T. N. Sivakumar (Tamil: டீ.என் . சிவகுமார்),(Telugu: తీ. ఎం. శివకుమార్) is a blind carnatic flautist guru from Chennai. He is a disciple of Sri T. R. Mahalingam. He has performed in various cultural concerts across the globe.He was told by Kanchi Paramacharyar H.H.Chandrashekara saraswathy that he would be leading the rest of his life with a bamboo stick,flute(venu)
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Sri Sivakumar was trained by flute maestro Sri T. R. Mahalingam, who was also his uncle. He was trained at the Government Music College, Madras (Chennai) by Smt. T. R. Navaneetham[1] for a period of 3 years, where he went on to get his Diploma titled "Vadya Visarada". For a period of 10 years (1976 to 1985), he was also trained by Sri Prapancham Seetharam.[2]
Apart from Carnatic music, Sivakumar also learnt Hindustani music under Sri Krishna Nandhan. He learnt to play film music from Sri P S Divakar for 2 years.[3] He became handicapped as both his eyes were hurt in an accident which led to retina damage. His preliminary education in music was under his mother's guidance for the first 5 years.
He has been performing in Adayar Park Sheraton,[4] Chennai for the past 22 years.He is still training a lot of students in flute,keyboard, everyday. He has trained around 2000 students over the past years. He has traveled around the globe and given concerts in America, South Africa and Europe.
He was awarded the "Sangeetha Shiromani, D.U.E.M.S". His first Arangetram was on March 1, 1977 at Thygaraja Vidwad Samajam, accompanied by Sri B.A. Chidambaranathan (A.I.R) on the violin and Sri Rajam on the Mridangam. His second performance was at Sadguru Sri Thyagaraja aradhana, Thiruvayaru[5] on January 11, 1978 in the presence of Sri Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan. He has also left his imprint in film music. One can hear his flute in films like "His Highness Abdullah" (Malayalam) and "Nizhalgal" (Tamil).