Pt. Raghunandan Panshikar

Raghunandan Ji began his formal training at the age of 11 years under the tutelage of the late Pandit Vasantrao Kulkarni. Later, he commenced training under the Doyan of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, – Gaan Saraswati Smt. Kishori Amonkar Ji who was awarded the most prestigious Sangeet Nayak Research Academy Award along with Padma Vibhushan for her contribution to Hindustani Classical Music. During this time, Raghunandan was also fortunate to learn from Kishori-ji’s mother and guru, the late Gaan Tapaswini Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar, who had learned directly from the the late Sangeet Samrat Ustad Alladiya Khan, founder of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. By training with both Mogubai-ji and Kishori-ji, Raghunandan achieved an authenticity in many aspects of the Jaipur-Atrauli style – a full throated akaar, dazzling taans, a sophisticated use of techniques such as meend and gamak, and a clever grasp of the intricacies of layakari.

Raghunandan Ji’s “Gayaki” has evolved into a unique and original style enriched immensely by influences of several contemporary maestros. Decades of relentless ‘riyaz’ and complete surrender to Music are now reflecting very clearly in his performances. He has rightfully earned his place among the topmost vocalists of his generation.

Bharat Kamath: Accompanying Tabla is a stalwart of Banaras Gharana who started learning Tabla at the tender age of five, from his father Pt. Chandrakant Kamat who himself has been a devoted disciple of one of the greatest Tabla Players – Pt. Shamta Prasad Ji of the Banaras gharana.  Bharat’s grandfather Pt. Shantatram Kamat was also a renowned stage-music artist. Bharat has thus inherited the ‘sur’ and ‘lai’ from his paternal side.

Clarity, purity of theka and his tone have made Bharat a musician par excellence. Bharat attributes his musical maturity to Pt.Bhimsen Joshi, with whom he has accompanied for more than nineteen years.