News about Sawai Gandharva Music Fest,Pune

Programme Schedule

  9”th December, 2010

Bhaskar Nath

Bhaskar Nath belongs to a family of renowned musicians of Meerut Shehnai Gharana. He started his early training in Shehnai, Flute, and Harmonium at a very young age under the guidance of his grand father, the Late. Pt. Om Prakash, his paternal uncle, the Late. Pt. Jagannath who was an internationally acclaimed Shehnai Vadak and his father the renowned vocalist of Kirana Gharana, Pt. Vishwanath. Bhaskar Nath started performing in concerts from the age of 11. Bhaskar Nath has performed in many prestigious concerts. His performances have received rave reviews from press and public alike

Sudhakar Chavan

Sudhakar Chavan was attracted by classical music at the age of 14 & started journey of music initial training under renowned vocalist Pandit Dr sudhakar Marathe for about 19-20 years.

He continued further training of classical music under the guidance of Pandit Shrikant Deshpande of Kirana Gharana (disciple of legendary vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi) for about 15-16 years.

Sawai Gandharv Sangeet Mahotsav ,kundgol in Karnataka

Sawai Gandharv Sangeet Mahotsav Chandrapur

Swar Sagar Sangeet Mohotsav, pimpri-chinchwad

Rotary club pune

Ambad sangeet Mohotsav Nehru centre Mumbai

Bhuvanesh Komkali

Grandson of Pandit Kumar Gandharva, son of Mukul Shivaputra, Bhuvanesh's musical journey began, unbeknownst to him, in infancy. His music thrived under able tutelage of Smt. Vasundhara Komakali and Shri. Madhup Mudgal. With his unwavering commitment to music, Bhuvanesh is taking forward the timeless legacy of Kumarji's values and philosophy. He is currently engaged in expanding the archives of Kumarji's music with latest digital technology. Bhuvanesh has performed successfully across India and has been highly appreciated by well versed audience. He has been awarded a scholarship by Cultural department of Government of India.

Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, renowned exponent of the bansuri or bamboo flute, is a rare musician, earning several national and international awards, including the Padma Bhushan, Konarak Samman, Padma Vibhushan, Dinanath Mangeshkar Award, OFFICER IN THE ORDER OF ORANGE-NASSAU by the Dutch royal family and KNIGHT IN THE ORDER OF ARTS AND LETTER by the French Government. He has collaborated with several western musicians, has performed worldwide and has been teaching Indian music at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory for the past 15 years. He is the Artistic Director of the Indian Music department.

Parveen Sultana

A child prodigy, Begum Parveen Sultana received her early training from her father, Ikramul Majid, then from Acharya Chinmoy Lahiri in Calcutta. She then came under the guidance of her Guru and Mentor, Ustad Mohammed Dilshad Khan. With him, she has acquired a new dimension to her singing, giving it the required mastery of ragas and voice culture. Many awards and honours came her way like the youngest artist to receive the 'Padmashri'. The press has been unanimous in proclaiming her the 'Queen of Hindustani Music', the 'Poetess of Music' and 'the Ultimate Soprano', applauding her for both her outstanding musicality and breathtaking virtuosity.

10’th December, 2010

Uma Garg

Classical Vocalist and distinguished scholar Vidushi Uma Garg was born into a Bengali family of musicians. She was trained under her mother, Late. Smt. Asha Lata Das, Late. Sri S.D. Apte, Late. Dr. P.P. Johri and Late.Ustad Hafeez Ahmed Khan of Rampur Sahaswan Gharana. Along with Khayal Gayaki, her versatility encompasses Classical Music, Thumri, Dadra, Sufi, Ghazal, Geet, Bhajans and playback singing. Uma is the recipient of numerous awards such as Pt. Nikhil Banerjee Award 2010, Best Devotional Singer Award, Shobhana Award, National Award and Sangeet Samay Sar Puraskar - Bhakti Sangeet Shiromani, to name a few.

