Anil Srinivasan – Indian pianist best known for his fusion work with Carnatic vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan

Anil Srinivasan is a well-known western pianist from Mylapore, Chennai. He remained immense successful in association with Carnatic vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan, with whom he conducted many live shows and also released 6 albums till now. He is also known as a music teacher who loves to give music lessons to kids, and is also known for his association with NalandaWay. He was the first recipient of Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2010. He received it in the creative and experimental music category.

Anil Srinivasan was born in 1977 in Chennai. Brought up in a Carnatic atmosphere in Mylapore, he started playing a toy piano at the age of three. It’s the main reason why his western music is deeply rooted in Carnatic tradition. He surprised his teacher at kindergarten by playing a piece of music in piano, when he was only three. His education was done at University of Southern California and at Columbia University, New York. His talent was first spotted by Meena Radhakrishnan, who later taught him to play the music instrument. He also learnt from Anna Abraham, a known piano instructor in Chennai. His solo album – Touch was released in 2015.

Anil Srinivasan – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. He mostly plays Western classical in piano. Yet he is known for producing Indian ragas on the Western piano.

2. In collaboration with Sikkil Gurucharan, his released albums include – Madhirakshi, Maayaa, The Blue Divine, Tarunam, The Story of Silk and Live at the Peninsula.

3. He had a brief stint with ad world and later diverted to music.

4. He writes columns on music on different dailies.

5. He anchors the show – Sundays with Anil and Karky in Zee Tamil aside Madhan Karky since 2017.

6. He has trained piano under Meena Radhakrishnan, daugher-in-law of Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. He used to go to Iyer’s home in his teens during his teens.

7. He learnt to play veena from Sitarama Sharma, and learnt Carnatic music as well.

8. Lalgudi Jayaraman once taught him to play three thillanas on the piano, which influenced him a lot.

9. His wife Archana is a scientist and dancer.