Prakash Kandasamy
Prakash Kandasamy is widely regarded as one of Malaysia’s foremost tabla artists, recognised for his exceptional artistry, rhythmic mastery and lifelong dedication to the preservation and advancement of Indian classical music.
Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has established himself as an accomplished performer, educator, musical director and collaborator, becoming a defining figure within Malaysia’s Indian classical music landscape.
An artistic journey that began with dance
Prakash’s artistic journey began not with the tabla, but with dance. At the age of eleven, he commenced training in Bharatanatyam at the Temple of Fine Arts in Kuala Lumpur under his principal dance teacher, Shrimati Vasuki Thiruchittampalam.
He grew up in an artistic family. His father played the violin, while his brother, Shankar Kandasamy, became a distinguished Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and artistic director.
In 1990, Prakash completed his Bharatanatyam arangetram and received the Siva Gopal Award for Excellence in the Arts as an outstanding student of the Temple of Fine Arts.
His early training as a dancer gave him a deep understanding of movement, expression and the intimate relationship between rhythm and the human body. This foundation would later become one of the defining qualities of his work as a percussionist and dance accompanist.
Discovering the tabla
Prakash began learning the tabla at the age of sixteen under Shri Suresh Ramachandra at the Temple of Fine Arts.
His artistic development was strongly encouraged by Swami Shantanand Saraswati, founder of the Temple of Fine Arts and Prakash’s spiritual guru, who urged him to pursue more advanced training in India.
A decisive moment came in 1991, when sitar maestro Ustad Usman Khan heard the young Prakash practising at the Temple of Fine Arts. Impressed by his musicianship, Ustad Usman Khan invited him to perform with his ensemble and encouraged him to continue his studies in Pune.
Prakash subsequently travelled to Pune, where he undertook advanced tabla training under Ustad Mohammed Hanif Mirajkar. This period deepened his understanding of the Hindustani tabla tradition and provided the technical and musical foundation that would shape his career.
Ustad Usman Khan also became an important mentor, guiding Prakash in the art of accompaniment and in sadhana—the discipline of sustained, devoted artistic practice—and taking him on tour.
This combination of dance, percussion, accompaniment and spiritual discipline formed the basis of Prakash’s distinctive artistic identity. His playing combines profound respect for the Hindustani classical tradition with versatility across Indian classical, contemporary, orchestral, dance and cross-cultural music.
Performance and collaboration
Upon returning to Malaysia, Prakash became one of the country’s most sought-after tabla accompanists and solo performers.
His performances are distinguished by technical precision, sensitivity, musical intelligence and a dynamic stage presence. As an accompanist, he listens closely to the individual character of each artist, responding to their phrasing, movement and expression while contributing his own rhythmic imagination.
Throughout his career, Prakash has collaborated with distinguished musicians, vocalists, composers and dancers from Malaysia and India.
His international collaborations include:
- Kamal Sabri, sarangi artist
- Ustad Usman Khan, sitar maestro
- O.S. Arun, Carnatic vocalist
- Pandit Birju Maharaj, legendary Kathak dancer and guru
- Pandit Raghunandan Panshikar, Hindustani vocalist
- P. Unnikrishnan, Carnatic vocalist and playback singer
- Sandip Bhattacharjee, Hindustani vocalist
- Ustad Faiyaz Khan, sarangi artist and vocalist
- Pandit L. Shankar, violinist, vocalist and composer
- Dr M. Lalitha and Dr M. Nandini, acclaimed violin sisters
His Malaysian collaborations include:
- Reshmonu, R&B singer and recording artist
- Datuk Zainal Abidin Mohamed, singer and recording artist
- Samuel J. Dass, sitarist
- Kumar Karthigesu, sitarist
- Umesh Shetty, dancer and choreographer
- Dr Jyotsna Prakash, musician and longstanding creative collaborator
Prakash has also accompanied dancers and dance ensembles in Bharatanatyam and Kathak productions, performing in Malaysia and internationally. His own background in dance gives him a particular sensitivity to gesture, dramatic expression, movement and rhythmic structure.
He has toured and performed throughout Malaysia, India and internationally, including appearances in Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, Coimbatore, Australia and New Zealand.
His work has encompassed Indian classical concerts, dance productions, festivals, contemporary collaborations, recordings and multidisciplinary performances.
Prakash is also highly respected for his command of konnakol, the South Indian art of vocal percussion, as well as for his work in musical direction.
Inner Space
In 2003, Prakash co-founded the multidisciplinary ensemble Inner Space with his wife, Dr Jyotsna Prakash, dancer Umesh Shetty and sitarist Kumar Karthigesu.
Bringing together music, rhythm, movement and contemporary performance, Inner Space became an important platform for original Malaysian artistic work and cross-cultural experimentation.
In 2004, Inner Space received eight honours at the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards, recognising the ensemble’s achievements across multiple areas of performance and production.
Prakash’s wider collaborative career has also included work with ensembles and artistic projects such as Swarasia and Prana.
Educator and mentor
Alongside his performing career, Prakash has made an enduring contribution to arts education in Malaysia.
He taught tabla at the Temple of Fine Arts Malaysia for 26 years, nurturing generations of students and helping preserve and develop the tradition of Indian classical percussion in the country.
During this time, he guided six tabla students through their arangetram recitals—formal graduation performances representing the completion of advanced training and their readiness to perform independently.
Although these students did not all pursue careers as full-time musicians, each reached a professional standard of performance, demonstrating the technical ability, discipline and musical maturity required to perform at an advanced level.
Prakash has also taught at ASWARA, Malaysia’s National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage, for almost two decades, contributing to the training and development of successive generations of Malaysian musicians and performing artists.
Today, he continues to perform, teach and collaborate through the Temple of Fine Arts Malaysia and SWARA Community Arts Center.
Through more than 25 years of sustained teaching, mentorship and artistic leadership, Prakash has played a significant role in strengthening the practice and appreciation of tabla and Indian classical music in Malaysia.
Continuing the tradition
Prakash Kandasamy’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to discipline, artistic integrity and cultural exchange.
Grounded in tradition but always open to creative dialogue, his work connects music, rhythm and movement across generations and artistic forms.
Through his performances, collaborations and teaching, he continues to champion the tabla as a vital voice within Malaysia’s cultural life and to inspire the next generation of musicians.
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