My Compelling Story

            Mukesh Sharma is a professional sarod player based out of the capital city of India, New Delhi. He is India’s leading exponent of the sarod. His highly aesthetic and versatile perception of the sarod has enabled him to touch most profound depths of this instrument. His eloquent rendering of the raga, purity of style, the uniqueness of imagination with his brilliant technique in which he blends the elements of Gayaki and Layakari makes his recitals very enchanting. The outstanding feature of his rendering is that it not only reflects the musician’s mood and his nuances but also adds to the overall power and effect of the ragas. His music is filled with rhythmic complexity and melodic command that makes an experience melancholic, sweet, and joyous. His father, the late Pandit Rasik Behari Lal, was an eminent sarod artist. A disciple of the great sarangi maestro, Pandit Ram Narayan, Mukesh had his initial training from late Dr Ramaballabh, Pandit Suprabhat Paul, and Pandit Birju Maharaj. He has also received guidance from the sarod maestro, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. Mukesh was the winner of the UP Sangeet Natak Academy Competition for two consecutive years (1977 and 1978), the All India Radio Music competition (1979), All India Inter University Competition (1982 and 1983), the Sur-Mani title at the Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan at Mumbai (1988), and the Yuva Pratisthan Puraskar at Lucknow (1989). Mukesh has created an enviable niche for himself in the field of fusion music and has worked with Zakir Hussain, Paco de Lucia, Emam and Yashoda, Karsh Kale, Gerald Deocke, Peter Lerche, and many other eminent musicians all over the world. He has performed creditably at various major concerts in India, Greece, France, Australia, Slovenia, Spain, Germany, Latvia, UK, Russia, Estonia, Reunion Island, Mauritius, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Norway, Sri Lanka, Finland, Sweden, Austria, Poland, Cyprus, Holland, Israel, USA, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar,<