Anghiras Mahadevan

Born into a home surrounded by music and rhythm, Anghiras Mahadevan was naturally drawn to the world of bhajan and percussion from a young age. Accompanying his father to bhajana gatherings in Bangalore, he began his musical journey under Vidwan Shanmugam Venkatesh, learning bhajanai singing. During these early years, captivated by the beats of the dolki and the atmosphere of devotion, his love for rhythm quietly took root.

At the age of four, Anghiras began learning mridangam at Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha under Vidwan Shri S. V. Balakrishna and Vidwan Shri Vinay Nagarajan, who patiently shaped his early training and helped him build a strong rhythmic foundation. He continues his advanced training today in the Pudukottai bani under the revered

 Vidwan Neyveli B. Venkatesh.

Anghiras’s performing journey began almost as soon as he could hold the instrument. His earliest appearances were in Montessori school programmes, followed by active participation in temple and community bhajanai circles across Bangalore. By the age of nine, he began accompanying bhajan troupes, and soon after took part in Laya ensembles at Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha. Around this time, he also participated in Ragasudha, his school’s Carnatic music series at National Public School, Indiranagar, gaining early exposure to structured concert settings.

Since then, Anghiras has had the blessing of performing at several temples, baithaks, and festivals across South India, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Mysuru, Palakkad, Kanchipuram, Kumbakonam, Tiruchirappalli, Nagayanallur (100th year Patabhishekam), Udayalur, and Guruvayur Temple during the Chembai Sangeetholsavam. In 2025, at the age of 18, he made his Margazhi Season debut in Chennai, presenting over 15 concerts across prominent sabhas, marking a significant milestone in his artistic journey.

Alongside performances in traditional Carnatic centres, Anghiras has also actively taken Carnatic music to audiences in cities such as Jaipur and Nagpur, where the art form is still relatively new to many listeners. For him, presenting Carnatic music in such spaces carries special meaning and responsibility. He takes great pride not only in performing, but also in introducing audiences to the depth, energy, and beauty of the tradition through interaction, explanation, and lecture-demonstration style presentations . Through his spring tour 2026, he educated and introduced carnatic music to over 150 people.

He has been fortunate to accompany several accomplished artists, including Tiger Subramaniam Bhagavathar. He has performed for vocal, violin, flute, and saxophone concerts, and also explores fusion collaborations, including performances with his school band. He has additionally had the opportunity to record for the prestigious All India Radio station in Bangalore.

Among his recognitions, Anghiras was awarded Second Place in the The Madras Music Academy Annual Mridangam Competition, and has received the Rotary Award, Mohan Dev Alva Award, Shrivani Award, along with Distinction in the State Mridangam Examination. He also placed Third in VIVUM Fusion at The International School Bangalore as a soloist, encouraging him to explore diverse expressions of rhythm. At National Public School, Indiranagar, he contributed actively to cultural initiatives as Music Association Facilitator (Music Badge) and served as Event Head for interschool music events.

Beyond performing, he teaches mridangam, sharing what he has learnt from his gurus with sincerity and dedication. He also contributes to managing Unnati’s Instagram page, curating music-related content. In 2025, he presented a lecture-demonstration at The Bangalore Room, combining performance with rhythmic analysis and discussion—an experience that deepened his engagement with communicating music.

Deeply grateful for the blessings of his gurus, family, friends, and well-wishers, Anghiras Mahadevan continues to grow as a young mridangam artist in the Pudukottai bani. With strong roots in the bhajan tradition, continued guidance from his teachers, and an openness to new ideas and audiences, he looks forward to carrying forward his musical journey with devotion, sincerity, and joy, while sharing the spirit of Carnatic music with listeners across different parts of the country.