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Ancy K Sunny
Ancy K Sunny

MUSIC

Hindustani vocalist Kishori Amonkar passes away

kishori-amonkar Kishori Amonkar | YouTube video

Kishori Amonkar is known for her contribution to the legendary Jaipur gharana style of music

Kishori Amonkar, one of India's foremost Hindustani classical vocalists, passed away in her sleep on Monday night. She was 84. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to condole her death. “Demise of Kishori Amonkar is an irreparable loss to Indian classical music. Deeply pained by her demise. May her soul rest in peace,” he tweeted.

Modi also tweeted Bhinna Shadja, a documentary on the ace musician, directed by Amol Palekar and produced by Public Diplomacy Division and Ministry of External Affairs. The documentary, primarily in Marathi and Hindi, explores the persona and music of Amonkar through her multiple interviews, performances, and views of other musicians. In the opening of the documentary, tabla player Ustad Zakir Hussain says, “She has sung ragas that can be considered some of the most immortal renderings of those ragas.” The documentary, which transports one to an ethereal world with Amonkar's soulful renderings in the backdrop, is a perfect tribute to Kishoritai, as she was fondly called.

Born on April 10, 1932, Amonkar is known for her contribution to the legendary Jaipur gharana style of music. She got her initial training from her mother, famous vocalist Mogubai Kurdikar who was a student of Alladiya Khan Saheb, founder of the Jaipur gharana. Amonkar brought in elements from other gharanas to create a variant of the Jaipur gharana. Though her performances were widely appreciated, she was also criticised by many for bending the conventional Jaipur style of music. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1987 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2002.

Her sudden death has come as a shock to music lovers across the country. She last performed at the Kamani Auditorium in Delhi on March 26.

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Topics : #music

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