K. Arun Prakash

K. Arun Prakash is a Carnatic Musician, Percussionist, Composer and well-known for playing the Mridangam.

Early life
K. Arun Prakash was born in 1968 in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India to a music composer Kalai Mamani L. Krishnan (1938-2009, a disciple of Sangeeta Kalanidhi G N Balasubramaniam) and Vasantha Krishnan.

Arun Prakash started learning the mridangam at the age of 9, under the late Kalaimamani Ramanathapuram M. N.Kandaswamy, a disciple of the mridangam maestro Palani M.Subramania Pilla.

Arun Prakash showed a keen interest in the Mridangam. After two years of training, he began playing in concerts at the age of 11. He has also won awards. Since then, he has performed all over the world.

Career
1984 - First prize from Shri Krishna Gana Sabha during their Gokhulashtami Series

1994 - Vishwapriya Award for excellence

1996 - Yuva Kala Bharath i from Bharat Kalachar Chennai.

2000 - Kalki Memorial Award from Kalki Krishnamurthy Trust (the first percussionist to receive the same).

1994, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2013 - Best Mridangist prizes from Music Academy Chennai, Tamil Nadu India

2012 - Vani Kala Nipuna award from Shri Thyaga Brahma Gana Saba (Vani Mahal).

Arun Prakash has also participated in jugal bandhis and musical encounter concerts with American artists and Hindustani musicians organized by ICCR and Sampradaya Chennai. He has worked on devotional recordings and has also composed the theme music for the millennium show presented by the YACM for The Music Academy on 31 December 1999.

Works

 * Arun Prakash has composed tillanas and numerous pallavis sung by many musicians.
 * Arun Prakash conducted a program with Vidushi Sudha Ragunathan and Vidushi Aruna Sairam Titled " AIKYA 2017", where he designed, composed and conducted the show with a 21-member orchestra.
 * Arun Prakash has released a CD titled ‘Sri Rama Jayarama,’ featuring 13 artists, which featured compositions on Lord Rama by various composers. Arun composed musical interludes arranged orchestrated the programme which was received very well.