Hindustani Vocal

Born in 1913 in a family of musicians Gangubai Hangal was initiated in music by her mother Ambabai. She was later a disciple of Rambabu Kundgolkar, better known as Sawai Gandharva.

One of the foremost exponents of the Kirana gharana, and among our front-ranking Hindustani vocalists Gangubai Hangal has enriched Indian music by her own unique talents. Gifted with a reasonant and flexible voice, she has a repertoire which is rich and diverse.

For her service to music Gangubai Hangal has received many honours. She received the Mysore State Akademi Award in 1962 and the Padma Bhushan in 1971, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award was bestowed on her in 1973 and an honorary doctorate of Karnataka University in 1976. She has served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka. A film on her life and work has been made by Vijaya Muley.

Born in 1929 in Varanasi, Girija Devi is one of the leading Hindustani vocalists. She was initially a student of Sarju Prasad Misra and continued subsequent training under Shrichandra Misra. She is especially known for her rendering of Thumri, Tappa, Chaiti, Kajri etc. in the Benaras style. She also sings Khayal.

Girija Devi has received many honours in her career. The Padma Bhushan, an honorary D.Litt. from the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeth, Varanasi (1996), the Tensen Award of the Government of Madhya Pradesh, and the Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Award in 1996. For her service to Hindustani music, she was conferred the Sangeet natak Akademi Award in 1977.

Madhup Mudgal was initiated in Hindustani music by his father vinaya Chandra Maudgalya and was later a student of Shri Vasant Takar and Pandit Jasraj. He also received training from Kumar gandharva. Madhup Mudgal obtained an M.Phil from the University of Delhi for his research in the structure of Khayal. He received the national Scholarship for music from 1976 to 1978. He now teaches at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Delhi, and is also the conductor of the Gandharva Choir. He is also an able composer and has done research on various poetic texts.

Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha were trained in Dhrupad at Dhrupad Kendra, Bhopal, under Ustads Zia Fariduddin Dagar and Zia Mohiuddin Dagar. They were recipients of the Madhya Pradesh Government Scholarship from 1982 to 1985. Ramakant Gundecha secured the first prize in the all India Radio music competition in 1985. The Gundecha brothers have performed in various Dhrupad festivals and other music events in India and abroad. They have several cassettes to their credit. They have performed in the Festival of India in Germany.

Umakant
Gundecha &
Ramakanth
Gundecha

Born in 1932 in Pune, Maharashtra, Prabha Atre received her training in vocal music from Shri Sureshbabu Mane and Shrimati Hirabai Barodekar of the Kirana Gharana.

A performer and a dedicated teacher, Prabha Atre has also served all India Radio as a Assistant Producer of Music. She is now Professor and Head of the Department of Music at S.N.D.T Women’s University, Bombay. She has also been a visiting professor in several universities in the West. She is a regular broadcaster and has a number of gramophone records and cassettes t her credit.

Prabha Atre received a Maharashtra government Award for her book Swaramayee in 1989, the Padma Shri in 1990, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Hindustani vocal music in 1991.

Shoba gurtu received her initial training inHindustani vocal music from her mother Menakabai Shirodkar of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She later received advanced training from Ustads Natthan Khan and Ghamman Khan as well as Narayan Nath gurtu. Well known as an exponent of light classical music, she has a wide repertoire of Thumri, Tappa and Dadra compositions, as also Ghazals and bhajans.

Shobha gurtu received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987.

Mukul Shivputra was born in 1956 and was trained from an early age by his father kumar Gandharva. Later he learnt Dhrupad and Dhamar from shri K.G.Ginde and studied Carnatic music for a year with shri M.D. Ramanathan. Besides Khayal, Mukul Shivputra sings devotional and folk songs. He has many Sanskrit compositions to his credit and has experimented with setting Sanskrit lyrics to music.

Vasundhara Komkali had her initial training in music under Prof. B.R.Deodhar in Bombay and thereafter received intensive training under her husband Kumar gandharva. She has collaborated in his research on various saint-poets and helped him in developing a new idiom in classical and devotional music. Among the musical works resulting from this close partnership are Geet-Varsha, Surdas, Tulsidas-darshan, Triveni and Rituraj Mehfil.

