Charu Hariharan

Multi-Percussionist. Vocalist. First Woman to Win CCRT for Mridangam.

Charu Hariharan holds a distinction that belongs to her alone: she was the first woman to win the CCRT scholarship for Mridangam. The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training scholarship is one of India's most competitive and prestigious awards for classical performers. To win it for mridangam, an instrument with a tradition that has, historically, been almost exclusively male - was not just a personal achievement. It was a statement.

But Charu's career is defined by far more than that single milestone. She has performed in over 400 concerts worldwide, a touring schedule that reflects the sustained international demand for her work. That demand crosses traditions: she is equally at home with Carnatic classical, South Indian folk, world music, and contemporary fusion. A range that is genuinely rare, and that speaks to a musician who has pursued breadth without ever compromising depth.

Her work on the Oscar-winning film RRR is perhaps her highest-profile credit to date. She performed mridangam and khanjira for the score of S. S. Rajamouli's film, which went on to win the Academy Award and became a global phenomenon that introduced Indian musical instruments and rhythms to audiences who had never encountered them before. Being part of that project at that level, on those instruments placed Charu among a small group of percussionists who can claim a direct connection to Indian cinema's most decorated recent achievement.

She is also a member of Varldens Band, the Swedish World Folk Ensemble, a remarkable cross-cultural association that takes her deep into the Scandinavian folk music tradition and demonstrates the genuinely global reach of her artistry. As a vocalist as well as a multi-percussionist, Charu brings an unusual holistic musicality to everything she does.

For Gappu Percussions, Charu Hariharan's endorsement carries a particular significance. She is a proud Gappu Percussions endorsee and has developed and delivered Gappu's official beginner-to-advanced cajon courses, bringing her pedagogical experience and her name to a curriculum that reflects the brand's commitment to music education. Her involvement is not cosmetic; it is substantive, and it signals to Gappu's community of students and learners that the brand takes their development seriously.

At a Glance

• First woman to win the CCRT scholarship for Mridangam
• 400+ concerts worldwide
• Mridangam and khanjira performer on Oscar-winning film RRR
• Member of Swedish World Folk Ensemble Varldens Band
• Multi-percussionist, vocalist, and composer from Kerala
• Developer and host of Gappu's official cajon course curriculum