V.Selvaganesh: The Kanjira King

You can always reach 200% if you give your 100%”

Renowned as a master percussionist and musician, also known as the Kanjira King, was born on September 17, 1972, into a family steeped in musical tradition so one could say he was born with rhythms in his blood. From a very young age, he was immersed in the world of rhythm and melody, with his grandfather nurturing his affinity for rhythm even as a 4 months old baby.
Continuing his journey, Mr. Selva Ganesh received advanced training under the guidance of his uncle, T.H. Subhash Chandran, a revered guru, further honing his skills on the Kanjira, a traditional Indian hand-held drum that is played with a little bit of fingertip magic making a rhythm that weaves its rhythmic spells.

By the age of nine, he was already sharing the stage with legendary musicians like Lalgudi Jayaraman (Indian Violinist and vocalist), D. K. Jayaraman (Singer), M. S. Subbulakshmi (Indian singer), M. Balamuralikrishna (Indian vocalist and musician), Sundaram Balachander (Indian veena player and filmmaker) and many more showcasing his remarkable talent as an accompanist.
In his teenage years i. e. around 14 - 15 years, Selva Ganesh's musical journey took a fusion-oriented turn, which led to him collaborating with international artists who were also inspired by the groundbreaking music ‘Shakti’. Further on starting his own fusion music band with Sivamani (Indian percussionist), Prasanna (Guitarist) and Keith Peters (Bass guitarist) in the mid 80’s.
In 1991, Selva Ganesh's musical journey took a new turn when he joined the esteemed group ‘Masters of Percussion’ led by the legendary Ustad Zakir Hussain. This marked the beginning of a prolific period of musical exploration which led to high profile collaborations.
To name some,

  • Jonas Elberg, regarded as one of the best bassists.
  • Collaborated with Terry Bozzio, drummer for the top known rock bands Frank Zappa & Luis Conte, the best latin percussionist on a percussion tour in Europe.
  • Conducted a percussion workshop with Terry Bozzio & Luis Conte.
  • Had the opportunity to jam with Mickey Hart, drummer of the rock band Grateful Dead.
  • Learning and traveling with Zakir Hussain worldwide.

After a long journey of inspiring and passion mending experience, a pivotal moment in his career came in 1999 when he joined "Shakti" alongside icons like John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain and U. Srinivas with Shankar Mahadevan joining in 2001, solidifying his reputation as a preeminent percussionist and the Kanjira King.
Selva Ganesh's achievements transcend his performance, as he has also made significant strides in instrument designing. He collaborated with the renowned company REMO to design his own version of the Kanjira, revolutionizing the instrument and making it a global hit.
Selva Ganesh has showcased his musical talents in the realm of film composition, contributing to over 12 Tamil, Telugu, and Hollywood productions. His percussion work has graced notable films such as "Kama Sutra" and "Life of Pi," earning him widespread acclaim.
V. Selvaganesh is today a grammy winner which just goes to show how he followed the footsteps of his father, the renowned Vikku Vinayakram and made a legacy