Ashwini Bhide – Deshpande received her initial training in music from her mother Manik Bhide, a representative of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She studied with Pandit Narayanarao Datar to complete her Sangeet Visharad degree, and subsequently under Ratnakar Pai. She also obtained a Master’s degree in Science and Ph.D

Ashwini
Bhide
Deshpande

Pandit Jasraj was born in 1930 in Haryana, and received his training in Hindustani vocal music from his elder brother Pandit Maniram of the Mewati gharana.

Ulhas Kashalkar was initiated in music by his father Shri N.DKashalkar and later learnt under Ram Marathe. He polished his style and enhanced his repertoire under Pandit Gajananbua Joshi, assimilating the best of the Gwalior, Agra, and Jaipur traditions. Known for his layakaari and intricate tans, he has won an audience for himself in India and abroad. He is at present attached to ITC Sangeet Research Academy as a guru.

Born in 1924, in the village of Thair, Maharashtra, C.R.Vyas received his training in Hindustani vocal music from Govindrao Bhatambrekar, Rajarambua Paradkar, Yashwantbua Mirashi and Jagannathbua Purohit assimilating the best in the Kirana, Gwalior and Agra gharanas.

Rashid Khan received his training in music under his grand uncle Ustad Nissar Hussein Khan of the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana initially at home and afterwards at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Calcutta. Since his first concert performance at the age of eleven in 1977 he has been performing regularly in national and international festivals of music, and has won wide recognition. His style is marked by technical virtuosity and sensitive phrasing. He has a number of cassettes and CDs to his credit.

Bhimsen Joshi was born in 1922 at Gadag in Karnatiaka. He was a student of Sawai Gandharva. In musical lineage he is thus a direct descendant of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, founder of the Kirana gharana. He also studied with other eminent musicians including Ustad Mushtaq hussain Khan of the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana, acquiring a vigorous style marked by rich musical imagination. Bhimsen Joshi is known for his systematic elaboration of ragas in alap, and also for Thumri and Bhajan. He has a large repertoire of devotional compositions of Purandaradasa.

Shruti Sadolikar-Katkar was groomed in Hindustani music by her father Vamanrao Sadolikar, a pupil of Ustads Alladiya Khan and Bhurji Khan of the Jaipur gharana. She did her M.A in music from the S.N.D.T University, Bombay, winning the Bhaskarbua Bakhle prize. Among the prominent vocalists of the younger generation, Shruti Sadolikar-Katkar has been a visiting professor at the Rotterdam Conservatorium, Netherlands. She has many cassettes and CDs to her credit.

Shruti
Sadolikar
Katkar

Shubha Mudgal received her initial training in music from Ram Ashray Jha and later studied under Vinay Chandra Maudgalya and Vasant Takar. She learnt stylistic techniques from Kumar Gandharva and Jitendra Abhisheki. She also learnt Thumri and Dadra under Naina Devi. An established vocalist, Shubha Mudgal has performed widely in India and abroad, and has many cassettes to her credit. She has also established herself as a composer on the small screen.

Born in 1948, Veena Sahasrabuddhe received her training in vocal music under her father Shankar Shripad Bodas and her brother Kashinath Shankar Bodas. She later trained under balwantrai Bhatt, Vasant Thakar and Pandit Gajananbua Joshi. Apart from vocal music she also trained in Kathak, Sitar and tabla.

Born in 1939, Ghulam Saidq Khan received his initial training in music from his father Ustad Ghulam Jafar Khan and subsequently from Ustad Mushtaq Husain Khan and Ustad Ishtiaq Hussain Khan in the Rampur Sahaswan Gharana. Apart from Khayal, he composes and sings Ghazals and Bhajans. He has researched in Soz-Khwani with a Senior Research Fellowship of the Department of Culture, Govt. of India. At present he is a lecturer in vocal music in the Department of Music, university of Delhi.

Kishori Amonkar was born in 1931 in Bombay. She received her training in music from her mother Mogubai Kurdikar, an eminent disciple of Khansaheb Alladiya Khan of the Jaipur gharana.

Born in 1937 in Allahabad, Sulochana Brahaspati learnt vocal music from Pandit Bholanath Bhat and Ustad Mushtaq Hussain Khan of Rampur. Later she received intensive training from her guru, and later her husband, Acharya K.C.D.Brahaspati. A large number of his compositions – Khayals, Thumris, Tappas and Dadras – are part of her repertoire.

