Sri A.V.Anand is one of the senior most and very popular Mrudangam artists of Karnataka.

Born on 16 th April 1936 to Sri A.Venkobachar and Smt. Nagamma, Anand displayed prodigious intuition for percussion when he was just four years old. Recognizing this, his parents trained him in Mrudangam under Ghatam maestro Sri. K.S. Manjunathan at the age six. Two years of rigorous training and intense sadhana saw Anand becoming a promising Mrudangam artist. He gave his first public performance at the age of nine. When Anand was 11, violin wizard and luminary of Karnatic Music World Sangeetha Kalanidhi, Sangeetha Ratna T. Chowdiah of Mysore, who was a close friend of Anand’s parents, recognized his talent and gave him an opportunity to provide Mrudangam accompaniment for his solo recital. Deeply impressed, Sri Chowdiah continued to have Anand’s accompaniment for his countless solo concerts. This enriched Anand’s knowledge and experience to become a mature and sought-after artist when he was just in early teens.

Amidst a busy concert calendar, Anand graduated in Science from Mysore University and served one of the popular industries in Bangalore. As such, it is all the more creditable and praiseworthy that he attained such a high standard in the art and gained popularity among a multitude of discerning music lovers and connoisseurs, at such an young age.

He has the distinction of having provided Mrudangam accompaniment to stalwarts of Karnatak Music, Vidwan Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Vidwan Flute T.R. Mahalingam, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Padma Vibhooshan Shemmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Padma Bhushan Dr. V.Doreswamy Iyengar, Sangeetha Kalanidhi, Padma Bhushan Dr. R K Sreekantan, Sangeetha Kalanidhi M.S.Gopala Krishnan, Vid Lalgudi G. Jayaraman, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. M.L.Vasanthakumari, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Smt. D.K.Pattammal, Vidwan D.K. Jayaraman, Vidwan M.D.Ramanathan, Dr.S.Ramanathan, Emani Shankara Shastry, Sangeetha Kalanidhi K.V.Narayana Swamy, Chittibabu, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. N.Ramani and many others of yester years. He has been accompanying top- ranking artists such as Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna, K.J.Jesudas, Sangeetha Kalanidhi M Chandrashekaran and many talented young artists of present generation too.

His playing is marked by subdued strokes and intelligence in following the renderings of the vocalist and violinist with keen anticipation and perfect understanding to enhance and embellish the subtle nuances thus enriching the grandeur of the concert. These sensitive and remarkable abilities as an accompanist have made him a preferred choice accompanist. His deft touches, nicety and artistic presentation of complex rhythmic structures and patterns in Mrudangam with absolute clarity in his own original unique style are hallmarks in his playing which is a feast for the listeners. This is only to be listened to, to enjoy.

Mr. Anand is an ‘A TOP’ grade artist of All India Radio (AIR). He has been regularly participating in Radio Sangeetha Sammelan concerts and National programmes. He has been invited to participate

in the AIR concerts across the country. He has been performing on Doordarshan and has provided accompaniment to concerts telecast on National Network also. He has given performances in popular sabhas all over the country. He has to his credit a number of cassettes and CDs of his solo performance and also many in which he has provided accompaniment to popular artists.

Besides, he, along with some of the leading percussion Vidwans of Karnataka, has been involved in writing text book on Mrudangam for Junior standard examination conducted by the Government of Karnataka Education Department, serving the textbook committee as its chairman. He is also associated with the preparation of the textbooks for senior and proficiency standards in various capacities.

He has extensively toured abroad, visiting the US, Canada, the UK, Malaysia and Singapore, among many others, on invitation for concerts and lecture demonstrations, which have been highly successful and appreciated.

He has composed, directed and presented many percussion ensembles in music festivals and conferences. These are highly applauded. Besides his expertise in the art of playing Mrudangam, he has presented many papers on various aspects of percussion art, in a number of State and National Seminars and academic sessions of Music festivals and conferences. These are highly appreciated for its contents and clarity of presentation.

