Praveen Sparsh

Praveen Sparsh (Thanjavur K. Praveen Kumar) is a prominent mridangam artist, multi-percussionist, and music producer based in Chennai. Rooted in a distinguished musical lineage, he is the grandson of mridangam exponent Tanjore Sri Upendran and the great-grandson of tavil maestro Valangaiman Sri Shanmugasundaram Pillai. He began his training at the age of five under Guruvayur Dorai, developing a strong foundation in the Carnatic tradition while later expanding into diverse musical forms.

As a performer, Praveen is widely regarded for his versatility and technical precision, regularly accompanying leading Carnatic musicians such as T. M. Krishna, Aruna Sairam, and Bombay Jayashri. His concert career spans major venues and international tours across the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. His solo percussion album UNRESERVED explores everyday soundscapes through a mridangam-centric lens, reflecting his interest in expanding the sonic possibilities of classical percussion.

Beyond performance, Praveen is actively engaged in composition, production, and interdisciplinary collaborations. He has scored music for theater productions such as Kurukshetra – When Things Fall Apart, directed by Gowri Ramnarayan, and has worked with filmmaker Rajiv Menon. His initiatives include projects like “No’mad Projekt” and “Orisai,” which explore immersive and minimalistic concert experiences, as well as collaborations with global and fusion ensembles. Alongside his artistic practice, he contributes to music education, outreach programmes, and curated performances, reflecting a broad and evolving engagement with both classical and contemporary music ecosystems.