Sulochana
Brahaspati


Home Carnatic Vocal Hindustani Vocal Kathak Bharatanatyam Kuchipudi Odissi Manipuri Temple dance Chitraveena Saxophone Ghatam Nadaswaram Sarangi Mandolin Veena Flute Shehnai Santoor Sitar Sarod Tabla Violin Mridangam Institutions Contact Us		Born in 1913 in a family of musicians Gangubai Hangal was initiated in music by her mother Ambabai. She was later a disciple of Rambabu Kundgolkar, better known as Sawai Gandharva. One of the foremost exponents of the Kirana gharana, and among our front-ranking Hindustani vocalists Gangubai Hangal has enriched Indian music by her own unique talents. Gifted with a reasonant and flexible voice, she has a repertoire which is rich and diverse. For her service to music Gangubai Hangal has received many honours. She received the Mysore State Akademi Award in 1962 and the Padma Bhushan in 1971, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award was bestowed on her in 1973 and an honorary doctorate of Karnataka University in 1976. She has served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka. A film on her life and work has been made by Vijaya Muley.
	Gangubai Hangal
		Born in 1929 in Varanasi, Girija Devi is one of the leading Hindustani vocalists. She was initially a student of Sarju Prasad Misra and continued subsequent training under Shrichandra Misra. She is especially known for her rendering of Thumri, Tappa, Chaiti, Kajri etc. in the Benaras style. She also sings Khayal. Girija Devi has received many honours in her career. The Padma Bhushan, an honorary D.Litt. from the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeth, Varanasi (1996), the Tensen Award of the Government of Madhya Pradesh, and the Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Award in 1996. For her service to Hindustani music, she was conferred the Sangeet natak Akademi Award in 1977.
	Girija Devi
		Ajoy Chakrabarty was groomd in music by Jnan Prakash Ghosh and was a student of Ustad Munawwar Ali Khan of the Patiala gharana. He has been closely associated with the Sangeet Research Academy, Calcutta, which he initially joined as a scholar. He has performed in major music events over the past decade. In 1985, he was featured in the Festival of India in U.S.A. He has a number of cassettes and CDs to his credit. He is the founder of Shrutinandan, a music – teaching institution. He has received the Kumar Gandharva Award for his contribution to music as well as the President’s Award for the best male playback singer in the Film Festival of 1990.
	Ajoy chakrabarty
		Madhup Mudgal was initiated in Hindustani music by his father vinaya Chandra Maudgalya and was later a student of Shri Vasant Takar and Pandit Jasraj. He also received training from Kumar gandharva. Madhup Mudgal obtained an M.Phil from the University of Delhi for his research in the structure of Khayal. He received the national Scholarship for music from 1976 to 1978. He now teaches at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Delhi, and is also the conductor of the Gandharva Choir. He is also an able composer and has done research on various poetic texts.
	Madhup Mudgal
		Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha were trained in Dhrupad at Dhrupad Kendra, Bhopal, under Ustads Zia Fariduddin Dagar and Zia Mohiuddin Dagar. They were recipients of the Madhya Pradesh Government Scholarship from 1982 to 1985. Ramakant Gundecha secured the first prize in the all India Radio music competition in 1985. The Gundecha brothers have performed in various Dhrupad festivals and other music events in India and abroad. They have several cassettes to their credit. They have performed in the Festival of India in Germany.
	Umakant Gundecha & Ramakanth Gundecha
		Born in 1932 in Pune, Maharashtra, Prabha Atre received her training in vocal music from Shri Sureshbabu Mane and Shrimati Hirabai Barodekar of the Kirana Gharana. A performer and a dedicated teacher, Prabha Atre has also served all India Radio as a Assistant Producer of Music. She is now Professor and Head of the Department of Music at S.N.D.T Women’s University, Bombay. She has also been a visiting professor in several universities in the West. She is a regular broadcaster and has a number of gramophone records and cassettes t her credit. Prabha Atre received a Maharashtra government Award for her book Swaramayee in 1989, the Padma Shri in 1990, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Hindustani vocal music in 1991.
	Prabha Atre
