Ajay Prasanna
Indian flute or bansuri player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ajay Shankar Prasanna, born in 1969, is an Indian classical flautist in the Hindustani bansuri tradition.[2] He comes from a musical family in the Banaras (or Varanasi) Gharana school of flute players.[1][3] He was born in Allahabad and hails from a family of classical musicians.
Ajay Prasanna | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ajay Shankar Prasanna 1969 (age 56–57) |
| Origin | allahabad |
| Genres | Hindustani classical |
| Occupation | Flute player |
| Instrument | Bansuri |
| Awards | - AIR top grade artist
- Three-time Grammy Award nominee - Global Indian Music Award (GIMA) for Best Fusion Album, for the album 'Cinema' • Sangeet Ratna Award, Swami Haridas Samiti, Vrindavan • Surmani Award, Sur Singar Sansad / Surshringar Sansad, Mumbai • Bharat Gaurav Samman, Orissa Academy of Tribal Culture Research & Performing Arts - Bharat Gaurav Samman (2016) - Shri Chandrakeshwar Sangeet Samaroh – Prashasti Patra - Pracheen Kala Kendra – Token of Appreciation (2019) - Sangeet Samman (Akhil Bharatiya Sangeet Sammelan, Vrindavan) |
Early life and training
Ajay Prasanna learned how to play the flute from his father, Bholanath Prasanna, a bansuri maestro from the Banaras Gharana.[4] Ajay made his public debut at six years old, performing at the Akhil Bharatiya Sangeet Sammelan.[1] He is known for his command of both the gaayaki and tantrakaari styles of flute playing, blending traditional technique with a distinctive modern sensibility
Career
Ajay Prasanna Prasanna has had performances in India and abroad.[5][6] He has performed at venues such as Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and participated in international music events.[7] He was a guest artist on the 2026 Gorillaz album The Mountain alongside several other Indian musicians.[8] Ajay Prasanna has been recognized with several honors, including Grammy nominations, the Global Indian Music Award (GIMA) for his album Cinema, the Sangeet Ratna Award from Swami Haridas Samiti, and the Surmani Award from Sur Singar Sansad.