Thetakudi Harihara Vinayakram - Grammy Award–winning Indian percussionist.

Thetakudi Harihara Vinayakram (born June 24, 1944), also known as Vikku Vinayakram is a Grammy Award–winning Indian percussionist. He plays Carnatic music with the ghatam, an earthen pot, and is credited with popularizing the ghatam. He was awarded the Padma Shri, given by Government of India in 2002, and later the 2012 Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour in the performing arts conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama. Finally he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2014.

Early life of Vinayakram

Vinayakram was born to Kalaimaamani T. R. Harihara Sharma, a musician and teacher. He took up playing at a very young age.

Career of Vinayakram

Vinayakram's concert career began at the age of 13. His first performance occurred on March 5, 1957 at the Sri Rama Navami festival in Thoothukudi. While proceeding for the arangetram the tuned ghatam instrument was broken by a child named Ganesh, which by itself had been a good omen for his bright career. where he accompanied V.V.Sadagopan. He was soon accompanying many famous vocalists in Carnatic music at the time, including Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna, G. N. Balasubramaniam, Madurai Mani Iyer, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M. S. Subbulakshmi and Maharajapuram Santhanam, among others. His brother, T. H. Subhash Chandran, also excelled in the field. The Ghatam followed the master by rising to fame as a percussion instrument that required nimble fingers and strong stomach muscles to control the mouth of the pot.
Vinayakram's tryst with the international music platform came in the early 1970s when he joined Shakti to play along with John McLaughlin and Zakir Hussain.
He has also performed at Basant Utsav, the annual fund raiser for the Banyan. Vinayakram is Principal of Sri Jaya Ganesh Tala Vadya Vidyalaya in Chennai, India - the academy established by his late father and teacher in 1958. It continues to produce new stars of Carnatic percussion. Vinayakram's son V. Selvaganesh is a successful percussionist, especially after tours with John McLaughlin's group, Remember Shakti.

Discography of Vinayakram

• A Handful of Beauty (Shakti Album) (1976)
• Natural Elements (Shakti album) (1977)
• Planet Drum (1991) – Mickey Hart
• Mysterium Tremendum (2012) – Mickey Hart Band

Awards for of Vinayakram

Vinayakram was conferred the Hafiz Ali Khan Award for “unmatched contribution in the field of music” in 2000.[citation needed] He is also the first South Indian musician to be awarded the Grammy for Best World Music Album for his participation in Mickey Hart's Planet Drum, in which he played ghatam and morsing.[citation needed] He donated all the proceeds from the award to a charity organization in south India.[citation needed] He was also nominated for the 1996 Grammy Awards for Best World Music Album for his participation in 'Raga Aberi' along with L. Shankar on the ten string double violin and Zakir Hussain on the tabla (the piece is set in the tala cycle of 4¾ beats). The Indian Government decorated him with the Padma Shri Award in 2002.
Finally, he was awarded the 2012 Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna), the highest award in performing arts in India, given by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Acdemy for Music, Dance and Drama. In 2014 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by Government of India.

Dr. N. Rajam - Violinist

N. Rajam (born 1938) is an Indian violinist who performs Hindustani classical music. She remained Professor of Music at Banaras Hindu University, eventually became Chair of the department and the Dean of the college. She was awarded the 2012 Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour in the performing arts conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama.

Early life and training of Dr.N. Rajam

N. Rajam was born in Ernakulam-Kerala in 1938 in a musical family. Her father, Vidwan A. Narayana Iyer was a well-known exponent of Carnatic Music.[1] Her brother, T. N. Krishnan, is also a famous violist. Rajam started her initial training in Carnatic music under her father. She also trained under Musiri Subramania Iyer, and learned raga development from vocalist Pandit Omkarnath Thakur. Rajam received the prestigious titles of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan from the Government of India. People often refer to her music as the "Singing Violin".

Performing career of Dr.N. Rajam

Rajam started playing violin at age three. By the age of nine, she was a professional musician. With guidance of her father, A. Narayana Iyer, she developed the Gayaki Ang (vocal style). Rajam has performed across the globe and in numerous places throughout India. She has performed in various countries in Europe, extensively toured the USA and Canada, and performed in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Netherlands, to name a few. Rajam was a Professor of Music at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in the Faculty of Performing Arts for nearly 40 years. She has been the Chair of the department and the Dean of the college at BHU.
Performed along with Ustad Zakir Hussein on 3rd Feb 2014 for A Homage to Abbaji - Ustad Allarakha.

Students of Dr.N. Rajam

She trained her niece, Kala Ramnath, her daughter Sangeeta Shankar, Pranav Kumar of Super 30 and her granddaughters Ragini Shankar, Nandini Shankar. Many of her students from BHU are famous violinists, including Satya Prakash Mohanty, V. Balaji and Swarna Khuntia.

