Malini Awasthi (born 11 February 1967) is an Indian folk singer. She sings in Bhojpuri,

Awadhi Awadhi (; ), also known as Audhi (), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in northern India and Nepal. It is primarily spoken in the Awadh region of present-day Uttar Pradesh, India. The name ''Awadh'' is connected to Ayodhya, the ancient city ...

and

Hindi Hindi ( Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been ...

, She also presents

Thumri Thumri () is a vocal genre or style of Indian music. The term "thumri" is derived from the Hindi verb ''thumuknaa'', which means "to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that the ankle-bells tinkle." The form is, thus, connected with dance, dr ...

and Kajri. The Government of India awarded her the civilian honour of the

Padma Shri Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conf ...

in 2016. She is known for her contribution in Bhojpuri music.

Early life

Malini Awasthi was born in Kannauj,

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...

. She is a post graduate as well as gold medalist in

Hindustani classical music Hindustani classical music is the classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani, ''shastriya sangeet'' (). It is played in instruments like the violin, si ...

from Bhatkhande University,

Lucknow Lucknow (, ) is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and it is also the second largest urban agglomeration in Uttar Pradesh. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous district and division ...

. Also, she achieved a gold medal in M.A. Modern History with specialization in Medieval and modern Indian architecture,

University of Lucknow The University of Lucknow (informally known as Lucknow University, and LU) is a public state university based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Founded in 1920, the University of Lucknow is one of the oldest government owned institutions of higher ed ...

. She is a Ganda bandh student of Legendary Hindustani Classical Singer,

Padma Vibhushan The Padma Vibhushan ("Lotus Decoration") is the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service". All persons without ...

Vidushi

Girija Devi Girija Devi (8 May 1929 – 24 October 2017) was an Indian classical singer of the Seniya and Banaras gharanas. She performed classical and light classical music and helped elevate the profile of thumri. She was dubbed as the 'Queen of Thumri ...

of Banaras Gharana. She is married to senior IAS officer Awanish Kumar Awasthi (UP:1987) who retired as Principal Secretary to Government of Uttar Pradesh. They have a son Adwitiya and a daughter Ananya.

Career

Malini Awasthi is a regular performer at popular classical music festival, Jahan-e-Khusrau. She has a high pitch voice and is popular for rendition of Thumari, ''Thaare Raho Baanke Shyam''. She judged the Bhojpuri - Musical Reality Show "Sur Sangram" . She participated on TV for NDTV Imagine's Junoon. She was appointed as the brand ambassador by Election Commission for UP Elections 2012 and 2014. She sang the song "Sunder Susheel" in the 2015 film ''

Dum Laga Ke Haisha ''Dum Laga Ke Haisha'' (), released internationally as ''My Big Fat Bride'', is a 2015 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Sharat Katariya, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar, Sanjay Mishra and ...

'' which had music by

Anu Malik Anwar Sardar "Anu" Malik (born 2 November 1960) is an Indian music composer, singer, music arranger and score composer. He is an Indian National Award and Filmfare Award winning musician, who primarily composes music for the Hindi film indus ...

Academic honors and Fellowships

*Centenary Chair Professor for the Bharat Adhyan Kendra at the Banaras Hindu University

Cultural Performances

National

*Thumri-Festival and Rag-rang-Festival, Taj-Mahotsav, Ganga- Mahotsav, Lucknow-Festival, Budh-Mahotsav, Ramayan-Mela, Kajri-Mela, Kabir-Utsav etc. in Uttar Pradesh. * Shruti-Mandal-Samaroh, Kumbhal-Gardh-Festival, Teej- Festival-Jaipur in Rajasthan. *Surajkund-Craft-Mela and Heritage-Festival-Pinjore in Punjab and Hayana.

International

*Pravasi Diwas at Trinidad, 2017 *Festival of India in Mauritius, 2015 *ICCR 40th, Anniversary celebration in Fiji, 2011 *Independence Day celebration Houston, USA, 2004 *Cultural Performance in Pakistan; 2007 *Cultural Performance in South Bank center, London, 2011 *Indian festival celebration in Netherlands: 2002, 2003, 2015 and 2016 *Vishwa Bhojpuri Sammelan, Mauritius; 2000, 2004, 2016 *Cultural Concert in Philadelphia and Los Angeles; 2016

Filmography

* ''Jai Ho Chhath Maiya'' – Shailendra Singh, Malini Awasthi * Bhole Shankar * Bumm Bumm Bole * Agent Vinod *

* ''Bhagan Ke Rekhan ki'' –

Issaq ''Issaq'' () is a 2013 Indian Hindi romantic film directed by Manish Tiwary and produced by Dhaval Gada and Shailesh R. Singh. The film, written by Padmaja Thakore-Tiwary, Manish Tiwary and Pawan Sony, was released on 26 July 2013. The film fe ...

(2013 film) * Chaarfutiya Chhokare (2014 film)

Awards

(2016) * Yash Bharti, UP Government 2006 *Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy Fellowship * Sangeet Natak Academy

References

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Awasthi, Malini Indian women folk singers Indian folk singers Living people Singers from Lucknow Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts 1967 births Women musicians from Uttar Pradesh 20th-century Indian women singers 20th-century Indian singers 21st-century Indian women singers 21st-century Indian singers Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award