Anuradha Pal's - Stree Shakti
‘Stree Shakti’ is India’s first ever all women’s percussion based vocal & instrumental fusion ensemble that reflects the emergence of womanpower in the traditionally male dominated world of Indian Rhythm. Conceived and presented by the well-known Tabla Maestro Anuradha Pal, Stree Shakti combines the instruments and repertoires of North and South India, interfusing the Hindustani and Carnatic traditions, voice with instrumental and percussion, classical with the contemporary and melody with rhythm. This dynamic celebration of rhythm fusing the traditional with the contemporary reinforces the strength & novelty of “Stree Shakti”. The group has performed in numerous places in India for several prestigious organizations. The group has also performed in some of the most prestigious festivals in the world like the WOMAD festival, Rhythm Sticks Festival, Commonwealth Games Festival, City of London Festival, Cardiff Jazz Festival, BBC Music Live Festival - Scotland, Asian Music Festival, Oldham Mela and many more.

The present members of the troupe are Ruchira Kale - Vocal, Anupriya Deothale - Violin, Ranjani Siddanthi - Mridangam and Sukanya Ramgopal - Ghattam.
 

Ruchira Kale
Ruchira Kale trained initially under her father Shri Dilip Kale, after which she learnt from Smt. Alka Deo Marulkar of the Jaipur Gharana. From 2003 to 2006 she was a scholar at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata where she received talim from the celebrated Gwalior-Jaipur gharana vocalist Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar as well as guidance in semi-classical forms from the doyen of the Banaras gharana, Smt. Girija Devi.
 

Anupriya Deothale
Anupriya Deothale is a disciple of legendary Sarangi maestro Pandit Ram Narayan, and has also received guidance from Sarod maestroes Pandit Mukesh Sharma and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Sitar maestro Ustad Shahid Parvez. Her style skillfully blends the elements of “Gayaki” i.e. vocal rendering and “Tantarakari” i.e. instrumental rhythmic patterns.
 

Ranjani Siddanthi
Ranjani Siddanthi has learnt mrudangam playing from Vidwan Late Sri Bellary G.Mariyanna, Vidwan Sri N.G.Ravi and Vidwan Sri Bangalore H.S.Sudhindra. She has also received vocal training from Vidushi Smt.Bellary V. Subhadramma and Vidushi Smt.Neela Ramgopal. She has accompanied several renowned artistes including Dr .Balamurali Krishna, Vidushi Smt R.N.Srilatha, Vid. Neela Ramgopal, Vid.T.S.Satyavathi, Vid.Chitra Srikrishna, Vid.Sukanya Prabhakar, Vid.Nalina (Mohan violin solo), Kasaravalli Sisters, Vid.Chandana Bala.

Sukanya Ramgopal
Sukanya Ramgopal is a disciple of Padmasri Vikku Vinayakaram and has been trained in playing mridangam and ghatam from the age of 12. Before learning the fingering techniques of playing ghatam from her guru she was trained in playing mridangam. She has also learnt playing the violin from Sh. Gurumurthy, brother of Sh. Vinayakaram. Mastering the art of ghattam playing, she has worked tirelessly towards elevating the status of the instrument from that of an accompanying instrument.

Jainul Abedin - Vocal
Born in 1967 at Bashirhat in the suburbs of Kolkata, Jainul Abedin is one of the better-known representatives of the Agra gharana. He was initiated into music by Shri Govinda Basu and later learnt from Shri Arun Kumar Chatterjee, a disciple of Pandit A Kanan. In 1978, he proved his exceptional mettle by securing the top position at a talent search contest organised by the ITC Sangeet Research Academy to become one of its earliest scholars. This was followed by rigorous talim from the doyen of the Agra gharana, Ustad Latafat Hussain Khan in the true Guru-Shishya tradition of the Academy. After the Ustad’s demise, Shri Vijay Kichlu and Shri Sunil Bose, both very eminent vocalists of the Agra gharana ably continued his training. Growing up in an enviable musical atmosphere amidst some of the greatest luminaries of Hindustani music, Jainul has also received invaluable guidance from personalities like Pandit K G Ginde, Shrimati Dipali Nag and others

Jainul’s performances are marked by sound training and a well-designed concept of the rich Agra gayaki. Gifted with a magnificent voice, his forte is the dhrupad-ang Nom-Tom Alaap, a hallmark of his gharana, while he is equally adept in the bandish displaying a keen sense of laya alongwith bold and powerful taans.

Hailed as child prodigy, Jainul has been performing successfully in concerts and competitions since the early age of 9. He has featured in major festivals all over India and has also toured overseas particularly Canada, USA and Bangladesh. Besides regular performances, Jainul has also successfully conducted workshops and participated in seminars in India and various cities in Bangladesh.