Sawani Shende

Sawani was amidst rich musical notes, right from childhood. She had her father Pandit Sanjeev Shende and grandmother Smt. Kusum Shende of the Kirana Gharana as her gurus. She perfectd an array of Ragas, Taan patterns and Taranas under the guidance of Dr. Smt. Veena Sahastrabuddhe, a noted classical vocalist from Gwalior Gharana. Her rendition of semi-classical genres highlights the emotive and expressive quality of Indian classical music. Sawani's confidence and mastery in Khayals, her crystal clear diction and sensitivity in presentation takes her performance to a high aesthetic level.

U. Shrinivasan  and V. M. Bhatt

Creator of the Mohan Veena and the winner of the Grammy Award, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt has mesmerized the world with his pristine, delicate yet fiery music. The disciple of Pt. Ravi Shankar, Vishwa Mohan belongs to the tradition of Moughal emperor Akbar's court musician TANSEN and his guru the Hindu Mystic Swami Haridas. Vishwa Mohan has successfully Indianization of the Western Hawaiian guitar with his perfect assimilation of sitar, sarod & veena techniques. He has performed in USA, USSR, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Europe, Dubai, Al-Sharjah, Bahrain, Muscat, Abu Dhabi etc. and throughout India.

Ustad. Shrinivasan

A Maestro means one who combines unique musicianship and immense virtuosity. Master U.Shrinivas has proved that he fulfils this to the hilt. A rather inconspicuous member of the western orchestra, Shrinivas has revived and raised the mandolin, an unknown instrument and given it a respectable status in classical music. His music acumen has assumed many dimensions. He glides over the gamut with ease traversing 4 octaves with subtle deflections and suave certainty. Every phrase, every design falls into place in the octaval build up of the raga. He can evolve and execute the most intricate fraction-ridden swara combinations that would keep any accompanist on edge.

Shrinivas has grown into a colossus with only sky as the limit. " The magnificent music that emanates from the mandolin of young Shrinivas has the freshness and spontaneity of a mountain brook. The kalpanaswaras are like cascading waterfalls and the alaps a serene, majestic river flowing through the plains. His fingers caress and cajole original and remarkable proyogas of Carnatic music from this western instrument" Nobody in recent times has achieved charisma in as quick a time as Shrinivas has done. He is a musical phenomenon to whom perfection of tone and execution come as spontaneously as the free and unfettered flow of his ideas.

Pandit Jasraj

Jasraj was born in Hissar, Haryana in an orthodox brahmin family to Pandit Motiramji, a classical exponent.His family is well known for singing in the Mewati Gharana style. Motiramji died when Jasrajji was only four, on the day he was to be appointed as the state musician in the court of the Last Nizam.

Jasraj was initiated into vocal music by his father. He also received training from his elder brother, Pandit Maniramji, and later from Maharaja Jaywant Singhji Waghela. He was also greatly influenced by the voice of the famous ghazal singer, Begum Akhtar, whom he used to listen to, skipping school, at a small hotel that played her songs all day. This inspired him to learn vocal music.

Jasraj's vocal range extends across three-and-a-half octaves. His vocalizing is in perfect diction and clarity, a trademark of the Mewati Gharana's style of Khayal. He has also done extensive research in Haveli Sangeet.

His greatest contribution to Indian classical music is his conception of a unique and novel jugalbandi, styled on the ancient system of Moorchanas, between a male and a female vocalist, each singing in their respective scales and different ragas at the same time.In his honor, this legendary jugalbandi is known as The Jasrangi

11’th December, 2010

Sharad Khaladkar

Shri. Sharadkumar Khaladkar is the son of well known Sanai player Baburaoji Khaladkar of "Kirana" family.

His education of Sanai wadan has been completed since his age of 15 years, by the guidance of his father and elder brother Pandit Suryakant & Ramesh Khaladkar.

Since childhood, he has got lessons on Sanai wadan. He has performed with his best in Sanai wadan in different areas of India supported by his elder brother and father. Further he started to perform his own programs. In 1974, first program performed by him was in Sur Singar Sanstha, Mumbai and has been awarded by Shrimati Jaya Bachchan with Surmani Award.

