Rajendra Prasanna Biography 
Rajendra Prasanna is an Indian flautist and Shehnai player from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. He belongs to a renowned family of musicians from Varanasi who have traditionally played the shehnai for many generations. His father Pandit Raghunath Prasanna was a leading classical shehnai and flute player who lived in the 20th century. His uncles - Bholanath Prasanna and Vishnu Prasanna, and brothers - Ravi Shankar Prasanna and Rakesh Prasanna are also well known musicians who play flute, and known for their musical concerts. His sons, Rishab Prasanna and Rajesh Prasanna are following his legacy, and currently top flautists belonging to Banaras gharana of Hindustani music. The brothers perform together and are also known for their solo performances.
Rajendra Prasanna hails from a musical family of Varanasi, whose family has been associated with classical music for many generations. He was born 15 April 1956 in UP. His family moved to Delhi in the 1970s, during his teens, where they got settled. Both his sons were born at Delhi. Prasanna received training from his father, uncle and also from renowned musician Hafeez Ahmed Khan. He later took lessons in Hindustani vocals from Mahadev Mishra of Benares Gharana.
As a performer he has also performed in some of the leading musical festivals of the country and abroad. He has collaborated with several Indian and international artists for live shows and musical albums. He is a Top Grade Artist of All India Radio, who received Grammy Award certificate for his participation in "Concert for George" in 2004. In 2017 Government of India honoured him with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Hindustani Instrumental for Shehnai. He also received Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1995.
Published: October 30, 2018
Updated: October 30, 2018
