Renowned maestros from across India and the world, bringing centuries of classical tradition to life.
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Pandit Jasraj was the defining voice of the Mewati Gharana, a school of Hindustani classical music renowned for its emotional depth and structural elegance. Born into a family of traditional musicians, he created a unique style that blended classical rigor with intense spiritual devotion over a career spanning seven decades.
Read Profile →Pandit Jasraj was the defining voice of the Mewati Gharana, a school of Hindustani classical music renowned for its emotional depth and structural elegance. Born into a family of traditional musicians, he was initiated into vocal training by his elder brother, Pandit Maniram, after originally training as a tabla player. Over a career spanning seven decades, he created a unique style that blended classical rigor with intense spiritual devotion.
Pandit Jasraj introduced the "Jasrangi" jugalbandi, a unique style of duet singing where a male and a female vocalist sing different ragas simultaneously in their respective scales, transitioning smoothly between them. He was also a pioneer in presenting devotional semi-classical forms like Haveli Sangeet to concert audiences, elevating devotional compositions into the high classical realm.
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is the sixth-generation descendant of the illustrious Bangash lineage of musicians, credited with inventing and modifying the Sarod from the ancient Afghan Rabab. He gave his first solo recital at the age of six, exhibiting a natural mastery over the instrument that would define the modern era of classical instrumental music.
Read Profile →Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is the sixth-generation descendant of the illustrious Bangash lineage of musicians, who are credited with inventing and modifying the Sarod from the ancient Afghan Rabab. Born to the legendary Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan, he gave his first solo recital at the age of six, exhibiting a natural mastery over the instrument that would define the modern era of classical instrumental music.
He is celebrated for his unique "ekhara taans"—rapid, crystal-clear musical passages—and for infusing the Sarod with a vocal quality (gayaki ang) that mimics the human voice. His performances are known for their emotional intensity, ranging from meditative alap to blazing, virtuoso climaxes. He has expanded the boundaries of traditional ragas, creating new ones such as Kiran Ranjani, Haripriya, and Lalit Dhwani.
Smt. Alarmel Valli is a leading exponent of the Pandanallur style of Bharatanatyam, training under legendary gurus Pandanallur Chokkalingam Pillai and Subbaraya Pillai. Her dance is a seamless synthesis of traditional rigor and personal, poetic expression — noted for its grace, fluid lines, and dynamic energy.
Read Profile →Smt. Alarmel Valli is a leading exponent of the Pandanallur style of Bharatanatyam, training under legendary gurus Pandanallur Chokkalingam Pillai and Subbaraya Pillai. Her dance is a seamless synthesis of traditional rigor and personal, poetic expression, noted for its grace, fluid lines, and dynamic energy. She has pioneered a deeply expressive, lyrical approach that elevates the traditional classical form into a contemporary art medium.
As a choreographer, she has explored classical Sangam poetry, Sanskrit texts, and contemporary themes, crafting solo and group choreographies that have won international acclaim. Her work bridges the ancient and the modern, proving that classical Bharatanatyam is a living, evolving language of the soul. She has also studied under the legendary singer T. Muktha to deepen her command of Padams and Javalis (expressive musical narratives).
M. S. Sheela began her training under her mother, the eminent vocalist M. N. Rathna, and later polished her artistry under Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. R. K. Srikantan. Inheriting the pure and structured Mysore tradition, she is renowned for her pitch perfection and meticulous handling of complex ragas and rhythmic structures.
Read Profile →M. S. Sheela began her training under her mother, the eminent vocalist M. N. Rathna, and later polished her artistry under the guidance of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. R. K. Srikantan. Inheriting the pure and structured Mysore tradition, she is renowned for her unwavering adherence to classical values, pitch perfection (sruti suddham), and meticulous handling of complex ragas and rhythmic structures.
She is a top-grade artist of All India Radio and has travelled extensively across India, North America, Europe, and the Middle East, winning hearts with her devotional fervor and technical virtuosity. A key figure in the popularization of Kannada Haridasa Sahitya (devotional literature), she has set hundreds of devotional compositions to music, preserving Karnataka's rich cultural legacy.