Awards for Dr.N. Rajam

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 1990
• Padma Shri, 1984
• Padma Bhushan, 2004
• Puttaraja Sanmaana, 2004
• Pune Pandit Award, 2010, by The Art & Music Foundation, Pune, India
• 2012: Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna)

Discography of Dr.N. Rajam

• Violin Dynasty (Raga Bageshri)
• Dr. (Mrs.) N. Rajam (Violin Recital)

Raag mein ki todi by Dr. N. Rajam

61st Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav to be held from 12th to 15th December in Pune

A Jasrangi jugalbandi between vocalists Sanjeev Abhyankar and Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande, performances by flautist Praveen Godkhindi and veteran violinist R Kumaresh, sitar recital by Ustad Nishat Khan and tabla by Anindo Chatterjee will offer a rich fare of Indian classical music at the 61st Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav festival which will begin at Raman Baug Prashala grounds in Narayan Peth on December 12.





The jugalbandi has two vocalists singing two different ragas at the same time on two different scales. For the first time, the prestigious annual event will present nine artistes including Madhukar Dhumal (shehnai), Reva Natu, Wasim Ahmad Khan, Harish Tiwari, Indrani Mukherjee, Gulam Niyaz Khan (vocalists), Jayanthi Kumaresh (veena in Carnatic style), Mira Prasad (sitar) and Rajiv Taranath (sarod).





The four-day event will comprise meet-the-artistes sessions and screening of documentaries on the classical performing arts, Shreeniwas Joshi, executive president of Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal that organises the festival, told reporters on Wednesday. Dhumal will open the festival and Natu, a Gwalior gharana vocalist, will perform after him followed by Abhyankar and Bhide-Deshpande. Khan and Chatterjee will perform next followed by eminent vocalist Pandit Jasraj. On the second day, Agra gharana singer Wasim Ahmad Khan, santoor artiste Ulhas Bapat, who would be playing at the festival after two decades, veteran Kathak dancer Shovana Narayan will perform. The day will conclude with a performance by vocalist Begum Parveen Sultana. Vocal recital by Tiwari from Delhi, Mukherjee from Kolkata and Raja Kale, a joint performance by Godkhindi and Kumaresh will mark the third day's performances which will close with a vocal recital by veteran Malini Rajukar.





On the last day, two sessions, one in the morning and the other in the evening, will feature both new and seasoned artistes. The morning session will begin with a vocal recital by Upendra Bhat, followed by Jayanti Kumresh. The session will end with Patiala gharana exponent Ajay Chakrabarty's vocal performance. Sitar player Mira Prasad will open the evening session, followed by singer Gulam Niyaz Khan. Vocalist Arshad Ali Khan, who had won the hearts of many enthusiasts as a five-year old years ago, will take stage. Kaushiki Chakrabarty, who will perform here after 2006, will be followed by sarod player Rajiv Taranath - a student of Ali Akbar Khan. Kirana gharana doyen Prabha Atre will bring the festival to an end.

Swar Sanskruti music academy presents Ravi Chary Crossingin memory of Pandit Prabhakar Chary

Swar Sanskruti music academy

presents

Ravi Chary Crossing in memory of Pandit Prabhakar Chary

Featuring artists... Sitar: Ravi Chary Drums: Gino Banks Bass: Sheldon D'Silva Keyboard: Sangeet Haldipur Tabla: Amit Kavthekar Violin: Manas Kumar Djembe: Shikhar Naad Qureshi

Munni Begum - Ghazal singer

Munni Begum

Munni Begum  is a famous Pakistani ghazal singer, But born in India. Her real name is Nadira. She is American National ,based in Chicago, IL, USA.

Munni Begum was born in Murshidabad, West Bengal, India. The youngest child of seven children, she first started taking music lessons from the famous singer Ustad Khwaja Ghulam Mustafa Warsi. Subsequently, she studied in the school of music for three years and thereafter she launched her career.
Her parents migrated from India to East Pakistan in the early 1950s; East Pakistan later became independent Bangladesh. She studied in PAF Shaheen School, Dhaka, however she moved to Pakistan before graduating from high school, due to Bangladesh Independence War of 1971.


Career

Munni Begum began career as a singer in Karachi in 1970s. Begum released her first album of ghazals in 1976. It became a smash hit and broke all previous records.
On March 23, 2008 Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan has conferred the Pride of Performance award upon legendary female singer Munni Begum at a simple ceremony held at Governor's House in Karachi.[3]

Personal life

Munni Begum is married and has 2 daughters, Muniba Hasnain and Minara Umer, and a son Syed Asad Ali.

