My Compelling Story

Pt Rupak Kulkarni, based out of the Mumbai city, is a great flutist and musician. Son of the Late Pt Malhar Rao Kulkarni, Rupak has learnt under the finest tutelage of the flute legend, Padma Vibhushan Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia, to become an outstanding exponent of Maihar gharana. Since the tender age of nine, Rupak, with his hard work, has mastered dhrupad, tantrakari, and khayal styles equally well. His recital is always a rare treat combining dhrupad and khayal gayaki, aalap, and tatkar (tonguing technique used for jhala) innovative improvisation with mesmerising layakari, superb breath-control and marvelous finger-work. No wonder his concerts are loved and praised not only by common music lovers but even by music maestros such as Pt Bhimsen Joshi and Pt Ravi Shankar. At the age of 11, Rupak gave his first solo flute performance at Darbar Hall, Baroda. Since then, he has performed in almost all music conferences worldwide. He is also a very sought-after musician in world music. His first music album was Tenderly, accompanied by tabla artist, Pt Anindo Chatterji. He has released his albums through all top music companies like HMV, Navras, Plus Music, Rhythm House, Times Music, Big B’s ABCL, Ninaad, Worldwide Records, Sense World (London), etc. Rupak's flute concerts are regularly aired on All India Radio, World Space Radio and TV channels like Zee TV, Doordarshan, CNN-IBN, and Star TV. Performances: Darbar Festival (UK) Peshkar World Music Festival (India) Vishnu Digamber Paluskar Samaroh (India) Asian Super Flautist Festival (Japan) Tansen Samaroh (India) Gunidas Sammelan (India) Hirabai Barodekar SmrutiSamaroh (India) Saptak Music Festival (India) Harballabh Music Festival (India) Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra (India) Ustad Amir Khan Samaroh (India) Sawai Gandharv Music Festival (India) Times of India 150 years Celebration Concerts Shruti Mandal (India) ...and many more. Awards/Achievements: Top-grade (All India Radio) Concert at Asian Super Flautist Festival in Japan Invited by prestigious Trinity College of Music, London to give lecture demonstration 'Sangeet Prakarsh' award given by Bhavan’s Mumbai for contribution in music Rupak has worked with many Hollywood music directors as well as with Bollywood ones, and has scored background music in several films.