He was born to sitar player Kartick Kumar, a disciple of Ravi Shankar.

Kumar gave his first public performance at the age of six at Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry.

[1] Niladri was conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi's Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, awarded to young musicians, in March 2007.

[1] [6] The concept initiated from a traveling sitar, which was modified by Kumar to create rock guitar sound out of it.

[1] He also won the MN Mathur Award in the 51st Maharana Kumbha Sangeet Samaroh for his contribution to Indian classical music in March, 2013.