The ocial cultural exchange centre of Kerala Jointly organize with MINISTRY OF CULTURE Government of India 3rd October 2015 Saturday 6.30 pm Selected gazals of Begum Akhtar In connection with All India Begum Akhtar Centenary Commemoration at Bharat Bhavan Thirumuttam Near Police Ground Thycaud, Trivandrum Recital of famous gazals of Begum Akhtar by Abhradita Banerjee Tabla: Mahesh Mani Reshma Raghavendra and Harmoniom: Jaiprakash Gowry Lekshmi Violin: Chandlu Performers for Tribute to BEGUM AKHTAR –“ QUEEN OF GHAZALS” Mallika-e-Ghazal, Begum Akhtar Akhtari Bai Faizabadi, also known as Begum Akhtar (7 Oct. 1914 – 30 Oct. 1974), was a well known Indian singer of Ghazal, and Dadra, and Abhradita Banerjee thumri genres of Hindustani classical music. She received the Sangeet Mrs Abhradita Banerjee is one of the renowned Hindu- Natak Akademi Award for vocal music, and was awarded Padma Shri stani musician in India with expertise in Ghazal, Hindu- and Padma Bhushan (posthumously) by Govt. of India. She was given stani Classical, semi classical, traditional and light music. the title of Mallika-e-Ghazal. She learnt music under Guru Shishya Parampara from Begum Akhtar was born in Bada Darwaza, Town Bhadarsa, Bharatkund, Pandit Madan Chouhan since childhood. She has won Faizabad District, Uttar Pradesh.Akhtar was barely seven when she was Government sponsored National Music Competition for captivated by the music of Chandra Bai, an artist attached to a touring ve consecutive years in vocal light and classical music. theatre group. However at her uncle's insistence she was sent to train under Ustad Imdad Khan, the great sarangi exponent from Patna, and She has received many honors and awards for her perfor- later under Ata Mohammed Khan of Patiala. Later, she travelled to mances. Calcutta with her mother and learnt music from Reshma Raghavendra classical stalwarts like Mohammad Khan, Abdul Reshma Raghavendra is an upcoming artist with several Waheed Khan of Lahore, and nally she became laurels to her credit. Semi nalist of Gandharva Sangeeth- the disciple of Ustad Jhande Khan. am 2008, Winner of Swaralaya Unni Menon Yuva Gayika Her rst public performance was at the age of award, 2015, First runner up of Gandharva Sangeetham fteen. The famous poetess, Sarojini Naidu, appre- 2012, First runner up of Sunfeast Delishus star singer ciated her singing during a concert which was organised in the aid of victims of a Bihar earth- 2014, participated in Kerala school youth festival for kath- quake of 1934. This encouraged her to akali sangeetham, participated in Kerala University youth continue singing ghazals with more festival 2014 and secured 2nd in ghazal competition. enthusiasm. She cut her rst disc for the Gowry Lekshmi Megaphone Record Company, at that Gowry Lekshmi is one youngest female music director time. A number of gramophone and lyricist in South India. She started learning music at records were released carrying her the age of 3 and the BA Music course in RLV College of ghazals, dadras,thumris, etc. She was Music and Fine Arts, Thrippunithura. has composed quite amongst the early female singers to a good number of tunes for music bands and albums. give public concert, and break away Thoni is her biggest work so far. She has rendered her from singing in mehls or private voice to few Tamil and Malayalam lm songs. She has gatherings, and in time came to be known as Mallika-e-Ghazal (Queen of performed with several prominent music bands of Kerala. Ghazal). Thripthi, Near Police ground, Thycadu P.O, Trivandrum - 695 014 Tel: 0471 2321747, 2320198 [email protected] .