Ustad Zakir Hussain is the eldest son of the legendary tabla pioneer Ustad Alla Rakha of the Punjab Gharana. A child prodigy who began touring at age twelve, he elevated the art of tabla accompaniment and solo performance to unprecedented heights through flawless technique and deep understanding of cross-rhythms.
Read Profile →Ustad Zakir Hussain is the eldest son of the legendary tabla pioneer Ustad Alla Rakha (of the Punjab Gharana). A child prodigy, he began touring at the age of twelve and quickly established himself as a virtuoso capable of elevating the art of tabla accompaniment and solo performance to unprecedented heights. His flawless technique, lightning-fast speed, and deep understanding of cross-rhythms have made him a household name.
Zakir Hussain is widely regarded as a chief architect of the global fusion music movement. His groundbreaking work with Shakti (with John McLaughlin), the Diga Rhythm Band, and Planet Drum (with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead) earned him a Grammy Award and global recognition. He has collaborated with artists from diverse genres, from jazz to symphony orchestras, while maintaining absolute classical integrity in his traditional Indian performances.
Pandit Birju Maharaj was the legendary torchbearer of the Kalka-Bindadin Gharana of Lucknow, tracing his ancestry to the great gurus of the royal courts of Awadh. He inherited a rich legacy of dramatic storytelling (abhinaya) and complex footwork (tatkar), which he refined into a highly sophisticated visual art.
Read Profile →Pandit Birju Maharaj was the legendary torchbearer of the Kalka-Bindadin Gharana of Lucknow, tracing his ancestry to the great gurus of the royal courts of Awadh. As the son and disciple of Achchan Maharaj, and nephew of Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj, he inherited a rich legacy of dramatic storytelling (abhinaya) and complex footwork (tatkar), which he refined into a highly sophisticated visual art.
Known for his mime, expressive eyes, and grace, Birju Maharaj popularized Kathak dance globally. He was also a superb vocalist, percussionist (playing the tabla and pakhawaj), and poet. He composed numerous dance dramas and choreographed for Indian cinema, including celebrated sequences in films like Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khilari, Devdas, and Bajirao Mastani.
Sita Devi was born in Jitwarpur village in Bihar's Mithila region, where she learned the ancient art of Mithila (Madhubani) painting as a traditional domestic ritual. In the late 1960s, she was among the key local women who pioneered the transition of this art form onto handmade paper, turning a ritual craft into a source of economic independence and fine art.
Read Profile →Sita Devi was born in Jitwarpur village in Bihar's Mithila region, where she learned the ancient art of Mithila (Madhubani) painting as a traditional domestic ritual, painting the mud walls of her home during marriages and festivals. In the late 1960s, during a severe drought, she was among the key local women who pioneered the transition of this art form onto handmade paper, turning a ritual craft into a source of economic independence and fine art.
She is credited with popularizing the Bharni style of Madhubani painting, characterized by bold lines, rich color fills (using natural dyes), and themes drawn from Hindu mythology, particularly the lives of Radha and Krishna. Her compositions were celebrated for their structured geometry, intricate borders, and vibrant color palettes that brought rural stories to life with incredible depth.
Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar represents the 20th generation of the Dagar family of Dhrupad singers, an unbroken musical lineage that dates back to the Mughal courts. He carried forward the specialized "Dagar Vani" style, which emphasizes elaborate, meditative alap, microtonal inflections, and pure acoustic resonance.
Read Profile →Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar represents the 20th generation of the Dagar family of Dhrupad singers, an unbroken musical lineage that dates back to the Mughal courts. Training under his father, Ustad Faiyazuddin Dagar, and his uncle, Ustad Zahiruddin Dagar (the legendary Dagar Brothers duettists), he carried forward the specialized "Dagar Vani" style, which emphasizes elaborate, meditative alap, microtonal inflections, and pure acoustic resonance.
