ARTISTS

Pandit Nityanand Haldipur is among the Maihar gharana’s leading bansuri exponents. He was a longtime student of surbahar maestro Annapurna Devi, one of India’s most revered musicians. He continues his guru’s tradition of teaching students of other instruments, including flute, saxophone, violin, guitar and vocals, and holds “listening sessions” on the works of Maihar gharana greats, such as Ustad Allauddin Khan. His bansuri style fuses the ideas of Ustad Wazir Khan and Pandit Pannalal Ghosh.

Born in Bombay, Nityanand’s first guru, who initiated him into the art, technique and aesthetics of flute-playing, was his father, the late Shri Niranjan Haldipur—a senior disciple of the renowned flute maestro, the late Pandit Pannalal Ghosh. At the tender age of nine, Nityanand received instruction from Pannalal himself. Over the next two decades, Nityanand’s training continued under the late Pandit Chidanand Nagarkar, and the late Pandit Devendra Murdeshwar—the senior-most disciple of late Pandit Pannalal Ghosh, under whom Nityanand perfected his technique.

However, it was after 1986, when Padma Bhushan Smt. Annapurna Devi—doyen of the Senia-Maihar gharana and daughter of the legendary Ustad Allauddin Khansaheb—accepted him as one of her disciples, that Nityanand’s talent and musicianship truly flowered. The polished tonal grace, rhythmic elegance and depth, as well as lucidity of expression evident in Nityanand’s playing are the result of his continuing advanced training and refinement under Smt. Annapurna Devi. It embodies the hallowed teaching traditions of the Senia-Maihar gharana and follows the same arduous riyaaz and persevering commitment that has produced virtuosi like Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Pannalal Ghosh and Pandit Nikhil Banerjee.

Nityanand has performed at numerous music conferences, including the SAARC Festival and the Apna Utsav series. An eclectic musician, Nityanand has kept his mind and ears open to the beat that other styles and cultures have to offer. His rich and extensive repertoire covers a wide canvas: from the pure classical to the experimental fusion. A Top-Grade artist of AIR and Doordarshan, Nityanand has participated in the National Programme of Music and the All India Radio Sangeet Sammelan. In 2010, Nityanand Haldipur was given the highest award for his contribution to Indian classical music by Sangeet Natak Academy, Govt. Of India, New Delhi.