Master Organization Name : TSN’s Percussive Arts Centre
GURU Shri. TS. Nandakumar

T.Shankaranarayan Nandakumar (TS. Nandakumar) was born in Amalapuzha, Kerala, India. He is the son of Sri. Balakrishna Panicker and Smt. Saraswathi Ammal. He comes from the family of the well-known Nadaswaram duo, the Ambalapuzha Brothers. He learn mridangam under the guidance of his Guru. Sri Kaithavana Madhavadas.

He gained reputation by accompanying most of the leading senior artists such as Semmangudi Srivasa Iyer, M.D. Ramanathan, S.Ramanathan, R.K. Srikantan, V. Dakshinamoorhty, Bhimsen Joshi, M. Balamuralikrishna, T.N. Krishnan, L.Subramaniam, N. Ramani, K.J. Yesudas, N. Rajam, T.K. Govinda Rao, Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, T.V. Gopalakrishnan and several others.

Shri. R K Laxman_and Shri. TS Nandakumar

Shri. TSN as he is affectionately called, is a passionate teacher and has hundreds of students all over the world. He run TSN’s Percussive Arts Centre/TSN Academy, which is composed of talented student across the world. He trains his students in many instruments such as Mridangam, Konnakol, Thavil, Ghatam, Kanjira, and Morsing. He conducts numerous ensembles and chamber concerts creating opportunities for this students to showcase their talents. He has released multiple albums his innovative percussion album “Jewels of Rhythm,” has a unique rendition of LAYA VINYASAM by this disciples.

As a distinguished artist, he has performed at Lamar University of Houston, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and leads many Percussion Ensemble in India, Switzerland and USA. He was honored Bharat Ratna M.S. Subbulakshmi Best Teacher Award from Shunmukhanda Fine Arts, Mumbai and Best Teacher Award from Cleveland Thyagaraja Group.

He was bestowed with Lifetime Achievement Award from Shanti Foundation Chennai and also received NAMAM excellence award in 2018.

Titles, Awards and Honours

  • Shri. Nandakumar is honored by the Cleveland Thyagaraja group with the ‘Best Teacher Award’ from Nirupama Rao, Indian Ambassador to the United States
  • Title – SwaraSadhana Ratna
  • Title – Gurushikhamani
  • Title – Sruthilaya Sudhakara
  • Life Time Achievement Award by Shanti Foundation, Chennai
    Cleveland Thygaraja Aradhana Committee awarded him as the Best Teacher Award at Ohio, United States
    Bharat Ratna Dr. M. S. Subbulakshmi Best Teacher Award (Bharat Ratna Dr. M. S. Subbulakshmi Sangeetha Pracharya Award)
  • Excellence Award by Namam Inc from New Jersey Senate at New Jersey, United States
  • Visionary Award by Academy of Indian Music, USA
    Naadabrahmam by Chembur Fine Arts, Mumbai – India
    Awarded from Soorya Dance Festival
  • Honoured by Shanmukhananda Fine Arts & Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai
  • Honoured by Padam, Mumbai
  • Honoured by Music Triangle, Mumbai
  • Honoured by Naadalaya, Mumbai
  • Honoured by Swara Sadhana Samithi, Mumbai
  • Honoured by Mudra, Chennai
  • Honoured by TVG Academy, Chennai

Creations & Accompaniments

  • Jewels Of Rhythm Vol 1
  • Jewels Of Rhythm Vol 2
  • Jewels Of Rhythm Vol 3
  • Vibrative Rhythms
  • Vibrative Rhythms 2
  • Sruti Sandhya (with T N Krishnan)
  • Sruti Sandhya 2 (with T N Krishnan)
  • Vibrations (with A. Kanyakumari)
  • South Indian Percussion
  • Mridangam Solo
  • Demonstration on Talas and Rhythms
  • Konnakol
  • Cascades Of Rhythm
  • Classical Treat by Nedunuri Krishnamurthy (with Nedunuri Krishnamurthy)
  • Jugalbandi Duet Series (with Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Dr. Balamuralikrishna)
  • A Duet On Strings (with T N Krishnan and Dr. N Rajam)
  • Classical Instrumental Moods (with Narayan Mani)
    Matunga Sisters
  • Swati Tirunal Kritis (with Radha Warrier)
  • Divine Expressions (with Narayan Mani)
  • Surabhi (with Mangalam Muthuswamy)