Rajendra Prasanna

Akademi Award: Hindustani Instrumental Music — Shehnai and Flute Born on 15 April 1957 at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Shri Rajendra Prasanna hails from the renowned Benaras gharana, and received his initial training in music from his grandfather Shri Gauri Shankar and father Shri Raghunath Prasanna. Later, he groomed his passion under the tutelage of Shri Bhola Nath Prasanna and Shri Vishnu Prasanna. Shri Prasanna has been fortunate to receive guidance from Shri Mahadev Prasad Mishra, Shri Hafeez Ahmed Khan, and Shri Sarfraz Hussain Khan of Rampur- Sahaswan gharana.

A top-grade artist of All India Radio, he has performed in many prestigious music festivals in India and abroad. Shri Prasanna has worked with National School of Drama and has composed music for many documentaries and television serials, such as Sanjha Chulha in 1994. He has many recordings to his credit.

For his contribution to Hindustani Instrumental Music — Shehnai and Flute, he has received many titles and awards including the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1995; and the Grammy award certificate in 2004 for his participation in the 'Concert for George' at Royal Albert Hall, London (2002). Shri Rajendra Prasanna has received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2017 for his contribution to Hindustani instrumental music — Shehnai and Flute Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2017...