He has performed "Sundri"wadan programs also with Pandit Suryakant Khaladkar. He Has awarded him with a medal in the program performed by him in Shri Swami Haridas Sangeet Sanmelan at Kal Ke Kalakar Rangbhuwan Mandir in Mumbai. He has rewarded by Promotional Certificate by Late Rajiv Gandhi and Shrimati Soniya Gandhi in a program held at Delhi.

He has performed individually in Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav of Pune since last 15 years.

Shri. Sharadkumar Khaladkar is the 5th generation of his family. He has achieved mastery in Sanai and Sundri wadan. At present he is performing programs in Mumbai Akashwani Kendra. In 1952, the opening of Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav has been done by his father's Sanai wadan program.

Shri. Anand Bhate

A gifted child prodigy with a family lineage in classical music, Anand Bhate has been a disciple of the legendary doyen of the Kirana Gharana, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Pandit Yashwantrao Marathe of the Khayal Gayaki. At tender age he presented Hindustani Classical Music, Marathi natyasangeet and devotional compositions. Connoisseurs were spellbound by Anand's luminous rendering of Balgandharva's gayaki and affectionately conferred on him the 'title' Anand Gandharva. A brilliant IT professional at Zensar Technologies, Anand pursues his passion, music with great fervor and commitment. He has given performances on many prestigious platforms in India and abroad.

Chandrakant Limaye

Chandrakant Limaye has created his own style with an imaginative mix of classical ragas, Thumri, Dadra, Tappa, Bhajans and Marathi Natyasangeet. He has had tutelage from Late Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande and eminent vocalists from Gwalior, Jaipur and Agra Gharana. A teacher, an actor, a vocalist, a music composer, a lecturer, a music judge, Chandrakant Limaye has multi-dimensional talents. His music is a glory of Indian classical tradition and is duly awarded with numerous prestigious honours and performances.

Shivkumar Sharma

Santoor, the folk instrument from the valley of Kashmir owes its classical status to Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Performance career of over half a century, innovations in Santoor to establish it on concert platform, countless concerts in India and overseas, over hundred recordings, various experimental albums, priceless honours such as Padmashree, Padmavibhushan, Maharashtra Gaurav, Tansen Sanman, 2 Honourary doctorates.. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma is a rare creative genius. A great artist and guru, a responsible citizen and principled man, Panditji is a legend in the true sense of the term!

Malini Rajurkar

Malini Rajurkar was born into an archetypal middle class family of the Indian household, where everybody thinks of growing up with studies, getting a secured job, get established in his/her career and finally get married and raise a family. However, she was always interested in singing classical music and have a career in it in future. She had full support though, of her family. In the mean time, she joined Ajmer College with a musical scholarship, where she met her future guru, the legendary Pt. Govindrao Rajurkar, who trained her in the tricks and nuances of classical music. She was an excellent task manager, who, in spite of being married, knew exactly how to balance between home and her career. Her in-laws were completely supportive in her decision, who were a musical family themselves. She had also assimilated other nuances of classical music from other legendary gurus. She was open to every kind of musical variation and boasts of an individualistic free style. Her heavy reverberating voice, with an unusual range and depth, rendered her khayals an uncanny tinge. In fact, she is only of the few singers in the classical genre who is a successful and exceptional singer of tappa

12”th December, 2010

Meena Faterpekar

Meena Fatarpekar is the grand-daughter of the doyens of Kirana Gharana, Saraswatibai Rane and Hirabai Badodekar and her music has been cultured under this family tradition. Well versed with classical,bhavgeet,natyasangeet,bhajans and thumari, Meena is blessed with melodious and versatile voice. She has to her credit many prestigious concerts in India and abroad. Many outstanding prizes such as Bharat Gayan Samaj's Master Krishnarao Phulambrikar Gold Medal, Surmani By Sur Singar, Yuva Puraskar by Tansen Sangeet Sammelan, Kolkata and scholarships at state and national level have crowned her glory.

