Gundecha Brothers
The Gundecha Brothers (Guru ji), jugalbandi formed of Umakant and Ramakant from 1985 until 2019 when Ramakant Guru ji passed away, have been of significant influence in the field of Dhrupad. They were awarded for their contribution by the Government of India the Padma Shri in 2012 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2017. Now, it is the son of Ramakant Guru ji, Anant Gundecha, who sings in duo with Umakant Guru ji.
Here is a brief biography from Gundecha Brothers website:
Born in Ujjain in Central India, the brothers were initiated into music by their parents. The Gundecha Brothers received a university education and learned the Dhrupad vocal art under the renowned Dhrupad vocalist Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar and also with Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (the distinguished performer of Rudra Veena) under guru shishya paramapara in Dhrupad Kendra Bhopal.
The Gundecha Brothers have sung great Hindi poetry by Tulsidas, Kabir, Padmakar, Nirala in Dhrupad style. They have recorded about 50 cassettes and CDs by H.M.V, Music Today, Rhythm House, Times Music, Sony, Senseworld Music, Sundaram Records, IPPNW Concerts Berlin, Navras and Audio Rec London. They have also sung for many television channels in India and have been broadcasted on British, U.S., German and French, Japan and Australian Radio as well. As well as being an integral part of all of India’s prestigious music festivals, the Brothers have also performed and conducted workshops at many important international music festivals and institutions in about 25 countries in Europe, U.S.A, Australia, Japan, Egypt, Singapore, Bangladesh, U.A.E and Hongkong.
Akhilesh Gundecha has learned Pakhawaj playing from Pandit Shrikant Mishra and Raja Chhatrapati Singh JuDeo. He is post graduate in music and graduate in Law. Has also got scholarship from Ustad Allauddin Khan Sangeet Academy, Bhopal and Govt. of India. He has accompanied many of the Dhrupad Maestros, like: Ustad Z.F. Dagar, Ustad Fahimuddin Dagar, Pt. Siyaram Tiwari, Shrimati Asgari Bai, Dr. Ritwik Sanyal and Bahauddin Dagar. He has also played solo recitals in Tansen Festival-Gwalior, Haridas Sangeet Samaroh Mumbai, Dhrupad Samaroh Bhopal and many other festivals. He has toured USA, Europe, Japan and Australia. He is regularly featured on Radio and Television.
Pt. Chandrashekhar Tiwari
Pt. Chandrashekhar Tiwari started his musical journey with Dhrupad vocalist of Banaras gharana late Pt. Harishankar Mishra. After practicing ten years with him, he changed his mind and started to learn the string instrument sarod from late Pt. Suprabhaat Paal, disciple of reknown guru Baba Allauddin Khan of Senia-Mehar.
Pt. Chandrashekhar Khanwalkar
Late Pandit Chandrasheker Khanwalkar was born in 15 December 1959 in Gwalior the city of music. He was honored by Kala Rattan in 1959 by the government of Madhya Pradesh. He was a graded artist of all India radio. He taught many students. He worked and retired as a superintendent from Madhya Pradesh parivahan nigam. On the 6 December 2011, he said goodbye to world.
