File:Pandit Manilal Nag.jpg

English: Pandit Manilal Nag hails from a family of musicians, traditionally associated with " Vishnupur Gharana" which is generally accepted around 300 Years old. Born in 1939 in Bankura District of West Bengal in India, his grand father Govinda Chandra Nag and great-grandfather Bauridas Nag were both distinguished sitarists of their times.

      Manilal Nag was in art of playing sitar at the age of 5 by his father Late Shri Gokul Nag.

Gokul Nag was himself an eminent musician, adept in techniques of playing many kinds of musicial instruments and was revered as "Sangeetcharya". After 10 years of rigorous training under the intensive care of his father, Manilal imbibed the rudiments of well balanced presentation of various aspects of music. He had the unique opportunity of being in close proximity to legendary musicians such as Ustad Allauddin Khan, Pt Kanthe Maharaj, Pt Omkarnath Thakur, Pt. Vinayak Rao Patwardhan, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan, Ustad Amhed Jan Therakwa, Ustad Amir Khan and many others. He imbibed various aspects of these legendary musicians for accomplishment.

      Pandit Manilal Nag had his debut appearance in the All India Music Conference in 1953, accompanied Pt Samta Prasad on Tabla. As a " TOP " Grade artiste, he has been performing in  "Akashvani " as well as "Doordarshan"  and many times in National Programme of Music & Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan" since 1954.

    One of the most popular and sought after concert artiste of India , he has been regularly performing in music conferences all over INDIA & Abroad. He has participated in various International Music Festivals & Concerts in U.K., USA., Canada, Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland, Germany , Australia, Japan, Fizi -Islands, Nepal, etc. As an expert member he has served the Central Audition Board of  Prasar Bharati, New Delhi, University Grants Commission and West Bengal Akademi of Dance Drama Music and Visual Arts.He has also served as GURU at ITC Sangeet Research academy, Kolkata for a few years.

     He had received the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademy Award in the year 2001 for his contribution in Indian Classical Music. He also received the Senior Fellowship Award from Ministry of Culture, Govt. Of India in 2005 and  Honorary Gold Medal from Asiatic Society, Kolkata in 2008. Besides, Govt. of West Bengal has awarded him                      Allauddin Award 2011 for his life time contribution in Indian Classical Music. Other awards which he had received are ITC Sangeet Samman, Doverlane Sangeet Samman, Koser Award from Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, Sangeet Ratna Award from Mumbai, etc., Vitasta award from Jammu and Kashmir etc.

Besides, as a GURU he has also trained more than 1000 students in his career and many of them are today placed in Akashvani and in various Universities. He was also attached with Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata as faculty member. He has also released several cassettes & CDs from different music companies.