Notable ghazals

As for Begum’s hit ghazals, the list is nearly endless - listen to Munni Begum's famous ghazals online. Some of these are:
Jhoom barabar jhoom sharabi
Har qadam zehmatein…
Tumhare sheher ka mausam bada suhana lage…
Ek Bar Muskura Do
Awaargi Mein Had Se Guzar Jaana Chahiye
Dil Ko Hale Karar Mein Dekha
Idhar zindagi ka janaza uthe ga
bhujhi hoi shama ka dhuaan hun
Mareez e mohabbat unhi ka fasana

Discography
Munni Begum Khoobsurat Ghazlein Vol 1
Awagi Vol-28vfdg
Meri Pasand Vol. 1
Meri Pasand Vol. 2
Masti Mein Surahi Jhoomti Hai Vol. 1
Masti Mein Surahi Jhoomti Hai Vol. 2
New Ghazals Vol. 26
Munni Begum Vol-21
Munni Begum Vol-20
Sham-E-Ghazal
Meri Pasand
Munni Begum
Munni Begum In Concert Vol. 4
Munni Begum In Concert Vol. 3
Munni Begum In Concert Vol. 2
Munni Begum In Concert Vol. 1

Taufiq Qureshi - A Percussionist

Taufiq Qureshi (born 1955) is an Indian classical musician. He is a percussionist and a composer.
Son of legendary tabla player, Ustad Alla Rakha and younger brother of the Great Ustad Zakir Hussain.
Born in a family where tabla was the bread and butter, there were these two pillars, his father Ustad Allarakha and brother Ustad Zakir Hussain, who were always there guiding and getting him ready for the world of rhythm. Since the time he started playing on stage and rhythm-programming in studios, he always wanted to work on exploring wider prospects of world rhythm through composing, music production and the ever inspiring world of live performances. With Zakirbhai's inspirational support, his parents’ blessings and his wife Geetika’s support and understanding push he plunged into the exquisite, exotic and exciting world of rhythm
Career
Taufiq Quereshi started his career early. His stint with live performances began with the creation of his own world music band, ‘Surya’ way back in 1986-87. He has been featured as a performing artiste on the 2009- Grammy award winning album Global Drum Project, Remember Shakti, Masters of Percussions and Summi. He collaborates with various classical artists for fusion concerts. He plays a variety of percussion instruments like djembe, duff, bongos, batajon. His performance on drums with a soft beat of a muffled drum and the very next moment ups the tempo and demonstration of different sounds - like breath, rhythm, breaking a champagne bottle, the sound of the train and the arrival of people, horses and others on arrival at the palace on the drums are quite popular Discography
Rhydhun (2000) Swar Utsav - Streams In Confluence (2001) Rhydhun Gold (2002) Mondo Beat - Masters of Percussion India The Greatest Songs Ever Taalisma (2002) Colours of Rajasthan (1995) PercJam (2003) Bombay Fever (2006) Mystic Soundscapes - Forest (2007) Rooh - Songs From The Heart (2007)

Dhondutai Kulkarni - The last living icon of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana

Dhondutai Kulkarni, (born 23 July 1927) is perhaps the last living icon of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana. The legendary Alladiya Khan, who founded the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana, made this Gharana unique by its full-throated singing, its complicated Taans, and its vast repertoire of Raags, which Dhondutai Kulkarni represents very well.

Early life
She was born in a Brahmin family in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Dhondutai's father initiated her into music. From him she became an AIR performing artiste at the age of eight. She then started training under Bhurji Khan, whose father, Alladiya Khan, had a special care for Dhondutai, and it was not uncommon to find her sitting next to the legendary performer at music festivals. Her training continued under the mentorship of Laxmibai Jadhav and Ustad Azizuddin Khan, grandson of the legendary Alladiya Khan. From Ut. Azizuddin Khan she received most of her repertoire of rare Ragas. Thereafter, she spent a long number of years under the immensely distinguished knowledge of Kesarbai Kerkar, ending up as her sole disciple.

Repertoire
Her incredible repertoire of ragas sees to it that she rarely repeats a raga at two consecutive concerts. Dhondutai knows specialty Raag creations made not just by Alladiya Khan but also Kesarbai Kerkar. At 86, Dhondutai is saluted not just for her musical contributions, but also for her quality as a performing artist.

Awards and recognition
Dhondutai has been awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990. She also has been invited to the "Surashri Kesarbai Kerkar Sangeet Sammelan" since its beginnings, she sings last at the concert.

Books
Namita Devidayal's book "The Music Room" chronicles a significant part of Dhondutai's life, music and career. Namita is one of Dhondutai's students and learned from her over a period of 25 years. The book talks about the life and music of Alladiya Khan, Kesarbai Kerkar and Dhondutai.

Dhondutai Kulkarni - National Programme