Pravin Godkhindi

• Name — Pt. Dr. Pravin Godkhindi • Born — 28 October 1973 • Birth Name — Pravin Godkhindi • Origin — Dharwad, Karnataka, India • Genre — Hindustani classical, fusion, world music • Occupation — Flautist, composer, director, author • Years Active — 1979–present • Website — http: pravingodkhindi.com/

Born in Dharwad, Karnataka, Godkhindi began training at age three under his father, Pandit Venkatesh Godkhindi. He later studied rhythm under Vidwan Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma. He graduated with distinction in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from SDM College of Engineering and Technology. In 2022, he was conferred an honorary doctorate by Tumkur University.

Pravin Godkhindi is known for performing on an eight-foot-long contrabass flute, which he named the "Gods Bansi". He is the first Indian to perform on the 8-foot contrabass flute. He is the first Indian bansuri player to incorporate the circular breathing technique into classical music performances. He has designed three unique custom flute variations: the Mandra Bansuri (an Alto U-shaped bansuri designed to achieve the lower octave Pancham note), the Flutar (a combination instrument merging the flute and electric guitar), and the Divya Bansuri (an amplified, illuminated flute containing built-in microphones and LED indicators). In 1998, he established the fusion band "KRISHNA," a musical ensemble blending Hindustani classical, Carnatic, and Western musical elements. He has collaborated with musicians including Ustad Zakir Hussain, M. Balamuralikrishna, and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. As a composer, he co-produced and scored the soundtracks for the National Award-winning Kannada films Beru (2005) and Vimukthi (2010). He has composed original scores and title tracks for over 15 feature films and 40 television serials, alongside various devotional and dance drama recordings. In 2022, he published his first novel, Prahara: Haduva Gadiyara, which he later translated into English as Prahar: The Singing Clock (2023).