His singing is celebrated for its deep spiritual quietude, starting with a slow, contemplative, unstructured alap that slowly builds in intensity. His wide vocal range, command over voice modulation, and mastery of pitch and microtones allow him to create deep resonance inside the performance space, giving the audience a meditative, temple-like experience.
Sonal Mansingh is one of India's most versatile classical dancers, having achieved high mastery in both Odissi and Bharatanatyam. She trained under the legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and Pandanallur Chokkalingam Pillai. Her performances are revered for their profound emotional depth and deep philosophical understanding of Indian mythological themes.
Read Profile →Sonal Mansingh is one of India's most versatile classical dancers, having achieved high mastery in both Odissi and Bharatanatyam. She trained under the legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra for Odissi and Pandanallur Chokkalingam Pillai for Bharatanatyam. Her performances are revered for their profound emotional depth, impeccable posture, and deep philosophical understanding of Indian mythological themes.
As a choreographer, she has created numerous pathbreaking dance dramas that merge traditional mythological stories with contemporary social issues, such as gender equality and environmental preservation. She founded the Centre for Indian Classical Dances (CICD) in New Delhi, which has served as a crucible for teaching, research, and cross-disciplinary studies in the performing arts.
Purbayan Chatterjee belongs to the illustrious Maihar Gharana, having received his primary sitar training from his father, Parthapratim Chatterjee, a disciple of Pandit Nikhil Banerjee and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. This lineage infuses his music with intellectual clarity, deep vocal quality, and highly refined sitar techniques.
Read Profile →Purbayan Chatterjee belongs to the illustrious Maihar Gharana, having received his primary sitar training from his father, Parthapratim Chatterjee, who was a disciple of the legendary Pandit Nikhil Banerjee and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. This lineage infuses his music with the intellectual clarity, deep vocal quality (gayaki ang), and highly refined sitar techniques that define the modern Bengali sitar style.
Known for his lightning-fast taans and global musical outlook, Purbayan has collaborated with international jazz fusion legends, including Chick Corea, Bela Fleck, and Pat Metheny. He designed the "See-tar," an electric sitar that allows him to perform standing up and engage with modern sound systems. He balances this innovation with rigorous traditional sitar recitals, keeping the classical spirit vibrant for younger generations.
Puran Bhat was born into a traditional family of Bhat puppeteers from Rajasthan, growing up in the Kathputli Colony of Shadipur Depot in Delhi. He learned the ancient art of Rajasthani string puppetry (Kathputli) from his father and elders, developing a deep understanding of techniques that date back hundreds of years.
Read Profile →Puran Bhat was born into a traditional family of Bhat puppeteers from Rajasthan, growing up in the Kathputli Colony of Shadipur Depot in Delhi. He learned the ancient art of Rajasthani string puppetry (Kathputli) from his father and elders, developing a deep understanding of puppet fabrication, traditional music accompaniment, and string manipulation techniques that date back hundreds of years.
He is celebrated for transforming traditional puppetry from simple street shows into a complex dramatic medium. He founded the "Aakar Puppet Theatre" and collaborated with modern theater directors like Habib Tanvir, B. V. Karanth, and Amal Allana. He has integrated contemporary themes, social issues, and advanced stage lighting and sound design into his puppet plays, making them engaging for modern global audiences.
Kaushiki Chakraborty is the daughter and disciple of the celebrated vocalist Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty. Growing up immersed in the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata, she represents the Patiala Gharana — noted for its rich ornamentation, rapid-fire taans, and astonishing emotional expression across a three-octave range.
Read Profile →Kaushiki Chakraborty is the daughter and disciple of the celebrated vocalist Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty. Growing up in the research academy ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata, she was immersed in music from birth. She represents the Patiala Gharana, noted for its rich ornamentation, rapid-fire taans, and emotional expression, while also absorbing elements from other classical traditions.
She is widely recognized for her astonishing vocal control, flawless pitch, and a three-octave range that allows her to transition between complex classical structures and delicate, emotive thumris and bhajans with incredible ease. She has pioneered "Sakhi," an all-women classical music ensemble that celebrates female classical instrumentalists and vocalists on a single stage.