Hailing from a family of educationists in Gaya (Bihar), Mrinal has borrowed the sparks of music from his maternal uncle Late Shri Anup Kumar Pathak who was a well known light musician. After having performed at many occasions as a child, he was sent by his father Sri Manoj Kumar Mishra, a lecturer of Sanskrit and a revered priest, to learn the basics of Hindustani Classical Music from Late Pandit Kameshwar Pathak of Gaya Gharana. He also trained under Late Pandit Govardhan Mishra, son of the legendary Ramuji Mishra of Banaras Gharana. After the sad and untimely demise of his previous Guru, his mother Smt. Anima Mishra, a homemaker, made sure his musical journey continued and thus sent him to learn from Pandit Rajendra Sijuar, disciple of Late Pandit Kameshwar Pathak. After finishing his higher secondary education on a subtle note, he resumed learning classical music in Patna from Pandit Rajneesh Kumar, a noted disciple of Late Pandit Pashupatinath Mishra of

Banaras Gharana, and simultaneously

earned the degree of Sangeet Prabhakar

from Prayag Sangeet Samiti with distinction.

 

Some of his important achievements include:

  • First prize in state level Youth Festival

in Bihar for classical singing

 

  • Winner in competition organized

by Youth, Art & Culture Department,

Bihar 

  • Empaneled artist by Ministry of culture, Bihar

 

  • Graded artist at Akashwani (Patna)

 

  • SPIC MACAY Gurukul Scheme Scholarship to receive training under noted Gurus in ITC SRA, Kolkata

 

Apart from successfully performing on many different occasions, Mrinal has also performed at several noteworthy places, some of which are as under:

 

  • “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” organized by Sangeet Natak Academy, Uttar Pradesh

 

  • Aaroh by Kala Prakash, Varanasi

 

  • Bhavrang Shatabdi Sangeet Samaroh, Varanasi

 

  • Poorvacharya Sangeet Samaroh,

Banaras Hindu University

 

  • Aarohan Foundation, Kolkata

 

  • Pandit Kanthe Maharaj Smriti

Sangeet Samaroh (Sur-Taal), Patna

 

  • Magadh Sanskritik Mahotsav, Gaya
  • Sri Amrit Vinayak Maasik Sangeet Sabha, Varanasi

 

  • Durgakund Vaarshik Sangeet Samaroh, Varanasi

 

  • Shri Sankat Mochan Maasik Sangeet Samaroh, Varanasi

 

  • Sijuar Estate, Gaya

 

  • Subah-E-Banaras, Varanasi

 

Mrinal has also excelled in all subjects throughout his academic career while growing up as a promising vocalist. He was awarded a Gold Medal during his bachelor’s degree in computer science and has earned his MA with flying colors in Hindustani Classical Vocal from Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune.

 

Mrinal also shows special interest in the Tabla and

the Harmonium. He even holds the degree of

Sangeet Prabhakar from Prayag Sangeet

Samiti in Tabla. He loves to play the

Harmonium and has very successfully

accompanied his Gurus and many others

on the Harmonium on several occasions.

Classical Vocal being his forte, his voice also has the ability to exhibit the subtle nuances and fine murkis needed to embellish Ghazals, Bhajans and other lighter forms. He never holds himself back from singing in the said style if such an opportunity presents itself.

 

He is currently pursuing his PhD from the Faculty of Performing Arts in Banaras Hindu University under Prof. Pravin Uddhav who is a distinguished disciple of Taal Yogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar.

He has also accompanied Prof. Pravin Uddhav a multiple number of times on Nagma singing during his Tabla performances.

 

It was after graduation that he moved to ITC SRA in Kolkata for the SPIC MACAY scholarship where he took a serious dive into learning music from the renowned classical vocalist

Pandit Kumar Mardur of Kirana Gharana and

never looked back. Mrinal has also worked as an

artist manager under the supervision of his Guru

to organize the prestigious

Gaanayogi Sangeet Samaroh in Dharwad,

Karnataka every year. At present, he is

under the sincere tutelage of his Guru

Pandit Kumar Mardur.