About Nandini
Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.
-Pablo Casals
Nandini Shankar is one of India’s most celebrated violinists, carrying forward a rare and exquisite musical lineage across three generations. Granddaughter of the legendary Padmabhushan Dr. N. Rajam and daughter of Dr. Sangeeta Shankar, she is a master of the Gayaki Ang – the art of making the violin sing in the voice of a human.
Her journey has taken her to the world’s most prestigious stages – Carnegie Hall in New York, Théâtre de la Ville in Paris, The Esplanade in Singapore, and the Venice Biennale – performing across 20+ countries. In India, she is a regular at Indian Classical music festivals. She performed at the opening of Apple BKC in Mumbai in the presence of Apple CEO Tim Cook, and has enthralled audiences at the IPL at Dharamshala Stadium.
Nandini is a member of Sakhi, India’s first all-women Indian classical band conceptualised by the renowned vocalist Kaushiki Chakraborty. She is also the founding member of Taraana alongside sister Ragini, signed to Decca Records US (Universal Music Group). She also collaborates with husband Mahesh Raghvan on various fusion projects, which are widely appreciated by audiences worldwide. A TEDx and IIM Indore speaker, she is endorsed by Yamaha Music India and Thomastik-Infeld strings.
Honoured with the Jashn-e-Youngistan award by the Vice President of India, Nandini holds an M.A. in Music from SNDT University and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.
Started learning at the age of 3 from her mother and grandmother
First public performance at the age of 8 with her sister Ragini at Bhopal
First full-fledged solo performance at the age of 13 in Dharwad
Performed at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York
Performances
INDIA
- Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav (Pune)
- Dover Lane (Kolkata)
- Saptak (Ahmedabad)
- ITC Sangeet Sammelan (Delhi)
- IMG (Mumbai)
and many other festivals and cities
ABROAD
- USA & Canada
- UK, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Greece
- New Zealand
- UAE
- South East Asia
SOLO
A pure Hindustani Classical concert portraying the unique style of Gayaki Ang (Singing Violin)
TARAANA
Virtuosic violinists weaving intricate Indian classical melodies with bold, contemporary arrangements
NAMASTE
Pioneers of a transformative sound fusing Indian classical tradition with cutting-edge modernity
Video Gallery
Lessons
Learn the best technique of reproducing the Indian (Hindustani) vocal style on the violin from Nandini, who is part of the world renowned and highly acclaimed violinist family of Dr. N. Rajam through online classes. The Gayaki Ang, literally meaning ‘to play as though sung’ refers to the technique developed in violin by Dr. N. Rajam, which helps violinists to produce sounds through the violin, which emulate the human voice. Hence the subtleties and emotions of the human voice are reproduced on the violin. People all over the world are mesmerized by this form of music, as it has the capacity to touch and move millions of hearts. For more information on lessons, visit Sharangadev School of Music & Culture .
(2/2) Zakir Uncle, no words can truly capture the depth and beauty you brought into this world. The heart refuses to accept a world without you, but you live on through your music. My deepest condolences to the family and the entire music world. Om Shanti. 🙏🏻
His hands spoke the language of stars,
Each beat a spark that lit the infinite.
Now, silence cradles him,
Not as absence, but as resonance.
The void sings his rhythm still,
For a soul so vast cannot disappear—
It becomes the pulse of eternity.
(1/2)
Nandini Shankar
Indian musician, Hindustani classical violinist, loves performing various genres, passionate about music. Believes in happiness and seeks vibrancy in life.
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