Uday Bhawalkar (Dhrupad vocals) with Sukhad Manik Munde (Pakhavaj)

Uday Bhawalkar (Dhrupad Vocalist)

Uday Bhawalkar is among the foremost Dhrupad vocalists and has been a strong force in its growing recognition , popularity and resurgence , worldwide. He’s a disciple of Ustaad Zia Fariduddin Dagar (vocal) and Ustaad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar ( Rudra- Veena), the towering pillars of the Dhrupad tradition . Uday believes that when immersed in the note and raga, the self dissolves and only the music remains.

Uday has an engaging style and is able to reach out and communicate with audiences of all backgrounds . Since his first performance at Bhopal in 1985 Uday has performed in a number of prestigious festivals and events in India and abroad . An inspiring ,significant moment was when Ustaad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar , the eldest of the Dagar family, on hearing Uday perform in 1987 ,blessed him ,with a gold medal . In 2004 at the Prithvi music festival Uday performed with the legendary Ustaad Zakir Hussain who played the Pakhawaj with him . Uday has widely performed in the UK , Europe, USA, Canada, Mexico , Singapore, Japan, Israel, Morocco, Bangladesh and Nepal He has also collaborated with artists from other disciplines and cultures. Uday has contributed to the soundtracks for international arts films.

He has taught internationally at institutions such as the Rotterdam Music Conservatory , The University of Washington, Seattle and the Asian music circuit , London , to name a few. He is a Guru at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy at Kolkata, Benegal Foundation’s ” Parampara Sangeetalay” , Dhaka, Bangladesh.

In recognition for his artistry he has received many prestigious awards including the Kumar Gandharva Samman given by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh (2001) and the Raza Foundation Award (2007 ) given personally by the eminent painter S H Raza Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2021 and Hanumant Award 2023.

Sukhad Manik Munde (Tabla)

Sukhad was born in a musical family of Great Pakhawaj Maestro Pt. Manik Munde. He has got inspiration with blessings from the great Dada Gurus like Bhakt Ganesh Anna Choudhary & Prof. Pt. Govindrao Deshmukh. Sukhad started getting Pakhawaj & Tabla Talim (training) at the age of 6 yrs under Guru-Shishya Parampara from his father & Guru Pt.Manik Munde, well-known Pakhawaj Maestro worldwide. Sukhad got SWAR-GYAN from the well-known dhrupad Guru Pt. Uday Bhawalkar. He has got many opportunities to accompany great instrumentalists, Katthak dancers and vocalists like Sangeet Martand Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Rattan Mohan Sharma, and many more artists.

Sukhad has performed in various music conferences & festivals in India as well as abroad. Sukhad plays Jugalbandi and Tal-vadya Kacheri with different instruments as well as gives solo performances. He is training to more than 250 disciples in Pune & Mumbai. Many of them are certified with B.A. in Pakhawaj (Pune University), M.A. in Pakhawaj (Pune University), Visharad & Alankar (Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya) Presently he is producing & performing India’s first Vedic Symphony “Param Sukhadam” with more than 50 artists.