About the
Artists
Gundecha Brothers
Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha are the
leading exponents of the Dhrupad style of music.
They are among the most active performers in
Indian and international circuits.
They were conferred “Padmashri” in 2012 by
the Govt. of India for their contribution
in the field of Dhrupad and Indian Classical
Music.
Born in Ujjain in Central India, both were
initiated into music by their parents. Gundecha
Brothers received conventional 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.
They have received M.P. Govt. Scholarship
from 1981 to 1985, National Fellowship from 1987
to 89, Ustad Allauddin Khan Fellowship in 1993,
Sanskriti Award in 1994 and Kumar Gandharva
Award in 1998 by Govt. of Madhaya Pradesh and
Dagar Gharana Award by Mewar Foundation in 2001.
Rajat Kamal – National Film Award for the Best
Music Direction ( 2006), Puttaraj Gawai Award
2010 from Puttaraj Gawai Pratishthan,
Dharwad.
(Bio sourced from Artists' Website: http://www.dhrupad.org/)
Akhilesh
Gundecha
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,
Australia. He is regularly featured on Radio and
Television.
(Bio sourced
from Artists' Website: http://www.dhrupad.org/)
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