Artists Performing in "Shree"

Smt. Gayatri Joshi
A promising vocalist of the young generation, Gayatri Joshi is the singer to watch in the forth-coming years. Gayatri was born in an artiste’s family. She was initiated in to the art of singing by her father sri. Shankar Vairagkar, an accomplished vocalist, a disciple of Pt.Padmakar Kulkarni.She has received advanced training from smt. Arati Ankalikar Tikekar of the Agra Jaipur Gharana.Formally she holds a ‘Sangeet Alankar’degree from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya.She has presented her art at several prestigious platforms and has won a number of awards during her musical career.

Sri. Vishwajeet Borwankar
Vishwajeet started taking lessons in music at an early age under the guidance of his father Milind Borwankar. With a supportive musical background Dr. Ram Deshpande, who is one of the leading Vocalists of today’s generation and a torchbearer of Hindustani Shastriya Sangeet, introduced Vishwajeet to the intricacies in talim under guru-shishya parampara. Vishwajeet received rigorous talim of Gwalior Gharana during this period.
Presently, he is under the able guidance of Pt. Babanrao Haldankar who is one of the most respected stalwarts of Agra and Jaipur Gharana. Babanraoji received his talim from great legendary maestros like Ustad Khadim Hussain Khan Sahib and Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar. Hence Vishwajeet has been fortunate to be blessed under his guidance and teachings.
Vishwajeet's father has his own music academy “SWARSANSKAR” for more than 10 years now. Swar Sanskar is very active in propagation of music and creating awareness within students.
With acceptance from his gurus, Vishwajeet is imparting training in music to selected students since last few years.
Vishwajeet was cordially invited as a Representative of Music Department to the "Leadership Tomorrow Summit" held at Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Contemporary Studies which was inaugurated by Former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam on the occasion of Sesquicentennial Celebration of Mumbai University.

Sri. Shakir Khan
Shakir Khan belongs to the 8th generation of the famous Etawah Gharana. He is the eldest son and disciple of Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan.
Shakir gave his first public recital at the age of 11. He has performed in prestigious music conferences in India including the Dover Lane Music Conference (Kolkata), Saptak Music Festival (Ahmedabad), Bombay Festival (Mumbai) and many more. He has also performed in the U.S and Europe.
Shakir has had the honor of accompanying his father on stage and has been appreciated as a prodigious talent by great masters such as Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and Ustad Zakir Hussain. He has also played a recording for ghazal maestro, Ghulam Ali. Shakir lately performed at the prestigious Woodstock Festival in Poland August ‘2008.
Shakir Khan is a promising and talented young artist with an exquisite sense of
sur and laya reflected through his performance. He has distinguished himself by winning Government of India merit scholarship and first prize at the All India Radio (AIR) Music Competition. Shakir’s academic accomplishments include a Masters in Music from University of Pune (Lalit Kala Kendra).

Sri. Kumar Mardur
Hailing from rich traditions of Dharwad, young Kumar Mardur has had his training from his father Pandit Somanath Mardur, a renowned Hindustani Classical Vocalist of Kirana Gharana. Pandit Somanath Mardur is the senior disciple of Padmabhushan Dr. Basavaraj Rajguru. Under the able guidance of his father, Kumar has shown the qualities of becoming a promising young artist. Presently Kumar has also been learning from Dr. Pandit. Firoz Dasturji, a great Maestro of Kirana Gharana and the Seniormost Disciple of Late SAWAI GANDHARVA
Endowed with a melodious voice, he is known for pure and aesthetic presentation of ragas, crystal clear taan patterns and command over laya.
Kumar has completed Masters Degree in Music from Karnatak University, Dharwad.
He is performing all over the country enthralling audiences. He is an approved artist through Akashwani and Doordarshan and is performing through them regularly. Many senior artists have blessed him with a bright and successful career in the field of music. He has decided to pursue music as his career and with talent a glorious future lies ahead.

Sri. Kunal Gunjal
Kunal Gunjal born in Pune on 14th October 1984,is a young and promising santoor Artiste of the young generation. Having a musical background from his father, Shri.Ulhas Gunjal who is a disciple of internationally renowned santoor exponent, Padmavibhushan.Pt.Shivkumar Sharma, Kunal started learning Tabla from
Shri. Shantilal Shah, who is a disciple of Taal-Yogi. Pt.Suresh Talwalkar. Kunal started learning santoor from Dr.Dhananjay Daithankar (Senior Disciple of Pt.Shivkumar Sharma). Kunal is now learning under the guidance of Pt.Shivkumar Sharma, in the traditional Guru-Shishya Parampara.
Till now Kunal has many Solo Concerts to his credit, played at places like Aurangabad, Solapur, Ahmedabad, Banglore. Kunal has also performed at various music festivals and conferences.
Kunal has also performed at Vedic Heritage Inc(USA) in New York in November2005.


