Focus on Maharashtra: The Musical Legacy

Ashwini Bhide Deshpande is a Hindustani classical singer in the famous Jaipur-Atrauli Khayal singing tradition. She chose music as her first love and career after completing a PhD in Biochemistry at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, University of Mumbai. She was born into a musical family and received the Sangeet Visharad of the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and the President’s Gold Medal in All India Radio Music Competition at the age of 16. Along with classical Khayal, semi-classical genres like thumri-dadra, devotional bhajans/Marathi abhangs and Sanskrit hymns/stotras effortlessly blend in her repertoire. She has performed at various prestigious music festivals within and outside the country and has received acclaim from critics and music lovers all over the world. She has published a book (along with a CD) of self-composed bandishes Raag Rachananjali in 2004. Raag Rachananjali 2 was published in October 2010. Launched in 2023, her YouTube channel, Batiya Daurawat, is popular among classical music audiences. Her first recording album was released by HMV in 1985 followed by albums under various banners. She is a Top Grade artiste of All India Radio and Doordarshan. As a teacher she has guided many disciples who are now successful concert artists themselves. Among her numerous honours are the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

Born in 1948 into a family of Keertankars, Taalyogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar is one of India’s most inspirational tabla maestros and musicologists. Disciples of masters like Pt Pandharinath Nageshkar and Pt Vinayakrao Ghangrekar, uniquely, he also studied Carnatic Layashastra (rhythm theory) under the mridangam maestro Pt Ramnad Ishwaran, allowing him to blend North and South Indian rhythmic systems into a distinctive style. Vocalist Gurus Pt Gajananbuwa Joshi and Pt Nivruttibuwa Sarnaik further refined his musical vision. His contributions are marked by bold innovation, presenting non-conventional rhythmic formats in a simplified manner through musical productions like Taal Sankeertan, Taal Mala, Mrudanga Sankeertan and the magnum opus ensemble Taal Yatra. He has received over 86 awards including Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Vishnu Digambar Paluskar Award and the title Taal Yogi conferred by the Shankaracharya of Karveer Peeth in 2001. Today, he continues to nurture the Guru-Shishya tradition at his Taalyogi Ashram in Pune, mentoring hundreds of the world’s leading percussionists (including western drummers), dancers, musicians and vocalists. His book, Avartan, exploring the depths of Indian classical music is considered a benchmark for music enthusiasts.

Kathakali is the head of administration and events at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy. Besides her day job, she also works as a reviewer and dance writer for The Telegraph and other publications. A former journalist and a life-long student of literature, she dabbles in literary translation.

Arunabha Deb is Managing Partner of Avijit Deb Partners, a Kolkata-based law firm. He takes an interest in Hindustani music, on which he has written for multiple publications in India. He graduated in English Literature from St Stephen’s College, Delhi and obtained his LLB at Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. He learnt to play the sarod under the tutelage of Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta. Though an artiste with All India Radio, self-assessment prevents him from performing anywhere.