Pandit Niladri Kumar is an Indian sitar player and music composer. Early life He was born to sitar player Kartick Kumar, a disciple of Ravi Shankar. He started learning sitar under his father at the age of four. Kumar gave his first public performance at the age of six at Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry. Career He was a part of the Masters of the Percussion tour alongside Zakir Hussain. Kumar has also worked with Jonas Hellborg and V. Selvaganesh on their album Kali's Son and with John McLaughlin on album Floating Point. Kumar has also worked with various music directors in Hindi cinema, including A.R. Rahman, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy and Pritam. Niladri was conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi's Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, awarded to young musicians, in March 2007. Niladri has also won MTV Immies award for the Best Classical/Fusion Instrumental for his album If. The concept initiated from a traveling sitar, which was modified by Kumar to create rock guitar sound out of it. Kumar reduced the number of strings on the instrument from 20 to five. He also added an electric pickup inside the instrument so that it would sound more like a guitar. His first full album composed using the instrument, titled Zitar, was released in 2008. Kumar wrote the first track for the album Priority in 2003. Over the next five years he improved the track and subsequent track by gauging audience reaction during live performances. He improvised the tracks adding components from various genres such as rock, electronic and lounge. He also won the MN Mathur Award in the 51st Maharana Kumbha Sangeet Samaroh for his contribution to Indian classical music in March, 2013. Discography Albums 2001: Together 2002: Revelation 2003: Dharohar 2003: Saanjh Sur 2003: If: Magical Sounds of Sitar 2005: Sitar Gaze 2005: Yoga Lounge (With Chinmaya Dunster) 2006: Forever 2006: De-Stress Revive (With Rupak Kulkarni) 2007: Chillout Forever 2007: Faith 2008: Zitar 2009: Priority 2011: Together (With Talvin Singh) 2013: Plucked 2014: Sur Yajna Films Bunty Aur Babli - Chup Chup Ke (Sitar) Gangster - Na Jaane Koi (Zitar) Omkara - Naina thag lenge (Sitar) Life in a... Metro - Alvida (Zitar) Life in a... Metro - In DIno (Zitar) Dhoom 2 - Crazy Kiya Re (Zitar) Dabangg 2 - Tore naina bade dagabaaz re (Sitar) Maazii - Mora Jiya (Zitar) Desi Boyz - Make Some Noise (Zitar) Paheli - Dheere Jalna