassion
[25]
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 10am to 1pm Raga Vrindavani Saranga: Greater Energy
[25]
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 1pm to 4pm Raga Multani: Affuence
[25]
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 4pm to 7pm Raga Marwa: Coherence
[25]
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 7pm to 10pm Raga Desh: Joy
[25]
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 10pm to 1am Raga Abhogi: Peaceful Slumber
[25]
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - 1am to 4am Raga Sindhu Bhairavi: Gentleness
[25]
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 Deity Hariprasad Chaurasia
The Greatest Hits of Hariprasad Chaurasia
Salvation - Instrumental Bhajans
Sounds of Silence
2015
Ajanma - Hariprasad Chaurasia (Solo album)
Year unknown
La Flute De Pundit Hariprasad Chaurasia
Hariprasad Chaurasia - The Most Celebrated Flautist of India
Charm of the Bamboo flute
Kalpana - Imagination
A Kaleidoscope of various ragas
Krishna Utsav
Kali - Classical Instrumental
Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - the Living Legend of Flute
Moon Light Moods - Flute Recital
Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - The Living Legend of Flute
Indian Music
HariDhwani
Dancing Water
Fusion India - Passage of India Series
Being Still
Dhammapada - Sacred teaching of Buddha
The Charms Companion
Eternity
Nothing but wind (1988) - Composed by
Ilaiyaraaja
With
Zakir Hussain
Contributing artist
Music for Bollywood films
Along with
Shivkumar Sharma he composed music for
Music for Telugu films
The music for the film
Sirivennela was composed by
K. V. Mahadevan which revolves around the role of Hari Prasad, a blind flautist played by Sarvadaman Banerjee and flute renditions by Chaurasia.[
citation needed ]
Music for English films
Some of his music is used in Mithaq Kazimi's
16 Days in Afghanistan .
References
^
"Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia performs in Hyderabad" .
The Times of India . 26 September 2009. Archived from
the original on 4 November 2012.
^
a
b Datta, Madhumita (2008).
Let's Know Music and Musical Instruments of India . Star Publications. p. 64.
ISBN
978-1905863297 .
^
a
b Kalidas, S (6 July 1998).
"Flamboyant Flautist" . India Today . Archived from
the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2008 .
^ Calamur, Harini (1 July 2015).
"From akhadas to concerts, the journey of flute maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia" . DNA India . Retrieved 25 November 2020 .
^
a
b Kumar, Raj (2003).
Essays on Indian Music . Discovery Publishing House. p. 220.
ISBN
978-8171417193 .
^
"Learning from the master: Corporate lessons from flute maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia" . Firstpost.com . 9 April 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2017 .
^
"Kavita Chhibber" . Kavita Chhibber. Retrieved 30 June 2017 .
^
"Enchantment from Eden valley" .
The Hindu . 6 April 2000. Archived from
the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2018 .
^ Manjari Sinha (22 April 2016).
"Blown away by the master" . The Hindu . Retrieved 28 April 2016 .
^
"I just pick up the flute and feel the urge to play" . archive.is . 30 July 2012. Archived from
the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2018 .
^ Ray Chowdhury, Tathagata (26 January 2015).
"Bansuri innovator ignored in city" . The Times of India . Retrieved 27 January 2015 .
^
"The Beatles Bible - Recording: Wonderwall Music by George Harrison" . The Beatles Bible . 10 January 1968. Retrieved 5 September 2020 .
^
"Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia's first wife, sons left out of biopic" . The Times of India . 14 April 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2016 .
^
"Teaching the wind to sing: Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia on blowing life into a reed" . The Indian Express . 1 October 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2020 .
^
"A step forward in promotion of classical music" .
The Hindu . 22 March 2010. Archived from
the original on 31 March 2010.
^
"Striking the right note" .
The Hindu . 3 April 2003. Archived from
the original on 4 July 2003. Retrieved 19 November 2019 .
^
"Tuneful tips: Rakesh Chaurasia" .
The Hindu . 17 August 2004. Archived from
the original on 29 August 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2019 .
^ Pau, Debjani (14 January 2013).
"Real story of flute maestro now captured in reel" .
Indian Express . Retrieved 20 January 2013 .
^
"Weaving melody with the divine flute" . The New Indian Express . 15 January 2013. Archived from
the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2013 .
^
a
b
"Padma Awards" (PDF) . Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015 .
^ Satapathy, Rajaram (10 October 2009).
"Hariprasad Chaurasia gets Akshaya Samman" .
The Times of India . Archived from
the original on 12 February 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2014 .
^
"सूरब्रह्माचा उपासक" . Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). 22 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022 .
^ Hariprasad Chaurasia, romance of the bamboo reed : a biography .
OCLC
62733072 .
ISBN
8-1829-0042-5 ,
978-8-1829-0042-4
^
"Hariprasad Chaurasia & the Art of Improvisation by Hariprasad Chausaria, Henri Tournierc" . Amazon.co.uk . 6 December 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2016 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
"Bansuri - Hari Prasad Chaurasia (vol 9)" . Mumpress.com . Retrieved 15 January 2016 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
"Bansuri - Hari Prasad Chaurasia (vol 16)" . Mumpress.com . Retrieved 15 January 2016 .
External links
Arts Civil service Literature and education Medicine Other Public affairs Science and engineering Social work Sports Trade and industry
1954–1960 1961–1980 1981–2000 2001–2021 2022–2023
International National Artists Other