Mr. Anand has dedicated himself to the cause of promotion and propagation of this art and has been training many students, some of whom are popular performing artists. In recognition of his talent, achievements and contribution to the field of music in general and Mrudangam in particular; he has been honored by various reputed organizations with titles and awards.

In May 1997, he has been awarded the prestigious K.Puttu Rao Memorial Palghat Mani award in recognition of his outstanding abilities as Mrudangam player and conferred the prestigious title

‘Mrundanga Kala Shironmani’ by the Percussive Arts Centre, Bangalore. With this, he has joined the select band of senior, outstanding Mrudangam Vidwans in the Carnatic music field who have been conferred this title.

His is a very happy family with a music-loving, highly cooperative wife and a talented sweet daughter.

Other titles and honours conferred upon him include:
- Palani Subramanyam Pillai Award with the title ‘Laya Kalaa Nipuna’ presented by Percussive Arts Centre, Bangalore in 1993.
- ‘Artist of the Year’ by Gayana Samaja in 1996 music conference.
- ‘Mrudanga Vaadana Chakravarthi’ by Jnana Jyothi Kala Mandira.

- ‘Kala Bhushana’ by Vaidika Dharma Sahaya Sabha.
- ‘Layavadya Kalavathamsa’ by Mookambika Talavadya Sangeetha Kala Shala
- ‘Layavadya Kalabhushana’ by Thyagaraja Gana Sabha Trust (Regd.)
- ‘Kalajyothi’ by Nadajyothi Sri. Thyagarajaswamy Bhajana Sabha, Bangalore.
- ‘Karnataka Kalashree’ by Karnataka Sangeetha Nrithya Academy, Government of Karnataka in Jan 1999.
- ‘Laya Bhushana’ by Sri. K.N. Krishanamurthy Thalavadya Shikshana Shala, Bangalore in Jan 1999.
- ‘Mrudanga Vaadana Rathna’ by Sri Ramaseva Mandali, Sri. Venkataramanaswamy temple, Bangalore.
- Felicitated by Gana Bharathi, Mysore
- Felicitated by Ananya with ‘ANANYA PURASKARA’ on 17 th May 2003.
- Felicitated by Swanandashrama Trust with title ‘SWANANDA KALASHREE’ during their annual Kalamahotsava in May 2005.
- Felicitated by Devagiri Venkateshwara Trust, Sree Varaprada Venkateshwara Devasthana, in January 2006.
- Felicitated by Hamsadhwani Creations in Dec 2007.
- Felicitated by his vast admirers and students in March 2008.
- Felicitated by Mico Fine Arts society in September 2008.
- Felicitated by Harmonium Bheema Rao Trust with title ‘GANDHARVA VIDYA VAARIDHI’
- Felicitated by Bangalore Gayana Samja with the title ‘SANGEETHA KALARATHNA’ during the annual music conference in 2009 which was presided over by Anand

- ISKCON Sree Radha Krishna Mandir felicitated and honoured him with the title “Asthana Vidwan” in Aug 2010
- Parimala Geleyara Balaga has felicitated him with the Parimala Prashasthi in Aug 2010.
- Felicitated by D Subbaramaiah Fine Arts Trust and conferred the title Gandharva Vidyanidhi in Nov 2010 during their 18 th Ragashree Samelan which was presided over by Anand.
- Felicitated by Raghavendra Seva Pratishtana with “Prahallada Puraskara” in May 2011
- Felicitated by Sri Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal with the title ‘ASTHANA VIDWAN’ of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam during Dasara Festival in September 2011at Kancheepuram
- Felicitated by the Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams at Tirupati on November 26, 2012 during the Youth Music Festival and Interstate Competition in Carnatic classical music, Yuva Layam, conducted by them in coordination with Andhra Music Academy and S V College of Music and Dance, TTD, Tirupati
- Felicitated by “Chintalapalli Parampara Trust” with the title “Parampara Pradeepanacharya” in December 2013 at Chowdaiah Memorial Hall
- Felicitated by “Vidwan R. K SreekantanTrust” conferring the title “Srikanta Shankara” from the Ex-President of India, Late Sri. A P J Abdul Kalam in January 2015
- Felicitated by “Universe Art Foundation” in August 2015