Sri. Vibhav Khandolkar
Vibhav is slowly and steadily making his place in the world of music of Tabla. He got his first guidance of Tabla from Mr. Pundalik Kalangutkar and then from Mr. Tulsidas Navelkar. Presently undergoing advance training under Mr. Ramdas Palsule in Pune.
Mr.Khandolkar has passed Visharad Pratham from Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidhyalay Mandal, Mumbai. He has shown his excellent performance in many Sangeeth Sammelan. Vibhav has accompanied famous artists such as Shaunak Abisheki, Aarthi Anklikar, Devki Pandit, Pt. Prabhakar Karekar and many more.

Sri. Milind Kulkarni
Milind Kulkarni's natural flair for Harmonium reflects the eternal essence of Hindustani Classical Music as handed down in the true "Guru Shishya Parampara". Endowed with the talent he has carved for himself a place in the divine world of Music and captured the hearts of the listeners. Milind's tryst with Harmonium bloomed at the tender age of seven. Over a period of time, under the gentle guidance of his Teachers & his own efforts - dedication & rigorous 'Riyaaz '- intense hours of practice - this fine art is flowering to reach a state of exceptional caliber. Milind is today a reputed accompanist and fast emerging as a soloist. Milind's father, an avid Music lover, recognized the inborn talent of young Milind & opened the world of music at a very young age.
Pt. Vasantrao Gurav of Sangli was the first formal Guru who introduced Milind to the 'Seven Swara'. Discovering the potential of Milind, Pt. Anna Diwan of Sangli further enriched Milind's talents. Today Milind is under the fine tutelage of Pt. Pramod Marathe, leading Harmonium player & Principal at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Pune.
Milind earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music, specializing in Harmonium at Centre for Performing Arts, Pune University, and Pune. He has accompanied many prominent vocalist, instrumentalist and Kathak Dance performers. Milind is a regular performer of All India Radio & Doordarshan (T.V.) network.

Sri. Sandip Ghosh
Sandip Ghosh, a talented young upcoming tabla player, was born in 1982 in music lovers family of Kolkata.He was initiated in Tabla by his supportive parents in the early childhood. He started his career as student under the tutelage of Pt.Gobindo Bose and continued for nine years.
Sandip then came in touch of Pt.Anindo Chatterjee and started taking talim under the keen supervision of him.
He has specialised himself in the superb style of "Farukhabad" gharana and also gained extensive talim of all other gharanas under the able guidance of Pt.Anindo Chatterjee."Sweet Melodious Sound" and "Taiyari" are his other remarkable qualities.
Sandip is a 1st class 1st in "M.A." in "Music" from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata.
He is a graded artist of "All India Radio" & "Doordarshan".
He is such kind of player who is good in "Solo" and very reliable "Accompanist" for "Instruments”,” Vocal" & "Dance.
He has performed all over the world at his own abilities. He accompanied several great artists and his enchanting accompaniment gives them a soothing relief.
Ustad Aashish Khan, Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pt. Ramesh Mishra, Pt. Amiya Ranjan Banerjee, Pt. Nihar Ranjan Banerjee, Pt. Sohanlal Sharma, Shri Ranajit Sengupta, Pt. Debojyoti Bose(Tony), Shri Purbayan Chatterjee, Smt. Shirin Sengupta, Smt. Koushiki Charaborty Desikan, Shri Snehashish Mozumder, Shri Sugato Nag, Shri Partha Bose, Pt. Padmakar Kulkarni ............... are few among the list.
Sandip has been awarded many times. President's Award, Academy Puroskar, Rajya Sangeet Academy, Dover Lane Music Conference are few of them. He is a "National Scholar" and twice "Gold Medallist" in "South Asian Universities Festival".
Moreover, he got the rare and precious opportunity to play several duets with his legendary guru, the great tabla maestro Pt.Anindo Chatterjee. He also works successfully with "Kyabaat" "Anouraag" & "You & Me" band in Europe and with "Big-Band Orchestra" of "Hamburg Music University".

