Ghatam S.Karthick

Acknowledged as one of the top most percussionists, Ghatam Karthick is the prime disciple of Grammy award winner, Ghatam Maestro,‘Padmasri’ Sri.T.H ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram and Vidwan Sri. T.H.Subash Chandran. Karthick has travelled the globe, performing at prestigious venues all around the world.

Karthick holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy majoring in Sanskrit and is an “A” graded artiste from A I R, Chennai. He is one of the most sought after percussionists in Indian Classical Carnatic Music, having accompanied almost all senior artistes. He has featured in many prestigious festivals both as an accompanist and a solo artiste.

Ghatam Karthick has given lecture demonstrations and workshops at various institutions in India & abroad. He has been awarded a Fellowship from the Department of Culture, Government of India. Karthick’s Ghatam playing has been documented in a book on Indian music written by German Indologist Ludwig Pesch, published by Oxford Press. Karthick was named ‘Connoisseur’s favourite’ in an artist opinion poll conducted by the ‘The Indian Express’.

Karthick has collaborated with international artists and is one of the very few artistes to have performed at the United Nations in New York , Washington D.C’s National Symphony Orchestra, Miami University Symphony Orchestra’s Global Rhythms Concert.

Karthick leads his own percussion based Indian ensemble ‘heArtbeat’ which has released a CD ‘Taka Dimi Taka Junu’ featuring Karthick’s original compositions, which was highly acclaimed by press and public. heArtbeat performs regularly in prestigious places successfully all over India and abroad.

Karthick also records and performs prolifically in settings as varied as traditional Indian classical music, jazz, rock, blues, flamenco and fusion. Karthick features frequently in other fusion groups and in ad-jingles as a guest artist. Karthick also plays the Morsing & other percussion instruments. He specializes in Verbal Percussion (Konnakol).

Karthick also records extensively with India’s top film composers like Ilayaraja, A.R.Rahman, Harris Jayaraj, Vidyasagar, Bharadwaj and others. Karthick has also featured with top classical and contemporary dancers both in traditional setup and in innovative improvisations.

List of Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards received

• Title of “ YUVA KALA BHARATHI “ from Bharat Kalachar, Chennai.
• Title of “ NAADA OLI “ from Nada Inbam, Chennai.
• Title of “GHATA NAADA MANI” from Jagadguru Sri.Sankaracharya Swamigal
• UMAYALPURAM KOTHANDARAMA IYER AWARD, Sri Ragam fine arts.
• FELLOWSHIP from Department of Culture, Government of India.
• AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE from Maharajapuram Sri Viswanatha Iyer Trust.
• AWARDED BEST GHATAM ARTISTE from Indian Fine Arts Society.
• AWARDED BEST GHATAM ARTISTE Prize from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha.
• AWARD OF EXCELLENCE from Shanthi Arts Foundation (SAFE), Chennai.
• DIAMOND JUBILEE AWARD OF APPRECIATION from Nrithyodaya, Chennai
• KALKI MEMORIAL AWARD from Kalki Weekly, Chennai