“We all Carnatic music admirers are proud of this moment,” noted a congratulatory message shared following the announcement of T. S. Nandakumar’s Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
Renowned mridangam exponent T. S. Nandakumar has been conferred the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, one of India’s highest recognitions in the field of performing arts. The award was announced by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in a press release issued on June 10, 2026.
The honour, presented under the auspices of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, recognizes Nandakumar’s decades-long contribution to Carnatic percussion, music education, and the global promotion of Indian classical arts.
Widely known as “TSN” in musical circles, Nandakumar is regarded as one of the leading ambassadors of Carnatic percussion outside India. Over the course of his career, he has performed alongside some of the most celebrated names in Indian classical music, including K. J. Yesudas, M. Balamuralikrishna, Bhimsen Joshi and T. N. Krishnan.
Nandakumar’s influence extends beyond the concert stage. Through the establishment of TSN’s Percussive Arts Centre (TSNPAC), he has trained generations of students in mridangam and other Carnatic percussion instruments, helping spread Indian classical music traditions across the United States and other parts of the world.
Reflecting his lifelong commitment to music education, Nandakumar has often described music as a universal force that transcends borders.
“Music is like a horizon which is never ending and has no boundaries,” he has said.
Born in Ambalappuzha, Kerala, Nandakumar developed a passion for percussion at an early age and went on to become one of the most respected practitioners of Carnatic rhythm traditions. His work has included performances, workshops, lectures, publications, and educational initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting India’s rich musical heritage.
In recent years, he also authored Intricacies of Mridangam, a comprehensive guide to the techniques and concepts of the ancient South Indian percussion instrument, further contributing to the documentation and teaching of Carnatic music.
Nandakumar received the honour in the Carnatic Instrumental Music (Mridangam) category, recognizing his contributions as a performer, teacher, author, and global promoter of Carnatic percussion traditions.
With this honour, Nandakumar joins an illustrious lineage of mridangam legends who have received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, including Palghat Mani Iyer, Palghat R. Raghu, Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, Guruvayur Dorai, Karaikudi Mani and Trichy Sankaran, all of whom have played significant roles in shaping the evolution of Carnatic percussion.
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award carries a purse, citation, and ceremonial plaque and is traditionally presented by the President of India at a special investiture ceremony organized by the Akademi in New Delhi. The date of the presentation ceremony is expected to be announced separately.
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award is regarded as one of the highest national honours for practising artists in India. Nandakumar’s recognition is being celebrated by musicians, students, and Carnatic music enthusiasts worldwide as a tribute to a lifetime dedicated to artistic excellence and cultural preservation.