Sri. Aditya Khandwe
Aditya has inherited a unique blend of Jaipur and Gwalior Gharanas to his gayaki through his guru parampara. Due to exposure to the traditional form of music from all his Gurus, Pt.Ratnakar Pai and Pt.Yaswant bua Joshi, Aditya retains the pure form of ragas and their renderings in his performances. This facet of his gayaki is well appreciated by the knowledgeable audience.
Through his accompaniment to Talyogi Pt.Suresh Talwalkar's solo performances the rhythm or the Taal side of the gayaki is developed immensely. The layakari, tans and his consummate ease with tabla in his performance has a big mass appeal.
The foundation of classical musical being so strong, Aditya handles Light Classical form with equal ease. Through his mother, he is exposed to the Beneras style of Thumri from late Pt. Rajabhau Kogje. His Natya sangeet performances have also won him many awards and acclaims.

Sri. Murad Ali
The declining popularity of the sarangi over the past few decades has been a cause for concern among many musicians and connoisseurs. Concerted efforts from noted maestros have brought the instrument back into public gaze, but, when a talented young musician like Murad Ali takes to sarangi with single-minded devotion, one can rest assured that future generations will also take pleasure in absorbing subtleties that the instrument is capable of producing.
Born in a family of musicians originally from Muradabad, Murad Ali is a sixth generation sarangi player. The intensive training he had under his grandfather Ustad Siddique Ahmad Khan and father Ustad Ghulam Sabir Khan has stood him in good stead, and he is presently regarded as one of the leading sarangi players of the younger generation.
His ancestors, Ustad Sagheer Ahmed Khan Sahab, Ustad Fakir Ahmed Khan Sahib, Ustad Rafique Ahmed Khan Sahab and his grandfather later Ustad Siddique Ahmed Khan Sahib were all renowned sarangi players, musicologists and gurus of the Moradabad Gharana.
Beginning his performing career at the early age of ten, Murad Ali won the first prize in the All India Radio national music competition held in 1992. An 'A' grade artiste of the All India Radio, he has also been a frequent performer at several music festivals in India and abroad. He has received accolades for his accompaniment to many noted vocalists and tabla players. Unfettered by orthodox musical beliefs, Murad Ali has on several occasions participated in cross-cultural and experimental musical endeavours.
Performance in Abroad: World Music Festival in Austria, World Music Festival in Holland, France Music Festival. Murad Ali has also performed in England, Germany, Russia, Singapore, Japan, U.S.A. Tunisia, Morraco, South America, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Reunion Island etc.

For further details view website - www.sarangisitar.com



Sri. Fateh Ali
FATEH ALI belongs to the sixth generation of a family of Sarangi Players of the MORADABAD GHARANA. FATEH ALI was initiated into vocal music from an early age of seven by his grand father "(Late) Ustad Siddique Ahmed Khan Sahab" who was the undisputed Sarangi Maestro of the Moradabad Gharana, for a short spell at the tender age he found his joy 'SITAR' which he was initiated into by the great Sitar Maestro (Late) Shri Satish Kumar Ji, who belonged to DHARWAR.
He then took Sitar Training under "USTAD SHAMSHUDDIN FARIDI DESAI" on eminent performer of "SITAR & BEEN". Presently, Fateh Ali is advancing his art form and skill in "Sitar" under the personal guidance and training of his father "USTAD GHULAM SABIR KHAN" again a well-known name in India for "SARANGI".
FATEH ALI’S performance is simply breath taking and his style of playing is unique and lyrical. Fateh Ali blends "KHAYAL GAYKI ANG" with the instrumental technique conjuring tones that capture the minds of the listeners.
He has embarked on a Career that promises to be illustrious and innovative. Years of training have exposed him to and enriched his music with the artistic aspects and nuances of diverse gharana styles. Appeals to the orthodox as well as progressive.
He displays deep insight and understanding of ragas by blending their purity with imaginative experiments.
FATEH has an uncanny knack of striking an instant rapport with audience. He has sincerely attempted to infuse interest and respect fort Indian Classical Music in the younger generation.
Charismatic performer that he is, he can easily mesmerize the audience with his innovative skills and dexterity.
Recently, "Underscore Records" launched his new music album
TaSiR SiTaR.
FATEH has been taking his music to concerts halls over India and also to festivals in Germany, Austria, Russia, Italy, Belarus, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Krikgistan, Syria, Jordan, Muscat U.A.E. and many countries of Middle East etc.
Fateh has been performed in World Music Festival 2005 at Lahore (Pakistan) with "The Core" one of Norway’s most energetic Jazz bands at the moment.

