Born into a family of musicians with rich lineage and steeped in pedigree music, Papanasam Kumar is the grandson of Sri Papanasarn Rajagopala Iyer, brother of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Papanasam Sivan. A child prodigy, Papanasam Kumar started his career as a percussionist and singer, accompanying and singing with Sri Papanasam Sivan at the tender age of five for Namasankeerthanams.

An  Grade Mridangam Staff Artist, All India Radio since 1993, Papanasam Kumar has been groomed under the tutelage of the legends "Laya Vadhya Kovida" Kumbakonam Sri Rajappa Iyer and "Sangeetha Kalanidhi" Umayalpuram K Sivaraman. He has won many accolades and titles including the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetarn - "Aasthaana Vidhwan", "Laya Vadhya Kovida", "Kalai Valar Mamani" by Tamil Nadu Cultural Association, "Laya Priyan" by Vaikathashtami Sabha, Madurai, and 'Laya Vidyadhara" given by Irai Pani Mandram Chennai.

Papanasam Kumar has also accompanied leading musicians in major Sabhas in Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kerala, Karnataka and many other places in Tamilnadu.