|
|
 |
|
Shobha Gurtu |
 |
Both dance and music figured in Shobha Gurtu`s family
background. She was born Bhanumati Shirodkar in
Belgaum (now in Karnataka State) on February 8, 1925
and was initially trained by her mother, Menakabai
Shirodkar, a noted dancer schooled in the Atrauli
Jaipur `gayaki` of Ustad Alladiya Khan. On her
marriage to Vishwanath Gurtu, she took the name Shobha
Gurtu.
Shobha continued her musical education with ustads of
the eminence of Nathan Khan in classical singing and
Ghamman Khan in light classical and popular music. |
|
Her father in law, Pandit Narayan Nath Gurtu, the
erudite scholar and musician, also influenced her
style. She was particularly influenced by singer Begum
Akhtar and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. |
|
|
The grand dame of Thumri was thoroughly steeped in pure
Classical Music. But she was better known for her light
Classical Music. Shobha Gurtu was considered to be in a
class by herself not merely because of the unique qualities
of her warm and sensuous voice that blended strength with
suppleness and vigour with grace. It was equally much the
unique combination of talent and soul that she brought to
bear on her music. She rendered with equal ease, everything
from thumri, dadra, hori, kajri and chaiti to ghazal, bhajan
and Marathi Natya Sangeet, with all regional and stylistic
variations blended subtly. |
|
A popular
broadcaster and television artiste, she regularly featured
in major musical events held all over the country. She had
also created the musical scores for several Marathi and
Hindi movies and had also lent her voice to the silver
screen. |
| In 1989 she received the Sangeet
Natak Academy award. She also got the Lata Mangeshkar
Puraskar, Shahu Maharaj Puraskar and the Maharashtra Gaurav
Puraskar. In 2002, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan. |
| Shobha Gurtu passed away on 27th
Sept 2004, after reigning for five decades as the queen of
Thumri. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
Download free Realplayer from Real.com to listen to the audio clips
See How to Listen for instructions
|
|
|