Ut. Shakir Khan

Shakir Khan is a promising and talented young artist with an exquisite sense of sur and laya reflected through his performance. Eldest son and disciple of the world famous sitar maestro Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan, Shakir belongs to the 8th generation of the famous Etawah Gharana. He has showcased his talent in prestigious Indian music concerts including the Dover Lane Music Conference, Saptak Music Festival, Tansen Music Festival and across US, Canada, Europe and also in Woodstock Festival in Poland. Shakir is a part of an Europian Jazz band, Taalism and plays in Indian Fusion bands like Mukti and Soundscape.

Padma Talwalkar

Padma Talwalkar's music represents a unique blend of various Gharanas, embellished with her own personal touch. She inherited her talent from kirtankar grandfather, Shri Kanebuwa. She mastered the intricacies of Gwalior and Kirana Gharana from Pandit Gnagagharbuwa Pimpalkhare, was under tutelage of Late. Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar of Jaipur Gharana and perfected the art of concert singing from Smt. Kishori Amonkar. Padma continued her quest for music under the guidance of Pt. Gajananrao Joshi, a master of Jaipur, Gwalior and Agra Gharanas. Her impressive list of awards includes Late. Smt. Vatsalabai Bhimsen Joshi Puraskar, Pandit Jasraj Puraskar and the Rajhans Pratishthan Puraskar.

Shri. Upendra Bhat

Upendra Bhat, an acclaimed classical vocalist of Kirana Gharana, reminds the audience of his legendary Guru - Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. With his well seasoned, sonorous voice, systematic rendition of ragas, powerful tans and expressive singing, Upendra keeps the audience captivated. He excels in diverse musical genres like gazals, thumris, bhajans and light music. Upendra has performed at several prestigious platforms like Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan, Sawai Gandharva Music Festival, in India, UK,USA,Dubai and Bahrain. He is the recipient of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Award, Karnatak State Government Award, Vishwashanti Sanget Jeevan Gauraw Puraskar and many more.

Deepak Maharaj & Mamta Maharaj

Deepak Maharaj was born on 25th February 1970 in Delhi into the illustrious family of Kalka-Bindadin Gharana. He received his training from a very tender age from his father, the renowned kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj. He began performing on stage from the young age of nine and also accompanied his father on many concert tours in India.

He has performed leading roles in dance drama choreographed by Birju Maharaj ji, most notably amongst them Krishnayan, Kumar Sambhav, Katha Raghunath Ki, Rupmati - Bajbahadur, Shan-e-Awadh, etc . These concerts and his solo performance were received with critical acclaim in India, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Dubai, Germany, France, Australia, Russia, etc

Recently he has given a splendid performance as Romeo in the kathak version of Romeo and Juliet , which was staged in various cities in India.

Mamta Maharaj  of Lucknow Gharana, the family which has been supporting the classical form of Kathak for many decades.

She represents the eighth generation of kathak in the family after the legends like late Shri Lacchu Maharaj, late Shri Shambhu Maharaj, Shri Acchan Maharaj and her father and guru the living-legend himself Padma Vibhusan Pandit Birju Maharaj. She is the first female kathak professional performer from the family.

Trained under Pandit Birju Maharaj, she has not only inscribed a niche for herself, but has the enthusiasm to share and spread the same training and devotion upon this dance form to others.

Prabha Atre

A brilliant thinker, performer, composer and teacher of music, Dr. Prabha Atre of Kirana Gharana, is in league of her own. She was trained in the traditional `guru-shishya paramparaa' system by the late Sureshbabu Mane and his famous sister, Padmabhushan Hirabai Badodekar, both stalwarts of the Kirana gharana. Her sincerity to her art and sensitivity to the times reflect in her thinking and singing. Whether khyaal, taraanaa, thumri, daadraa, ghazal or bhajan, she has a distinct style and ingenuity in design and presentation. Her timeless talent is honoured by countless prestigious awards including Padmabhushan, Sangeet Natak Academy Award and Maharashtra State Govt.