Bhawani Shankar

Bhawani Shankar, aka Bhawani Kathak, is a renowned Indian classical percussionist. He began playing the pakhwaj and tabla under the guidance of his father, Pandit Babulalji, a recognised maestro of Kathak dance, pakhawaj and tabla from the Jaipur Gharana. Shankar also received further guidance in tabla under Pandit Shivlalji Kathak of the Ajrara Gharana. He has shared the stage with some of India’s greatest maestros which includes Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Mohammad Rafi, amongst many others. He is also known to work with Bollywood music and has collaborated with some of the leading composers and directors in the industry. Shankar has toured in India and abroad. He is the recipient of several prestigious awards including a Grammy nomination, Pandit Jasraj Gaurav Puraskar, Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Academy Award, National President Award, and the Sangeet Natak Academy Award, to name a few. Shankar holds a record in the Guinness Book of World Records and Limca Book of World Records for his album Shree Ramayan for continuous recording over 20 hours. Pandit Bhawani Shankar passed away on 30 December, 2023.