Manohar Balatchandirane

Manohar Balatchandirane began his training in mridangam at the age of five under Mridanga Selvam Kumbakonam Shri Padmanaban. His development within the Carnatic percussion tradition led to early public recognition, including a performance for President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2007, when he was eleven years old.

He performs widely across India and internationally, with appearances in countries such as Japan, Singapore, and Dubai. In recent years, he has been featured at platforms including the Raag Ranjani Music Festival and the Kalandhika National Festival (2025–2026). His concert work includes collaborations with artists such as vocalist Aadarsh M. Nair, violinist G. Raghavendra Prasath, and ghatam player Varun Rajasekharan. He is also associated with the ensemble Tal Fry, which presents Indian classical and contemporary fusion repertoire.

In the field of dance, Manohar is a disciple of Guru Geeta Chandran and regularly provides mridangam accompaniment and nattuvangam support for Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi performances. His work bridges the requirements of concert music and dance performance traditions.

Alongside performance, he is active as an educator, conducting mridangam classes and rhythm workshops, including programs in collaboration with organizations such as The Pink Lotus Academia and outreach initiatives in regions like Kumaon. He holds an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur, reflecting a parallel professional background. Through performance, teaching, and interdisciplinary collaboration, Manohar Balatchandirane contributes to contemporary Carnatic percussion practice in India and abroad.