Dhondutai Kulkarni, (23 July 1927 – 1 June 2014) was an
Indian classical
Indian classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as '' Hindustani'' and the South Indian expression known as '' Carnatic''. These traditions were no ...
singer from the
Jaipur-Atrauli gharana
The Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana (also known as Jaipur Gharana, Atrauli-Jaipur Gharana, and Alladiyakhani Gayaki) is an Hindustani music apprenticeship fraternity (''gharana''), founded by Alladiya Khan in the late-19th century. Evolved from the dhrup ...
. She was the last legendary exponent of orthodox Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana.
Early life
Dhondutai was born in a
Brahmin
Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (gur ...
family in
Kolhapur
Kolhapur () is a city on the banks of the Panchganga River in the southern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the administrative headquarter of the Kolhapur district. In, around 2 C.E. Kolapur's name was 'Kuntal'.
Kolhapur is ...
,
Maharashtra. Her father initiated her into music. Subsequently, she came under the tutelage of Bhurji Khan of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. Gaining recognition as a child artiste she became an
All India Radio
All or ALL may refer to:
Language
* All, an indefinite pronoun in English
* All, one of the English determiners
* Allar language (ISO 639-3 code)
* Allative case (abbreviated ALL)
Music
* All (band), an American punk rock band
* ''All'' (All ...
performing artiste at the age of eight. Her training continued under the mentorship of Gaan-Chandrika Laxmibai Jadhav and Ustad Azizuddin Khan, disciple and grandson of Ustad
Alladiya Khan, the founder of the gharana. She received most of her repertoire of rare Ragas from Ustad Azizuddin Khan. Thereafter, she spent a long number of years under the tutelage of
Kesarbai Kerkar
Kesarbai Kerkar (13 July 1892 – 16 September 1977) was an Indian classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. A protege of Ustad Alladiya Khan (1855–1946), the founder of the gharana, from age sixteen, she went on to become one of th ...
, ending up as her sole disciple.
Awards and recognition
Dhondutai has been awarded the
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990. She was regularly featured at the "Surashri Kesarbai Kerkar Sangeet Sammelan" since its beginnings, she sang last at these concerts.
Journalist Namita Devidayal's book ''The Music Room'' chronicles a significant part of Dhondutai's life, music and career. Namita has been one of her 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.
Further reading
* ''Sur Sangat'' by Dhondutai Kulkarni, Rajhans Publications,Pune, India,
* ''The Music Room'' by Namita Devidayal, Random House India,
References
External links
Voice from the past
1927 births
Hindustani singers
2014 deaths
People from Kolhapur
Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Indian women classical singers
Singers from Mumbai
20th-century Indian singers
20th-century Indian women singers
Women musicians from Maharashtra
20th-century Khyal singers
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