- Bridgewater, NJ
- Henna Tattoo Artist
- Contact for rates
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
Gaurav G.
May 18, 2026Balmy 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
G M.
January 27, 2026Amazing voice
He is just amazing. Amazing voice.
Hired as: Singing Guitarist
Shankara
Thank you Gauri :) It was a pleasure playing for your event
Sandhya
November 26, 2025Excellent 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
Siddharth S.
September 9, 2025Amazing 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
Nikki R.
June 5, 2024Enchanting 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
Shankara
Thanks Nikki :) very glad I was able to contribute to your special occasion. Happy to play for you any time!
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.
Report Shankara
Indian Entertainment
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