Komaravolu Sivaprasad
Komaravolu Sivaprasad (born 26 April 1955) is a whistling musician in the Carnatic tradition. He is the first professional whistling artist in Indian classical music. He was awarded the title Kala Ratna by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 2016.

Early life
Sivaprasad was born in Bapatla, a coastal town in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, India as the ninth child of K.S.V. Subba Rao and Rajyalakshmi.
He started whistling at an young age. Whistling is generally not appreciated in Indian culture. It is considered as a loafer's pastime. However, his uncle Prof. K.Chandrasekharan, a Padmasri awardee in the year 1959. and his elder brother Pardhasarathi (an amateur whistler himself) encouraged Sivaprasad to hone his skill.

His maiden public performance was at the age of twelve, when he covered for the late arrival of veteran artist Mulukutla Sadasiva Sastry. actor, director, producer, and later Governor of Puducherry and Maharastra, Kona Prabhakara Rao was impressed by the talent of young Sivaprasad and became his mentor.

Musical style
The whistling sound can typically be produced only on exhalation of the breath. Therefore, an uninterrupted performance was not possible which precluded it from becoming a serious art form. However, Sivaprasad mastered a technique through which he could produce the sound even when inhaling. This was his breakthrough and encouraged him to consider more serious training.

Training 
Sivaprasad was introduced to Padmavibhushan Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, a celebrated classical musician, and Dr. N.S.Srinivasan, a flute vidwan (disciple of veteran artist T. R. Mahalingam) from whom he received advance training in Classical Carnatic music.

Performances 
Up to the present time, Sivaprasad has given more than 10000 performances worldwide. He was selected by the Government of India for participation in the Festival of India in Moscow in the year 1988-89 under the leadership of P.V. Narasimha Rao, the then External Affairs Minister of India. He also participated in the International Music Festival as a Unique Artiste of the Globe in the year 1996.

Recognition 
He entered the Limca Book of Records in 1991 as the first Whistling artist to release an LP record in the world. He was appointed as the Asthana Vidwan of Mysore Datta Peetam in 1984 and of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in 2013.

Honours

Titles 

 Whistle Wizard - The Indian Express, 1981
 Gala Murali - Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna
 Andhra Koyila - M.G.Ramachandran, The then Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu, 1981
 Human Flute - Pupul Jayakar, Cultural Adviser to the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, 1981
 Mukha Murali - bestowed by  Ganapathy Sachidananda Swami of Datta Peetham, Mysore, 1986
 Swasa Murali - conferred by Padmabhushan Dr. C. Narayanareddy, 1991
 Prakruti Murali - Sri.Sri.Sri.Vijayendra Saraswati of Kanchipeetham, 1998

Awards 
 Kala Saraswati  - A.P.Kala Vedika, 1984
 Gaana Vibhushana -  Parupalli Foundation, Vijayawada, 1998
 Pride of India -  Mata Nirmala Devi of Sahaja Yoga Foundation, New Delhi, 2004
 Kala Ratna -  Govt of Andhra Pradesh, 2016
 International Lions Life Award, Hyderabad, 2013
 Life Time Achievement Awards from Wichita Asian Association (WAA) Kansas, USA; Telugu Fine Arts Society (TFAS), New York, ANR Lifetime Achievement Award

Compositions 
He composed Saptaraaga Sagaram, a ragamalika based on 7 Carnatic ragas that included Charukesi, Abhogi, Abheri, Durga, Hamsanadam, Mohanam, and Desh. He also composed pallavis in Raagam Sankarabharam, Mohanam, and Jog.

Cinema 
Sivaprasad contributed whistle music in the following films:

 Telugu film ‘Neerajanam’ (Music director O.P.Nayyar) 
 Sanskrit film Adi Shankaracharya (Music Director Dr. M.Balamuralikrishna) 
 Kannada film ‘Kona Eedhaite’ (Music Director Hamsalekha)
 Hollywood film ‘Time Expired’.

Discography

Carnatic classical 
 Annamacharya Keertanas on Whistle Titled -‘Seven Hills Whistle’- 2004.
 Melodies of Tyagaraja - 2005
 Melodies of Deekshitar - 2006
 Bhadrachala Ramadasu Keertanalu – 2008
 Melodies of Shamasastri – 2015
 Tribute to Smt. M.S Subbulkshmi – 2017

Devotional music 
 Bhagavan Sri.Satyasaibaba Bhajanaamrutam, volumes I 2008
 Bhagavan Sri.Satyasaibaba Bhajanaamrutam, volume II - 2009
 Bhagavan Sri.Satyasaibaba Bhajanaamrutam, volume  III-2010
 SriKrishna Bhajanamrutam - 2011

Film music 
 Western Music On whistle - 2013
 Old Classics Laahiri Laahiri Laahiri Lo(ANR Melodies) – 2010
 Old Classics Himagiri Sogasululu (NTR Melodies)  - 2011
 Old Classics (Hindi Film Music titled Suhaana …Safar…)-2012

Concept albums 

 Rabindra Sangeet Aananda Dhara on Whistle
 "My Nation – My Breath" - Patriotic Songs
 Kavi Bharateeyar Songs on Whistle
 Tribute to MS Amma - on the occasion of 101 Birthday Celebrations of Bharata Ratna M S Subbulakshmi

References 

1955 births
Living people
People from Guntur district
Carnatic musicians