Anoor Sunaad

Sunaad Anoor was born into a family of renowned musicians in Bengaluru and represents the fifth generation of a deeply rooted Carnatic tradition. His great-great-grandfather and great-grandfather were veena players, his grandfather was a celebrated violinist, his father and uncle are leading percussionists, and his mother is a classical vocalist. With music present in every aspect of daily life, Sunaad began his artistic journey early, first learning violin before discovering a stronger affinity for rhythm.

He commenced formal training in mridangam under his father, Vid. Anoor Dattatreya Sharma. His interest in the kanjira was sparked when his cousin Vinod Shyam Anoor introduced him to its techniques and invited him to perform in concert. This experience shaped his artistic direction. He later continued advanced studies in rhythm under his uncle, Vid. Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma, observing senior masters and refining his practice in kanjira, mridangam, and konnakol.

Over the last eleven years, Sunaad has performed in more than a thousand concerts as both soloist and accompanist. His work includes collaborations with major Carnatic vocalists and instrumentalists, leading mridangam artists, and prominent Hindustani musicians. He has also participated in symphonies, ensembles, dance productions, film scores, and cross-cultural projects. Internationally, he has performed in Germany and Singapore, including a 2018 collaboration with the “Amithias Project” and the HR Big Band in Frankfurt under trumpeter Matthias Schreifl.

Sunaad’s music is grounded in Carnatic rhythm while engaging with Hindustani, jazz, Latin, and folk influences. He is known for integrating kanjira, mridangam, konnakol, ghatam, drums, and cajón across varied performance contexts. He is an active member of percussion ensembles such as LayaLavanya and LayaLahari and of the fusion band Kalarava.

His recognitions include first place in the All India Radio Kanjira Competition (2012), A-grade status with AIR and Doordarshan, the ITC–Sangeet Research Academy Award, the T. A. Harihara Sharma Award from Krishna Gana Sabha, and the KFAC Kalavanta Award. He has been listed among the Top 10 Carnatic musicians by the Humming Heart music blog and featured in Urban Ladder’s “Let’s Create” initiative. Through performance and pedagogy, Sunaad Anoor continues to represent a living rhythmic tradition shaped by lineage, practice, and contemporary engagement.