He is among the most respected Mridangam artists of today, having enthralled music lovers over the past four decades with his inimitable style, novelty, fine aesthetics and precision. Born in a family of Mridangam artistes, Kumar was initiated into the art of Mridangam playing at the young age of five by his father Sri Arjunan, who is one of the very senior artistes in the field of percussion and later was mentored by Sri T. A. S. Mani. He then came under the tutelage of the mridangam legend, Padmabhushan, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman. Kumar is one of the youngest 'A' Grade artists of the All India Radio. His natural talent and skill help blend and enhance the beauty of the concert through his sensitive and innovative playing, and his accompaniment and tani avartanams in any concert never becomes predictable and stereotypical. In addition to Carnatic concerts, he has widely played jugalbandhis and other forms of music across the globe. The recipient of numerous awards, he has accompanied most of the leading and contemporary musicians and he is also an experienced and lively tutor and has many promising disciples to his credit.