		Shoba gurtu received her initial training inHindustani vocal music from her mother Menakabai Shirodkar of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She later received advanced training from Ustads Natthan Khan and Ghamman Khan as well as Narayan Nath gurtu. Well known as an exponent of light classical music, she has a wide repertoire of Thumri, Tappa and Dadra compositions, as also Ghazals and bhajans. Shobha gurtu received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987.
	Shobha Gurtu
		Mukul Shivputra was born in 1956 and was trained from an early age by his father kumar Gandharva. Later he learnt Dhrupad and Dhamar from shri K.G.Ginde and studied Carnatic music for a year with shri M.D. Ramanathan. Besides Khayal, Mukul Shivputra sings devotional and folk songs. He has many Sanskrit compositions to his credit and has experimented with setting Sanskrit lyrics to music.
	Mukul Shivputra
		Vasundhara Komkali had her initial training in music under Prof. B.R.Deodhar in Bombay and thereafter received intensive training under her husband Kumar gandharva. She has collaborated in his research on various saint-poets and helped him in developing a new idiom in classical and devotional music. Among the musical works resulting from this close partnership are Geet-Varsha, Surdas, Tulsidas-darshan, Triveni and Rituraj Mehfil.
	Vasundhara Komkali
		Ashwini Bhide – Deshpande received her initial training in music from her mother Manik Bhide, a representative of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She studied with Pandit Narayanarao Datar to complete her Sangeet Visharad degree, and subsequently under Ratnakar Pai. She also obtained a Master’s degree in Science and Ph.D Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande is now an established concert artist, and has performed in many major festivals in India and other countries. She has a number of cassettes to her credit.
	Ashwini Bhide Deshpande
		Pandit Jasraj was born in 1930 in Haryana, and received his training in Hindustani vocal music from his elder brother Pandit Maniram of the Mewati gharana. A popular vocalist, he is known for his rendering of Khayal and devotional compositions. He has also composed music for dance-dramas and films. He has been honoured with the Padma Shri in 1975, the title of Sangeet Martand – conferred by the government of Haryana – in 1976, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987. In 1990, he received the Padma Bhushan. He is also a recipient of the Government of Maharashtra’s Gaurav Puraskar, the Dinanath Mangeshkar Award and the Allauddin sangeet Ratna Award.
	Pandit Jasraj
		Ulhas Kashalkar was initiated in music by his father Shri N.DKashalkar and later learnt under Ram Marathe. He polished his style and enhanced his repertoire under Pandit Gajananbua Joshi, assimilating the best of the Gwalior, Agra, and Jaipur traditions. Known for his layakaari and intricate tans, he has won an audience for himself in India and abroad. He is at present attached to ITC Sangeet Research Academy as a guru.
	Ulhas Kashalkar
		Born in 1924, in the village of Thair, Maharashtra, C.R.Vyas received his training in Hindustani vocal music from Govindrao Bhatambrekar, Rajarambua Paradkar, Yashwantbua Mirashi and Jagannathbua Purohit assimilating the best in the Kirana, Gwalior and Agra gharanas. He is a vocalist of rare distinction and has performed widely over a long career. He has to his credit several gramophone records and about two hundred original compositions under the pseudonym Gunijan. His disciples include several well-known young artists of today. For his contribution to Hindustani vocal music C.R.Vyas received the Sangeet natak Akademi Award in 1987. He has also received the Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar in 1990, the Padma bhushan in 1992, and the Ustad hafiz Ali Khan Award in 1994.
	C.R.Vyas
		Rashid Khan received his training in music under his grand uncle Ustad Nissar Hussein Khan of the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana initially at home and afterwards at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Calcutta. Since his first concert performance at the age of eleven in 1977 he has been performing regularly in national and international festivals of music, and has won wide recognition. His style is marked by technical virtuosity and sensitive phrasing. He has a number of cassettes and CDs to his credit.
	Rashid Khan