Sri. Sameer.L.Rao
Sri Sameer.L.Rao was born on May 12, 1982 in Shimoga, in Karnataka. His father Sri V.N. Laxminarayana is a professor of English and his mother Smt S Vanaja is a house wife.
Sameer evinced keen interest in Bansuri (bamboo flute) at the age of eleven. He started practising Hindustani music on his reed taught by the talented young guru Pt. Veerabhadriah Hiremath, (the Disciple of Dr. Puttaraj Gawai of Veershwara Punyashrama, Gadag), at Saptaswara Hindustani Music School and Swara Sankula Hindustani Music School in Mysore.
Right from the beginning Sameer had a special liking for the enchanting Bansuri of Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia. As his Gawai guru laid the firm foundation of music in him, the young boy did his Riyaz relentlessly for eight years with the blessed name of Panditji on his lips and the meditative music in his ears. He was fortunate to have been accepted as his disciple by the world-renowned flute wizard. Ever since, Sameer has been practising Bansuri at the feet of his Guru as an inmate of Vrindaban Gurukul, Mumbai.
A Hindustani Classical music Vidwat degree holder from the Karnataka secondary educational board and a B High Grade artist, graded by the All India Radio, Sameer has played as a young artiste at various forums arranged and sponsored by All India Radio, Doordarshan, various private television channels and the Dept. of Kannada and Culture, Government of Karnataka. He has been invited by many reputed organizations of music lovers all over India, Switzerland and Germany. He has also composed music for many Kannada, Marathi and Hindi plays apart from playing for Dance ballets of various dance styles and many music albums. Sameer also accompanies his Guru Pt. Chaurasia in his concerts regularly.
Sameer was selected for the scholarship for the year 1997-1998 by the music & dance academy of Karnataka. He got the first prize in 'Kala Pratibhotsav' 2004 and got the 'Yuva Pratibha' award conducted by the Directorate of Kannada and culture Govt. of Karnataka. Sameer was adjudged the best, and got the 'Award of Excellence' from Sri Guru Ganayogi Panchakshara Sangeet Yogashram Trust, Chennai in 2004. The Nada Bramha Sangeet Sabha of Mysore conferred "Nada Kishore' for the best performance for the Classical Instrumental music during the "Nada Kishorotsava 2006". Recently, in 2008, the Sur Singar Samsad of mumbai, awarded the title 'Surmani".
At present, Sameer lives with his Guru Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia at Vrindaban Gurukul in Mumbai.

Sri. Ajinkya Joshi
Ajinkya Joshi is an upcoming, talented and promising Tabla Player of the young generation. He started his initial training at a tender age of 7 years, from Pt.Shantilal Shah, one of the senior most disciples of Pt.Suresh Talwalkar.At the age of 16 he moved to Mumbai and over 10 years, underwent intensive training with Taal-Yogi Pt.Suresh Talwalkar himself, one of the most dedicated Guru in the Guru-Shishya parampara tradition.
Ajinkya is the recipient of Pt.Vishnu Digambar Paluskar Award in 1999.He has accompanied his guru in various Tabla-Solo concerts all over India. He has been awarded the National Scholarship for young Artistes by the Government of India. He has accompanied various renowned musicians of the country and has successfully taught in Toronto, CANADA and has toured Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Sri. Tanmay Deochake
Tanmay is a young promising Harmonium Player of the Country. Tanmay’s talent and vibrant ability of understanding Classical Music is true out come of Guru-Shishya Parampara.He highlighted his ability and essence of Music merely at very young age of 4 years, where he tuned himself with his Grandfather Late Sri.Gopal rao Deochake.Initially he learnt under Sri Abhay Deochake and Sri Prakash Shinde from Ahmed nagar. He is taking advance training under Pt.Pramod Marathe in Pune.He is a student From Lalit Kala Kendra and Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya.He has won may scholarships and awards and given excellent accompaniment to renowned artists from our country.

Sri. Dattatreya Lakshmandas Velankar
Born into a family of Keertanakaras on 25th September 1976, Dattatreya inherited a unique lineage. Inspired by his parents, Dattatreya took up Harikatha at a tender age and made his mark as a child prodigy in Harikatha.Recognizing the Lad’s interest and inclination towards music, Guru Sri. Achyutadasji advised Dattatreya to seek guidance from Hindustani Classical Music maestro Pt.Vinayak Torvi.
Since 1993, Dattatreya has been rigorously trained in music under Pt.Vinayak Torvi.
Today, Dattatreya is well known all over Karnataka and is one of the illustrious students of the revered music teacher. He has achieved many awards and has performed in many prestigious music festivals throughout the country.
Pt.Vinyakak Torviji has blessed Dattatreya with GANDA BANDHAN DEEKSHA.

