Born into a family of small businessman in Allahabad on 1st July,1938, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia began his musical journey at the age of 15 learning classical vocal technique from Pandit Raja Ram and Pandit Visambharnath of Allahabad. However, it was the flute recital by Pandit Bholanath at a concert in Varanasi that inspired him to switch to the flute. Pandit Bholanath also because his tutor and mentor for the next 8 years.
Another significant mentor was Smt. Annapurna Devi, daughter of the late Ustad Allaudin Khan, an accompanished Sarod player. It is to be noted that Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia has adopted the Sitar-Sarod style of playing with an alap, jor and jhala. His musical training became more complete under her guidance and he soon embarked on a performing career.
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia made his concert debut at Allahabad at the age of17, when he was given an unexpected opportunity to perform a flute solo. He electrified the audience with a stunning performance. After that there was no looking back and by the mid-70s he had emerged as the foremost exponent of the flute.
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia is not just popular. He has managed to overcome the technical limitations imposed by the very nature of the instrument by his masterly breath-control to expanding the expressive possibilities of the flute.
Awards and Honours have flowed to Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia from his early years, from the Sangeet Natak Academy, National Award and Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar Award to the Padma Bhushan. He has also contributed to folk and popular music. He along with Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma have also composed the music for the film ‘Silsila’ and ‘Lamhe’.
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