K. Arun Prakash

Mridangam Vidvan K. Arun Prakash
Born	(1968-05-03) May 3, 1968 (age 57) Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	University of Madras
Known for	Mridangam Carnatic Music
Style	Embellishing and Highlighting the music

K. Arun Prakash (born May 3, 1968) is an Indian Carnatic musician, percussionist, and composer, specializing in the mridangam. ^[1]

Early life

K. Arun Prakash was born in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India, to Vasantha Krishnan and music composer L. Krishnan. ^{[2] [3]} His father, L. Krishnan, was a composer, arranger and disciple of musician and singer G. N. Balasubramaniam. ^[4] Prakash began learning the mridangam at the age of nine under the tutelage of maestro Ramanathapuram M. N. Kandaswamy Pillai. He began performing in concerts by the age of 11. ^{[5] [1] [6]}

Career

Prakash has participated in jugalbandi (duets between two solo performers) and collaborative performances with both Hindustani and Western musicians, organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Sampradaya, Chennai. ^[6]

Critics and interviewers have noted his use of silence and dynamic contrast in his performances. ^{[6] [1]}

He composed the theme music for the YACM Millennium Show, held at The Music Academy of Chennai, on December 31, 1999. In addition to accompanying leading Carnatic vocalists, he has contributed to numerous devotional recordings. Prakash has toured extensively, performing in the United States, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Middle East. ^[7]

Awards

• 1984 – First prize from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha during their Gokulashtami Series
• 1994 – Vishwapriya Award for Excellence
• 1996 – Yuva Kala Bharathi from Bharat Kalachar, Chennai
• 2000 – Kalki Memorial Award from Kalki Krishnamurthy Trust (first percussionist to receive this award) ^[8]
• 1994, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2013 – Best Mridangist awards from The Music Academy, Chennai
• 2012 – Vani Kala Nipuna award from Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha (Vani Mahal)

Works

• Arun Prakash has composed Tillanas (rhythmic compositions) and numerous Pallavis (thematic musical lines used in improvisation) performed by many prominent musicians.
• He conducted "AIKYA 2017" with Sudha Ragunathan and Aruna Sairam, designing, composing, and performing the performance with a 21-member orchestra. ^[9]
• He released a CD titled "Sri Rama Jayarama", featuring compositions on Lord Rama by various composers, performed by 13 artists. Arun Prakash composed the musical interludes and oversaw the orchestration and arrangement. ^[10]

References

1. Nair, Malini (13 March 2025). "With silence as his ally, mridangam stalwart K Arun Prakash is rewriting the rules of drumming". Scroll.in. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
2. "Arun Prakash: More than an accompanist". The Hindu. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
3. "K Arun Prakash – Music & Moorings". 8 December 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
4. "K. Arun Prakash - Movies, Biography, News, Age & Photos". BookMyShow. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
5. "bio data". k. ARUNPRAKASH THE MRIDANGIST. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
6. Kumar, G Pramad (30 January 2023). "The K Arun Prakash Interview: 'My style is to highlight the composition and the singer, silence automatically happens'". The Indian Express. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
7. "bio data". k. ARUNPRAKASH THE MRIDANGIST. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
8. Barathi (24 September 2000). "Rasiga Ullangal". Kalki Tamil Magazine. 2000: 12–15.
9. Krishnan, Lalithaa (19 July 2018). "Musical, themed on Rama". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
10. Krishnan, Lalithaa (20 July 2018). "Creativity at a different level". The Hindu.

External links

• Arun Prakash: More than an accompanist by T.M. Krishna
• K Arun Prakash: Purveyor of Nadamrta by Sruti Magazine
• K. Arun Prakash on Apple Music