		Bhimsen Joshi was born in 1922 at Gadag in Karnatiaka. He was a student of Sawai Gandharva. In musical lineage he is thus a direct descendant of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, founder of the Kirana gharana. He also studied with other eminent musicians including Ustad Mushtaq hussain Khan of the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana, acquiring a vigorous style marked by rich musical imagination. Bhimsen Joshi is known for his systematic elaboration of ragas in alap, and also for Thumri and Bhajan. He has a large repertoire of devotional compositions of Purandaradasa. He received the Padma Shri in 1972, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1975, and the Padma Bhushan in 1985.
	Bhimsen Joshi
		Shruti Sadolikar-Katkar was groomed in Hindustani music by her father Vamanrao Sadolikar, a pupil of Ustads Alladiya Khan and Bhurji Khan of the Jaipur gharana. She did her M.A in music from the S.N.D.T University, Bombay, winning the Bhaskarbua Bakhle prize. Among the prominent vocalists of the younger generation, Shruti Sadolikar-Katkar has been a visiting professor at the Rotterdam Conservatorium, Netherlands. She has many cassettes and CDs to her credit.
	Shruti Sadolikar Katkar
		Shubha Mudgal received her initial training in music from Ram Ashray Jha and later studied under Vinay Chandra Maudgalya and Vasant Takar. She learnt stylistic techniques from Kumar Gandharva and Jitendra Abhisheki. She also learnt Thumri and Dadra under Naina Devi. An established vocalist, Shubha Mudgal has performed widely in India and abroad, and has many cassettes to her credit. She has also established herself as a composer on the small screen.
	Shubha Mudgal
		Born in 1948, Veena Sahasrabuddhe received her training in vocal music under her father Shankar Shripad Bodas and her brother Kashinath Shankar Bodas. She later trained under balwantrai Bhatt, Vasant Thakar and Pandit Gajananbua Joshi. Apart from vocal music she also trained in Kathak, Sitar and tabla. An established vocalist, she has participated in prestigious music festivals in India and abroad. She has also been a teacher at the SNDT College of Arts, Pune. She has a large number of discs and cassettes to her credit. Venna Sahasrabuddhe received the uttar Pradesh Sangeet natak Akademi Award in 1993 for her contribution to music.
	Veena Shasra buddhe
		Born in 1939, Ghulam Saidq Khan received his initial training in music from his father Ustad Ghulam Jafar Khan and subsequently from Ustad Mushtaq Husain Khan and Ustad Ishtiaq Hussain Khan in the Rampur Sahaswan Gharana. Apart from Khayal, he composes and sings Ghazals and Bhajans. He has researched in Soz-Khwani with a Senior Research Fellowship of the Department of Culture, Govt. of India. At present he is a lecturer in vocal music in the Department of Music, university of Delhi.
	Ghulam Saidq Khan
		Born in Azamgarh District, Uttar Pradesh, Chhannulal Mishra received his training in music under his father Pandit Badri Prasad Mishra, and then from Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan of the Kirana gharana. Chhannulal Mishra is a versatile and popular vocalist with a rich repertoire of Khayals, Thumris, Dadras, Kajris, Chaitis and Bhajans. He is also a scholar who has delved into the aesthetic subtleties of Indian classical music under the guidance of Thakur Jaidev Singh. He received the Naushad Award from the Government of uttar Pradesh in 1995.
	Chhannulal Mishra
		Kishori Amonkar was born in 1931 in Bombay. She received her training in music from her mother Mogubai Kurdikar, an eminent disciple of Khansaheb Alladiya Khan of the Jaipur gharana. She is a leading exponent of Khayal and semi classical forms of Hindustani music, including devotional songs. Trained vigorously in the style of her gharana, she has assimilated the best in other gharanas as well. She has also researched in Indian music and conducted seminars and workshops on the subject. Kishori Amonkar has performed widely within the country and has many popular records to her credit. She has performed in prestigious arts events abroad, including the Festivals of India in the U.S.A and France.
	Kishori Amonkar
		Born in 1937 in Allahabad, Sulochana Brahaspati learnt vocal music from Pandit Bholanath Bhat and Ustad Mushtaq Hussain Khan of Rampur. Later she received intensive training from her guru, and later her husband, Acharya K.C.D.Brahaspati. A large number of his compositions – Khayals, Thumris, Tappas and Dadras – are part of her repertoire. Sulochana Brahaspati’s renderings are distinguished by the richness of her voice and the intricacies of her tans. She is also an accomplished teacher and musicologist and has published books including Raga Rahasya and Khusro, Tansen, Tatha Anya Kalakar. Among the honours she received the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1984 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1994.
	Sulochana Brahaspati