| Smt. Asha Khadilkar | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Asha Patankar |
| Born | 11th January, 1955 |
| Origin | Sangli, India |
| Genres | Khayal, Bhajans, Thumris, Tarana, Bandish, Bhavgeet, Natya Sangeet . |
| Occupations | Hindustani/Indian Classical Music-Vocal |
| Years active | 1965 - Till Date |
Shrimati Asha Khadilkar (Born: 1955) is a Mumbai, India based vocalist renowned for her specialization in Indian(Hindustani) Classical, Semi-Classical and Devotional Music including Natya Sangeet.
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Born in the mecca of Marathi Drama, Sangli, Maharashtra, India in 1955 , Asha took her initial steps in music under the guidance of Late Shri. Balkrishnabuva Mohite . Along with live performances in several Marathi Musicals , she rendered her first live Indian Classical Music Vocal concert at the age of thirteen. After moving to Mumbai in 1975 after marriage, Asha honed her unique talent and skills under the guidance of the legendary Marathi singer Late Padmashree Manik Varma before contiuning her tutelage in Indian Classical Music from Pt. Yashwantbuwa Joshi, a stalwart of Gwalior Gharana.
With exemplary command over a plethora of different Indian musical forms, Asha has won millions of hearts across India and abroad alike. She has consciously adapted to the best flavours of Gwalior, Kirana and Agra gharanas,under the guidance of several music maestros such as Pandit Yashwantbuva Joshi, Pandit Shankar Abhyankar, Pandita Padmavati Shaligram, Late Padmashree Jitendra Abhisheki, Late Vasantrao Deshpande. Along with her penchant for Classical Music, she is well-known for her command over Traditional Marathi form "Natya Sangeet", Bhavgeet and Bhajans.
Asha has also demonstrated her creative flair for music direction and classical bandish compositions. She has provided her music direction to new generation of Marathi Musical Plays like "Sangeet Aradhana", "Sangeet Kaviraj Jaydev" to name a few.
Apart from performing live , Asha has been at her innovative best by conceptualizing various thematic programmes such as “Hori Rang Rangilee”, “Sawan – Rang”, “Ritu – Rang” and “Rachanakar-ko-pranam” in Hindi as well as participating in programmes like "Swarabhishek", "Manik-Moti" in Marathi. She has always been active in spreading the soul of Indian Classical Music through organizations such as "Spic Macay". Asha continues to tutor and mentor young Indian Classical Vocalists.
Since 1994, Asha along with her husband Shri Madhav Khadilkar are spearheading 'Uttung Sanskrutik Pariwar', a cultural organization in Mumbai and Thane for providing a stage to upcoming talent in the field of Music, Dance, Theatre and Literature and to honour deserving people with 'Uttung Award' to recognize their significant contribution to any of these art forms.
Several renowned Indian recording companies such as HMV, Tips, Polydor have released Asha's audiocassettes and CDs in Indian classical as well as light and devotional music.
In 2008, Asha Khadilkar was invited as one of the celebrity judges for the Marathi vocal singing competition show, Idea Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, alongside music director Shri.Salil Kulkarni. This season featured adults in their mid-30s and 40s who pursued music as a hobby .[1] The show was aptly named Sa Re Ga Ma Pa: Swapna Swaranche, Navatarunyache (स्वप्न स्वरांचे, नवतारुण्याचे), which roughly translates to Dreams of Music and New Youth.