Rashid Khan-Vocal
The great-grandnephew of Ustad Enayat Hussain Khan Sahib, founder of the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana, 1966 born Rashid initially showed little or no interest in music. His tutelage under his illustrious greatuncle and guru, the late Padmabhushan Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan, changed the course of his life and made him what he is today. Discovering his latent potential, the Ustad nurtured it by training him in the traditional Guru-shishya Parampara – first at his own residence at Budaon and subsequently at ITC Sangeet Research Academy. He was a strict disciplinarian and the long and arduous training made Rashid Khan a perfect exponent of the Rampur-Sahawan gharana, which owes its allegiance to the Senia traditions

Rashid gave his first performance in 1977at the age of eleven. The very next year he performed at the ITC Sangeet Sammelan at New Delhi and he has not looked back since. His growing popularity has since then been reflected in his increasing participation in all well-known music conferences in India and extensive tours the world over.

Ustad Rashid Khan has developed exceptional expertise in the slow elaboration of vilambit khayals and the use of sargams and sargam taankari. The brilliant Enayat Hussain drut and medium pace khayals ring as true in his voice as they have done down the ages. Like his guru, he is a master of the tarana but sings them in his own manner. His mastery of all aspects of tonal variations, dynamics and timbre adjustment leave very little to be desired in the realm of voice culture. Above all, he has, in abundant measure, that rare quality called Taasir — the indescribable ability to create a genuine impact on listeners. This ability has endeared him to connoisseurs and laymen alike.

A recipient of several awards such as Rashtriya Kumar Gandharva Award (2002), Padmashree (2006) and Sangeet Natak Academy Award (2006), he wears his fame lightly, remaining withdrawn and publicity-shy and believing that he is very much in the process of learning, with a long way to go.

Ronu Majumdar - Flute
Pandit Ranendranath Majumdar, popularly known as Ronu Majumdar, began playing the flute under the guidance of his father Dr. Bhanu Majumdar, Pandit Laxman Prasad Jaipurwale and finally under the revered Pandit Vijay Raghav Rao. A powerhouse performer, he is solidly rooted in the Maihar gharana, which has thrown up musicians of the eminence of Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

Ronuji’s incredible range of achievements includes innumerable performances in the world’s most prestigious venues such as The Kremlin, Moscow; The Palais de Beaux Arts, Brussels, The Town Hall, Auckland and so on. Besides this, he has also been a major innovator with the medium of New-age Music, composing several hit albums like A Traveller’s Tale, Koi Akela Kahan and the musical track for the Hollywood film ‘Primary Colours’. Ronuji has created an enviable niche for himself in the field of contemporary popular music which is exemplified by his Grammy Nomination in 1996. His name has been musically associated with international Greats such as Pandit Ravi Shankar, ex-Beatle George Harrison, ace guitarist Ry Cooder and several other legends. He has composed music for India’s first I-Max film “Mystic India”.

He has won many prestigious awards such as “Aditya Vikram Birla Award” (1999), “Kumar Gandharva Award” (2005-06) and “Pandit Jasraj Puraskar” (2008).  

Ananda Gopal Bandopadhyay - Tabla
Initiated into music by his father, Ananda Gopal Bandopadhyay was later trained by Pandit Mahadeo Prasad Mishra of the Benaras gharana. A top graded artiste of All India Radio, he has had a brilliant and successful career as a tabla player who is adept both as a soloist and an accompanist. He is a widely traveled artiste and has played with virtually all the leading performers of Hindustani music at festivals all over the world. Apart from his performances, he has been associated with prestigious organizations like the Song & Drama Division (Delhi), Faculty of Music &Fine Arts (Delhi University), ITC Sangeet Research Academy and the Amir Khusro Society, Chicago.

Jyoti Goho - Harmonium
Inspired by his mother’s melodious voice, Jyoti Goho developed a keen interest in music, which was carefully nurtured by his parents. He was trained in harmonium playing by Shri Deb Kumar Banerjee. He also has profound knowledge of vocal music in which his mentors were Sanat Banerjee, Biren Bose and Pandit A. Kanan. He is thus able to heighten the mood and spirit of any performance. Known for his sensitive playing and appropriate embellishments, his supportive role has been acknowledged by maestros like Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. Shri Jyoti Goho has performed with all the great vocalists of Hindustani classical music, appearing at the major music conferences in India and abroad. He is currently a faculty member of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy.

Ramdas Palsule - Tabla
After receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Ramdas Palsule has developed his career as a talented, promising young tabla player. He is a disciple of eminent tabla player and Guru ‘Taal Yogi’ Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. He is a good soloist as well as versatile accompanist for vocal, instrumental and dance performances. He has traveled widely all over India and abroad particularly USA, Canada, Germany, Gulf Countries, Australia and Africa. He has accompanied many renowned vocalists, instrumentalists as well as dancers. He is a Guru in the Centre for Performing Arts, University of Pune.

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