Sri. Omkarnath Hawaldar
Inheritor of finest nuances of the Kirana Gharana style of Hindustani vocal music of India. Omkarnath Havaldar is blessed with a Father like Dr. Nagaraj Rao Havaldar, a well-known Bangalore based Hindustani vocalist as his mentor, and His mother Smt. Sudhamayi Havaldar is a graduate of fine arts from Mysore University. And his maternal grandfather, K. Raghavendra Rao is a renowned music critic.
Omkarnath had occasion to learn from Pt. Madhav Gudi, the disciple of Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Doyen of Kirana Gharana, Pt. Panchakshari Swami Mattigatti who is the deciple of Late Pt. Mallikarjun Mansur of Atrauli Jaipur Gharana, who has taught him Rare Ragas & compositions of Jaipur Gharana. Omkarnath is also receiving training in Dhrupad from Pt. Indhudhar Nirody and receiving advance Taaleem by Father and Guruji Dr. Nagaraj Rao Havaldar.
Omkarnath is Graduate in Psychology (from National College Jayanagar) and this has helped him to search out the emotional aspects of his Gharanas & blend them with the technical skills of his natural vocalism. He is now pursuing Masters Degree in History from Indira Gandhi National Open University.
Omkarnath is a recipient of Kishora Pratibha Puraskar Instituted by Kannada & Culture Government of Karanataka (2000) and National Award winner for Hindustani Khayal Singing conducted by All India Radio (2003). Omkarnath has perfomed on many prestigious platforms like " Sankat Mochan Sangeeth Samaroh " Varanasi and Mysore Darbar Hall Concert for Dussera celebration & Hampi Utsav...
Omkarnath has also traveled to the United States with Dr. Havaldar & has performed in World Kannada Conference (AKKA) 2006 and in many other prestigious Universities like Notre dame University, Madison University, Alverno College of Music, Milwaukee University, Chicago centre of Music, India Music Society - Milwaukee, New York Music centre - Queens & has travelled extensively all over the US for concerts.
He is also on the Elite panel of Artist of Department of Kannada & Culture Govt. of Karnataka since 2000 and an approved Graded artist for All India Radio and Doordarshan, the National TV channel of India.
Omkarnath is also a good Ghazal Singer that demands skills in both music & the lyrics. This he has learnt from the Bangalore based Baluchi Hari Kishan Pahuwa who is a Golden Mine of Ghazals.

Sri. Vijay Patil
Born and brought up in Karnataka, Vijay is a disciple of Pt.Kaivalya Kumar Gurav from Dharwad.He is following a tradition of Guru-Shishya Parampara.He has performed solo and has given vocal support for his Guru throughout India successfully.
Pt.Kaivalya Kumar Gurav has blessed Vijay patil with Ganda Bandhan Deeksha.

Sri. Koushik Aital
Koushik is a young promising artist from Karnataka. He is a disciple of a renowned artist Pt.Parmeshwar Hegde from the year 2000. He has achieved many awards and successfully toured across the country. He did his Initial training under Shri. Humayun Haralapur for a period of 5 years.
Koushik has won many scholarships. Some of the noted ones are the Scholarship for Young Artistes by the Government of India in the year 2006. He was awarded first place in the ‘AIR National Level Hindustani Vocal Competition’, in the year 2006. He has received the ‘Promising Artiste Award’ from the ITC SRA in the year 2006
He has been performing at concerts, since the last 3 years, for organisations such as Rajguru Smriti, Shruti, Samvad, Ananya, Department of Kannada and Culture ( Karnataka State) at various locations such as Shimoga, Banvasi, Haveri, Mysore, Gulbarga, Dharwad, Honnavar, Mangalore, Bhopal etc.
He has also performed for the ITC-SRA at the NCPA Mumbai in January, 2006 and Performed at the Bharatiya Sangeet Vidyalaya, at the Malhaar Utstav in June, 2008, Concert at the Devnandan Ubhaykar Yuva Sangeet Utsav, August 2008, Mallikarjun Mansur Pratisthan , Dharwad on the 14th of September, 2008.
He has participated in the ‘Raag Anuraag’ concert, organized by the Parameshwar Hegde Academy and has recorded many albums in light classical Music. He is a regular performer on AIR as a ‘B’ Grade artiste.

Kum. Meghana Kulkarni
Born in 1980 into a music loving family, Meghana began learning Hindustani vocal music from her mother at the early age of eight. She then went on to learn from acclaimed vocalists such as Pandit Parmeshwar Hegde and Pandit M. Venkatesh Kumar for over 5 years. During this time, she also completed her Bachelors degree in music from Karnataka Music College at Dharwad securing a gold medal in its pursuit. Currently, she is learning from Smt. Arati Ankalikar Tikekar and has been able to find a fine blend, which is an aesthetic mix of the gayaki of her gurus. A distinction holding Masters graduate from The Centre for Performing Arts, University of Pune, Meghana shows promise to carve an individual niche for herself while bearing the stamp of tradition.