NCPA Citi Nad Ninad From NCPA Archives– A Listening Session on the Artistry of Palghat Raghu

The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) presents an evening of deep listening that revisits the legacy of one of Carnatic music’s most distinguished percussionists. As part of the NCPA Nad Ninad series, an ongoing initiative that brings audiences closer to Indian classical music through curated listening sessions and archival explorations, the evening draws from the NCPA’s rich repository. It explores the artistry of Palghat Raghu, offering rare insight into a musical voice that shaped accompaniment as an art form in itself.

Born in Myanmar, Palghat Raghu (1928–2009) trained under T. Venkatarama Iyer and T. Raghava Iyer, before receiving advanced guidance from the legendary Palghat T. S. Mani Iyer. Over a prolific career, he toured extensively in India and internationally, accompanying leading artistes across traditions including Hindustani instrumentalists, while also engaging with early cross-cultural and fusion explorations.

Bringing a personal and interpretive lens to the session are his grandsons and disciples, Anantha R. Krishnan and Abhishek Raghuraman. Krishnan, a student of tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, holds a Master of Fine Arts in Electronic Music and Percussion and is currently on the faculty at the KM Music Conservatory, Chennai, where he continues to engage with both traditional and contemporary forms. Raghuraman, who began as a mridangam student under his grandfather before transitioning to Carnatic vocal music, trained under P. S. Narayanaswami and draws influence from U. Srinivas; today, he is an ‘A’ grade artiste of All India Radio with a growing performance repertoire.

Featuring carefully selected audio and video excerpts from recordings made at the NCPA between 1987 and 1988, along with material from masterclasses conducted in 1989, the session offers insight into both the performance and pedagogy of the maestro.

Nad Ninad, launched in 2008, is a distinctive public outreach initiative by the NCPA that seeks to make its archival treasures accessible to wider audiences. Through guided listening sessions led by distinguished practitioners and scholars, the series unpacks the subtleties of musical interpretation and compositional nuance, engaging connoisseurs, students, and emerging artistes alike. Over the years, it has evolved into a respected forum for musical appreciation and discovery.

Come and experience this archival exploration of a defining voice in Carnatic percussion.