Born in Bombay, Kanga studied with Mehli Mehta, father of conductor Zubin Mehta and concertmaster of the Bombay Symphony. He joined the London Philharmonic in 1950, moving to the Royal Philharmonic ten years later. Also active as a soloist, he played the complete Bach sonatas and partitas in two concerts at Wigmore Hall in the 1970s.
Kanga was also a much-sought-after session musician, performing and recording with Frank Sinatra, the rock band Queen, and other pop musicians.