Gharanas & musical lineages

A young tradition rather than a gharana: the bamboo flute became a full classical instrument within living memory, and its teaching lines are short and clear.

Type

teaching lineage

Where it grew

North India, centred on Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh

Voice or instrument

Bansuri

Earliest documented figures

Pannalal Ghosh

Pannalal Ghosh is the documented starting point for the bansuri as a solo classical instrument in the twentieth century.

• Pannalal Ghosh1911–1960Bansuri

  Lengthened the flute and made it a solo classical instrument.

  Taught by Allauddin Khan

  Relationship checking is complete against the source text read for this musician; wider biographical research is still outstanding.

  Sources: Pannalal Ghosh — Wikipedia · Pandit Pannalal Ghosh

• Raghunath PrasannaTwentieth centuryBansuri

  Also written Pandit Raghunath Prasanna

  Introduced the bansuri into the Prasanna family of Banaras wind players.

• Bholanath Prasanna1919–1995Bansuri

  Also written Bhola Nath Prasanna, Pandit Bholanath Prasanna

  Varanasi flute player and All India Radio guru whose disciples include Hariprasad Chaurasia.

• Devendra Murdeshwar1923–2000Bansuri

  Pannalal Ghosh's son-in-law and principal disciple.

  Taught by Pannalal Ghosh

  Relationship checking is complete against the source text read for this musician; wider biographical research is still outstanding.

  Sources: Devendra Murdeshwar — Wikipedia · Devendra Murdeshwar - Bansuri Master · Pt. Devendra Murdeshwar

• Pandit V. G. Karnad1925–2020Bansuri

  Senior disciple of Pannalal Ghosh and All India Radio staff artist who carried his guru's style into the twenty-first century.

• Vijay Raghav Rao1925–2011Bansuri

  Also written Vijaya Raghava Rao

  Flautist, composer and musicologist; teacher of Ronu Majumdar.

• Raghunath Seth1931–2014Bansuri

  Flute player and composer for documentary film.

  Relationship checking is complete against the source text read for this musician; wider biographical research is still outstanding.

  Sources: Raghunath Seth — Wikipedia · BANSURI PLAYERS AND VIDEOS

• Hariprasad Chaurasiaborn 1938Bansuri

  The most widely heard bansuri player of recent decades and founder of Vrindaban Gurukul.

  Taught by Bholanath Prasanna, Annapurna Devi

  Relationship checking is complete against the source text read for this musician; wider biographical research is still outstanding.

  Sources: Hariprasad Chaurasia — Wikipedia · Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia

• Nityanand Haldipurborn 1948Bansuri

  Flute player with training in both main bansuri lines.

  Taught by Annapurna Devi, Devendra Murdeshwar

  Relationship checking is complete against the source text read for this musician; wider biographical research is still outstanding.

  Sources: Nityanand Haldipur — Wikipedia · Pandit Nityanand Haldipur

• Rajendra PrasannaBorn 1956Bansuri

  Also written Pandit Rajendra Prasanna

  Performs at the top level on both bansuri and shehnai in the Banaras family tradition.

• Ronu Majumdarborn 1963Bansuri

  Contemporary concert flute player in the Maihar line.

  Relationship checking is complete against the source text read for this musician; wider biographical research is still outstanding.

  Sources: Ronu Majumdar — Wikipedia · Pandit Ronu Majumdar: Flute Artist in India | Loving Melody of ...

• Ajay Prasannaborn 1969Bansuri

  Also written Ajay Shankar Prasanna

  Banaras-family flautist, son and student of Bholanath Prasanna.

• Rakesh Chaurasiaborn 1971Bansuri

  Concert flute player working across classical and collaborative music.

  Relationship checking is complete against the source text read for this musician; wider biographical research is still outstanding.

  Sources: Rakesh Chaurasia — Wikipedia · Rakesh Chaurasia

• Pravin Godkhindiborn 1973Bansuri

  Karnataka-born flautist, trained by his father Venkatesh Godkhindi.

• Rupak Kulkarniborn 20th centuryBansuri

  Senior concert flautist trained by Hariprasad Chaurasia.

• Chetan Joshiborn 20th centuryBansuri

  Delhi-based flautist trained in several teaching lines.

• Debopriya Chatterjeeactive from the 1990sBansuri

  Disciple of Bholanath Prasanna and Hariprasad Chaurasia; one of the Flute Sisters.

• Suchismita Chatterjeeactive from the 1990sBansuri

  Disciple of Bholanath Prasanna and Hariprasad Chaurasia; one of the Flute Sisters.

• Vivek Sonaractive from the 1990sBansuri

  Senior disciple of Hariprasad Chaurasia; founder of the Bansuri Utsav.

• Pandit Santosh SantContemporaryBansuri

  Gwalior-born flautist and senior disciple of Hariprasad Chaurasia; founder-director of Swaravenu Gurukul.

• The Flute SistersDuo or ensembleBansuri duoNo page yet

  Also written Debopriya and Suchismita Chatterjee

  A performing duo or ensemble: Debopriya Chatterjee and Suchismita Chatterjee. Dates and teaching for each musician are recorded separately once each person is sourced on their own.

  Duo of the sisters Debopriya Chatterjee and Suchismita Chatterjee, who also perform individually.