Pandit Manilal Nag: Sitar Maestro and Exponent of Bishnupur Gharana Dies at 87

Pandit Manilal Nag, a celebrated sitar maestro and one of the foremost exponents of the Bishnupur Gharana breathed his last in Kolkata on 9 November 2026 after succumbing to age related complications. Nag, a Padma Shri awardee and a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, is best known for taking the Dhrupad influenced Bishnupur style of music to a wider audience.

Who Was Pandit Manilal Nag?

Manilal Nag was born on 16 August 1939 into a family of musicians in Bankura district of West Bengal. He started learning to play the sitar from his father Gokul Nag who was also part of the Bishnupur Gharana. Nag performed his first stage show in 1954 followed by numerous prestigious music festivals across the country and the world. He was awarded by the Sangeet Natak Akademi for his contributions to Hindustan instrumentation music in 2001.

He is also known to have taught students and contributed to keeping the musical traditions of his gharana alive. His performances brought the unique sound of the Bishnupur style to a wider audience.

Awards and Honours Won By Manilal Nag

Nag was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contributions to Hindustan instrumentation music. He was the first musician from the Bishnupur Gharana to win this award.

What Is the Bishnupur Gharana?

The Bishnupur Gharana relates to a form of Hindustani classical music originating from Bishnupur in the Bankura district of West Bengal which is famed for being a Dhrupad based style.

It originated during the reign of the Malla kings in Bishnupur led by Ramshankar Bhattacharya. Dhrupad music was heavily encouraged during the rule of King Raghunath Singha II (1702-1712).

The gharana is famed for its calm and melodious style of classical music. It is well linked to the culture of Bengal. Whilst traditionally considered a vocal style, there have been many instrumentalists such as Manilal Nag to represent this gharana.