Shankara

New York City, NY

$800 and up

Travels up to 60 miles

Get a free quick quote
Promotional video thumbnail 1 for Shankara

Katchi Sera (Rock) Live in Brooklyn

Promotional video thumbnail 2 for Shankara

O Sanam (Cover)

Gallery photo 1 of Shankara

Wedding Reception

Gallery photo 2 of Shankara

Live at Brooklyn Music Kitchen!

Gallery photo 3 of Shankara
Gallery photo 4 of Shankara

Overview

I specialize in singing Indian music—everything from Bollywood and Kollywood to ghazals and semi-classical.

I have a regular band that I play with for weddings and other gigs, and I can also accompany myself on the guitar for a solo performance.

I have studied Indian classical music for 20+ years, and attended Berklee College of Music where I studied Music Production. Thus, my repertoire consists of timeless filmi classics, American Pop/R&B tunes, and classical songs, as well as my originals which I like to throw in!

You can check out my work on my instagram: @kingkantan. I'd love to elevate your event!


Reviews

7 reviews

Small thumbnail image for reviewer Gaurav G.

Gaurav G.

May 18, 2026
Verified review

Balmy voice for a balmy evening!

Shankara added such a special touch to our park birthday celebrations. He played with spirit and joy. His friend Pranav accompanied him on bansuri and they truly mesmerized the guests. Shankara has a great voice and his guitar ties it all perfectly. Thanks for making our day memorable and reading the room so well.

Hired as: Indian Entertainment


Small thumbnail image for reviewer G M.

G M.

January 27, 2026
Verified review

Amazing voice

He is just amazing. Amazing voice.

Hired as: Singing Guitarist

Small thumbnail image for Shankara

Shankara

Thank you Gauri :) It was a pleasure playing for your event


Small thumbnail image for reviewer Sandhya

Sandhya

November 26, 2025

Excellent performance!!

Shankara and his band performed at a annual fundraiser event at an auditorium with over 500 attendees. They really captivated the audience with their performances. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their singing and band performance. I highly recommend them!!

Hired as: Indian Entertainment, Singing Guitarist


Small thumbnail image for reviewer Siddharth S.

Siddharth S.

September 9, 2025

Amazing performance at our wedding

My wife and I saw Shankara at a concert in Brooklyn and immediately knew that we wanted him to perform out our wedding. We convinced him to do the gig, and he and his band were exceptional. Everyone loved the performance and we thought it was a lot more fun than having a normal wedding band. Shankara is extremely talented and is an artist to keep an eye on. We love his original music as well as his covers.

Hired as: Indian Entertainment, Singing Guitarist


Small thumbnail image for reviewer Nikki R.

Nikki R.

June 5, 2024

Enchanting engagement party performance

Shankara gave a lovely rendition of the popular love-ballad Kadal Oli (the Sound of Love) an original Indian fusion song he composed and set to music. It was the perfect choice for the special occasion of my engagement party with a mixture of 200+ Indian and western guests. The magic of the evening was further enhanced by his sparkling guitar accompaniment. Needless to say, everyone shouted "Encore!" when the song was over. Shankara was the unanimous musical highlight of the event! Shankara is not only a gifted musician and performer, but also very professional, accommodating and a pleasure to work with. I will definitely be hiring Shankara for future events.

Hired as: Indian Entertainment, Singing Guitarist

Small thumbnail image for Shankara

Shankara

Thanks Nikki :) very glad I was able to contribute to your special occasion. Happy to play for you any time!

Write a review

Booking information

Price range: $800 and up

Languages: English, Hindi, Tamil

About

Shankara is a Tamil-American singer-songwriter from the Bay Area. He grew up studying Indian classical music from Vidwan O.S. Thyagarajan of Chennai, and learned guitar by studying vintage blues recordings. He later studied contemporary production and songwriting at Berklee College of Music. Taking inspiration from A.R. Rahman, John Mayer, Coke Studios, and ghazals, he writes songs that marry Indian melodies with Western production. He is a versatile performer, and his live sets include Hindi, Tamil, and English repertoire adorned with melodic improvisation.

Services offered

Past booked events

May 2026

17

Sunday

Birthday Party

3:00pm - 5:00pm

New York City, NY

January 2026

24

Saturday

Birthday Party

7:30pm - 10:00pm

San Jose, CA

June 2024

01

Saturday

Graduation

7:30pm - 9:30pm

Carle Place, NY

Influences and inspiration

A.R. Rahman, John Mayer, Shankar Mahadevan, Coldplay, Coke Studios.

Check out these featured profiles

Featured

Arva Henna Artist

4.88 (37)
14 Verified bookings

  • Bridgewater, NJ
  • Henna Tattoo Artist
  • Contact for rates

Ryan L. said “Arva and her team of artists were fantastic! They arrived early, and they were fun and professional. Everyone at the company loved them. Additionally, Arva was easy to communicate with during the... ”
Featured

Stephanie Strings

5.0 (138)
91 Verified bookings

  • Woodbridge, VA
  • Violinist
  • Contact for rates

Joyce D. said “Stephanie performed at a food and wine pairing event for Georgetown Day School parents, faculty, and staff. She's an amazing talent and was well received by our 300 attendees. She was a pleasure... ”
Featured

Ananda

5.0 (7)
Top Performer
17 Verified bookings

  • Montclair, NJ
  • Sitar Player
  • Contact for rates

Sasha R. said “Ananda was a pleasure towork with, his musical abilities were great and their playing created a wonderful ambiance at our event! ”
Featured

Grace Musical Events

5.0 (8)
Top Performer
4 Verified bookings

  • Princeton, NJ
  • Indian Entertainment
  • Contact for rates

Mittal &. said “Regi and Binu did a wonderful job making birthday celebration truly special and memorable. From planning the event to coordinating the music, karaoke, slideshow, games, and dance sessions, everything... ”