Shri Papanasam Kumar, Staff Artist, AIR Chennai Retires on 31/08/17.

Born into a family of musicians with rich lineage and steeped in pedigree music, Papanasam Kumar is the grandson of Sri Papanasarn Rajagopala Iyer, brother of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Papanasam Sivan. A child prodigy, Papanasam Kumar started his career as a percussionist and singer, accompanying and singing with Sri Papanasam Sivan at the tender age of five for Namasankeerthanams.

An ‘A’ Grade Mridangam Staff Artist, All India Radio since 1993, Papanasam Kumar has been groomed under the tutelage of the legends "Laya Vadhya Kovida" Kumbakonam Sri Rajappa Iyer and "Sangeetha Kalanidhi" Umayalpuram K Sivaraman. He has won many accolades and titles including the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetarn - "Aasthaana Vidhwan", "Laya Vadhya Kovida", "Kalai Valar Mamani" by Tamil Nadu Cultural Association, "Laya Priyan" by Vaikathashtami Sabha, Madurai, and 'Laya 

Vidyadhara" given by Irai Pani Mandram Chennai.

He is a regular performer at various sabhas including Music Academy, Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha,Rasika Ranjani Sabha, Nadopasana Trust, SAFE, Kanchi Kamakoti Petam, Sri Ram Samaj (Ayodhya Mantapam),Mylapore Fine Arts Club, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha ,Sri Narada Gana Sabha, Indian Fine Arts Society, Hamsadwani, Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha, Karthik Fine Arts, and Sathguru Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival at Thiruvaiyaru since 1974. Papanasam Kumar has also accompanied leading musicians in major Sabhas in Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kerala, Karnataka and many other places in Tamilnadu. He has also produced a number of CD's and Cassettes. Throughout his service career, he has been a very sincere, dedicated staff artist of All India Radio.